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No. 46 NEWSLETTER Summer 2000
WEST MIDLANDS BRANCH, BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION
Butterflies on New Hawne Colliery
(alias The Floggin, alias Olde Hawne Colliery)
I presently walk four transects which may astound some people. Alas, it is the
inclement weather which hinders my “vocation” rather than time itself - time is
irrelevant as I work a four on four off shift pattern which I mirthfully
describe as my semi-retirement – at 46!
Uffmoor, Monkwood 2, and Hagley Wood, are my three woodland transects, however
it is the fourth transect started last year that I wish to highlight here. Many
woodland species appeared to be in decline, certain more open area species were
generally low in numbers, species such as the “Common” Blue, Small Copper, the
Skippers and even Small Whites, were disappearing. I needed a direct comparison
to evaluate these species’ welfare. An old coal mining area I had visited as a
small boy (ashamedly for bird nesting purposes) was an ideal area to conduct a
transect. The area is now a wildlife haven surrounded by housing and industry.
As a fledging botanist during the mid-nineties I had seen the great potential
for butterflies and indeed moths, I began making casual records from 1996 – this
potential was undisputedly realised in 1999 – my first transect year.
I will describe the area’s performance later, but the major reason which
persuaded me to write this article is the prevalent, almost universal, desire of
man to build on such places – this one included. I alerted Mike Williams and
Richard Southwell who visited the area and witnessed its wonderful natural
value.
The haven is zoned development, (the threat of industrial development has
fortunately subsided), mainly housing development. Richard has advised me on the
legal technicalities of which I am not conversant; there is a unitary
development plan due in June. Richard and I have contacted Dudley Council
Conservation Department. I have sent recent records and analysis along with Eco
records – hopefully they will be used along with other documents in the hope
that at least some of the area may be saved.
I have deliberately avoided naming the area (except in the title) because of my
previous confusion with the real name of the area, however a chance meeting
(while I was on transect), with local natural historian, William John Hutton,
has more than remedied this. John, who works nearby, travels home through the
haven and witnesses the changes through the seasons. He informed me of it’s real
name. I have always referred to it as the Floggin (a place where miscreant
miners are taken for punishment?) – no, it probably was derived from a
corruption of Scandinavian or Saxon words “flagg” meaning flat and “gain”
meaning new ground: in fact the Floggin was an adjacent area, now occupied by
factories. John informed me that Old Hawne Colliery did exist but again was
nearby and is also now covered with factories. The area is New Hawne Colliery.
At a later meeting with John, (who is an active member of many conservation
groups), he was full of information on the history of New Hawne Colliery and
lent me an invaluable book “A history of coal mining around Halesowen” by N. A.
Chapman which I do feel is of relevance in this article.
Hawne itself was part of Halesowen Manor established as a settlement by
Anglo-Saxons. Around the 13th century it grew significantly – agriculture being
the principal Industry. By the nineteenth century, nail making and “coal
getting” had become established. Mining began in Hawne in 1865 after the sale of
forty-eight acres of land to the New British Iron Company a year earlier for the
sum of £22,024-13s-9d (currently the weekly wage of a premier division
footballer ). The area contained “thick coal” which was of high quality. The
coal was supplied to nearby Corngreaves Ironworks and Furnaces via a narrow
gauge railway crossing the local river Stour.
Throughout the year, the excavation of coal was beset with both financial and
practical problems, not least by the threat of flooding. By 1919 however, 692
tons of coal per week was being mined with the necessary pumps raising 351,360
gallons of water a day as the working to the north flooded. Sadly the coal
strike of 1921 saw the demise of New Hawne Colliery – the pumping stopped, the
mine flooded, the thick coal was irretrievably lost, resulting in the loss of
250 jobs. The last owner of the company was J. J. and H. E. Garratt who has
reputedly sold out to an consortium. The buildings (which are Grade 2 listed)
still stand, they include the large winding house with date stone 1865, a range
of stables and stores along with a brick built Guibal fanhouse.
The whole area, contained in the south by the rare black poplars (female) has
gone back to its natural state of coal and ash, ensuring good drainage and
colonisation by a diverse flora including the exceedingly rare grass vetchling.
The seasons see multitudes of flowers come and go, nectar rich teazles and many
thistles abound along with bountiful food plants such as kidney vetch and birds
foot trefoil, ox-eye daisies, poppies: colts foot and mares tail are prominent
through the seasons – along with thousands of trees. Birds flourish at New Hawne
Colliery – particularly the green woodpecker; foxes are common and, of even more
importance, there is an occupied badger sett near the buildings, excavated out
of the coal surface.
