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NEWSLETTER No. 42 -  Spring 1999

WEST MIDLANDS BRANCH, BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION

 

Conservation Corner

Record turnout at winter workdays!
An unlikely headline I know, but true for all that. A big thank you to everyone who has contributed to our conservation programme over the winter which has seen excellent progress made on a number of sites. Particularly encouraging has been the turnout at our new reserve at Grafton Wood where over 40 volunteers turned up at the January workday, including a large number of local residents from nearby villages and a group of Worcester scouts. Another success was the New Year Whitbread Action Earth event at Monkwood where, in addition to hot soup and mincepies, we were treated to a glass of ten year old malt whiskey courtesy of the warden Paddy Harrison (could other reserve wardens please note). At Trench Wood in October, free tee shirts were handed out to participants as part of Yellow Pages Make a Difference day and baked potatoes from the bonfire were also well received (another hint for reserve wardens). Last but not least, after the disappointments of the previous year, we had a good turnout at Prees Heath for our annual heather management day which went very well. Special thanks are due to our friends from Butterfly Conservation Cheshire and Peak District Branch who turned out in force and contributed so much to the success of the day.

Good news for the Marsh Fritillary
In last summer’s Branch Newsletter, reference was made to the new survey commissioned by English Nature to assess the potential of sites near to the only surviving colony of Marsh Fritillary in Gloucestershire to provide suitable habitat. Previous ecological work on the Marsh Fritillary by Martin Warren and others has shown that the butterfly flourishes best where there is a network of colonies in close proximity to one another and tends to die out where sites are isolated. The survey carried out by an organisation called Conservation Consultancy looked at around a dozen sites in the immediate vicinity and assessed them according to the presence and density of the larval foodplant Devil’s bit Scabious Succisa pratensis, the average sward height, the number and type of grazing animal and actual field size including the percentage of Succisa cover. Three sites were identified which it is suggested could, with appropriate management, be made suitable. Initial contact with at least one of the owners seems encouraging and the next stage is to look at ways in which the sites in question can be brought into the best possible condition. This will involve dealing with scrub encroachment and stepping up levels of grazing. At the same time, if the aim in the West Midlands Regional Action Plan of establishing a metapopulation structure for the butterfly is to be achieved, we will need to look at ways of providing better links or stepping stones between sites. In the longer term, the decision will need to be made as to whether we can rely on natural colonisation taking place or whether artificial establishment is appropriate.

Wyre Forest
Over the years, the West Midlands Branch, largely through the efforts of Frank Lancaster, has developed an excellent working relationship with staff of Forest Enterprise which has brought about tremendous dividends for butterflies especially the woodland fritillaries. A number of new sites within the Forest have been opened up for butterflies and, in many cases, these have been linked by a series of wildlife corridors. Coppicing has been re-established and there are now an estimated 25 miles of rides which are subject to a mowing regime aimed at improving butterfly populations. Butterflies to benefit include not only the nationally important Pearl-bordered Fritillary, for which Wyre Forest is now one of its foremost strongholds, but also regionally important species like Small Pearl-bordered, Silver-washed, Grizzled Skipper and Green Hairstreak. Grizzled Skipper, in particular, seems to have benefited from the cutting of wildlife corridors in some parts of the Forest and especially from the work undertaken in the vicinity of the Royal Ordnance testing station, which has also been the location for an ongoing moth survey also co-ordinated by Frank (see separate article). A recent meeting during the summer with Severn-Trent facilitated by FE has resulted in a change to the mowing regime along the pipeline which we hope will benefit the Green Hairstreak which was seen ovipositing on young gorse in this vicinity during 1998. Much of the credit for these many improvements lies with Jerry Gissop from Forest Enterprise who has been extremely receptive to the various suggestions for changes in management practices put to him. Jerry has now been promoted to a new job with FE in the Forest of Dean and we would like to both thank him for his past co-operation over the years at Wyre and wish him well in his new position.

Update on Species Champions and Transect recorders
Two further changes to the list of species champions published in the 1998 summer newsletter. Dave Jackson is now assisting Ian Duncan with work on the Pearl-bordered Fritillary while Neil Thompson, assisted by Mike Slater, has been appointed by Warwickshire Branch to act as Small Blue Champion to replace Margaret Vickery. We are grateful to John Tilt, the reserve warden, for taking on the Grafton Wood transect.

Provisional Atlas
With this newsletter, members will be receiving a copy of the Provisional Atlas for butterflies recorded within the Branch area since 1995. This has been a mammoth effort on the part of the Branch and we owe a huge debt of gratitude not just to Andy Nicholls and Richard Southwell but to all those who have contributed in some way whether by inputting data, by targeting under-recorded squares or by simply sending in their records on time and on the proper recording form. The publication of a Provisional Atlas at this juncture is intended a working tool to encourage recorders to fill in any missing squares during this final season of the Millennium Atlas project. After the end of September it will be too late for any further records to be included. We are keen for the final atlas to be as comprehensive as possible, so please study the maps for each species carefully and if you can visit any under-recorded squares this summer please do so. If you intend to travel some distance we may even be able to help with petrol expenses but please talk to Andy first. It is not just the rare or local species that we are targeting, there are a number of species like Small Tortoiseshell and Small White which should occur in every single tetrad but are not yet mapped so please, please send in your records. Despite the tremendous effort put in by many members, the Millennium Atlas can only be as good as the information received and we need a real push in 1999 to make sure the final publication is as accurate and comprehensive as possible.

West Midlands Branch to get key of the door
The West Midlands Branch was the first Butterfly Conservation branch to be formed back in 1979 and celebrates its 21st birthday next year. A number of special events and celebrations are being planned by the Branch committee and we would very much welcome suggestions from members. It would also be good to hear from our more longstanding members of their memories of the early years of the Branch for publication in the newsletter. One proposal that we have already received is for an overseas trip, possibly to the Pyrenees, and if any members are interested in this please let me know so I can start the advance planning.

Mike Williams