Finally, I come to my initial quarry (no pun intended) the butterflies which
complete the picture. The transect covers a good proportion of the area; in its
first year (1999) a total of 3,437 butterflies were recorded with 21 species
overall including a small colony of Green Hairstreaks on the broom. As expected,
there were no White Admirals or Brimstones, this was countered by good counts of
Small Skippers – 341, (no Essex to my knowledge), Large Skippers – 80, Small
Whites - 71, Small Coppers – 25, Common Blue – 126, Orange Tip – 67. Not
surprisingly the most abundant species was the Meadow Brown – 804, closely
followed by the Gatekeepers – 759, the Ringlet, which has only recently
colonised the area, accrued – 269, Purple Hairstreaks occupy the oak and ash
canopy on the north side by the river Stour. In the past I have seen White
Letter Hairstreak and Clouded Yellows – unfortunately they were absent in 1999.
The highest count was 613 on the 25th July when 14 species were seen.
The first seven weeks transect data and analysis for 2000 has been sent to
Dudley Council: despite the wet April and May there has been an increase so far
of 88 per cent from 1999. This is of course without conservation - except in a
paradoxical way by the numerous bikers who invade the area at weekends.
Unknowingly they do their bit by keeping the walkways clear, creating flight
paths for butterflies in search of food plants and nectar sources. Hopefully the
bikers will not encroach on the flower rich areas – apart from noise pollution
to nearby residents, they are doing no real harm.
Recently I conducted a most bizarre transect in the presence of 150 plus people
who had gathered to watch their heroes ride their machines – some eyed me
warily, under the misconception that I was recording the number of marauding
machines flying by or the decibel level, ironically they will benefit if the
area is saved.
I do not recommend a weekend visit therefore, but if one can ignore discarded
rubbish and make a midweek visit to the area at the height of summer - one can
stand still and absorb the ambience of the wildlife haven. Knowing a little of
the history of the area enhances the experience (an area written about by local
author Brett Young).
I feel John Hutton’s impromptu observation during our first meeting summed up
the whole scenario, he said that New Hawne Colliery had been everything for mans
benefit – now it was time to rest and take just a little bit back.
David White
The Grid Reference for New Hawne Colliery is SO 957846 – Ed.
Snowflakes In Spain
It has always been my contention that Butterfly Conservation is really a
masquerade for a global travel club that can give local information for the most
unlikely places in the world. It is, if you are prepared to ask, since someone
is bound to know somebody else if they can't give advice themselves - and I'm
not just talking about butterflies.
This opinion was severely tested last summer after we booked a fortnight's
holiday in Catalunya during the second half of August. However, a forlorn call
to Guy Meredith saved the day. He didn't know the area but as chance would have
it he was to speak to a Graham Steven that evening. Graham is a professional
conservationist, specialising in lepidoptera, lives in Valencia and was visiting
his son who lives in Cheltenham. Graham gave directions to a number of sites
within two hours drive of Tarragona. We subsequently visited two - Beceite Gorge
and Sierra de Monsant.
The latter has a prehistoric hilltop village, Albarca, which was spectacular.
Butterflies were everywhere, the only thing missing was Clint Eastwood who
should have been walking down the dusty road in a spaghetti western. My abiding
memory was a forested rocky gully below Albarca where we were watching various
types of grayling (Striped, Rock, Great Banded, False) falling out of the trees
onto the rocks every time the sun came out. Quite remarkable, they mimicked huge
snowflakes gently falling to the ground. We were on the cusp of two weather
systems so the sun kept going in and out as did the graylings who gave us a
great performance. I never did see any return to the upper branches when the sun
went in, they just disappeared. Very strange! The day ended with a Southern
White Admiral refusing to leave my daughter's sweaty hand as it soaked up the
salts, it nearly got in the car with her as we packed up to return home.
Late August is not the best time to see a variety of butterflies but we were
more than happy noting 48 species including 33 first timers. The Geranium Bronze
was common close to human habitation, we even noted two in cop in the middle of
the Dali Museum at Figueres, quite surreal ! Camberwell Beauty was eventually
spotted over our heads as we swam in the Med between two headlands at Cap Salou
whilst a Two-tailed Pasha came off worst when it crashed into our front
windscreen. Next time you go abroad why not put my theory to the test, I am
confident your holiday will be given an extra dimension.
Richard Southwell
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