BENFIELD WILDLIFE

AND

CONSERVATION GROUP

SUMMER NEWSLETTER

2014

Web Site: http://benfieldwildlifeandconservationgroup.wordpress.co.ukAnd

http://benfieldlnr.tumblr.com/

For further details phone – 01273 410430

Chair’s Report

We have had a very successful Moth survey and Flower Survey although the numbers for the Glow worm survey have been the lowest on record and we do not know why this is happening, further investigation is needed to find the reason.We have been accepted for the grant we applied for to replace the ageing board at the bridge, a new sign for the entrance to the reserve off the bypass, finishing off the hedging at Badgers Way and ongoing training.If you have photos and a short story to tell about a find on the reserve and would like it to go on the Benfield Diary Blog please let me know on e mail: benfield123@hotmail.co.uk or phone 410430 or call round and talk to me.

********************************************************The Perfect Night !!

The moth trapping evening this year was absolutely fantastic. Steven Teale our expert came along once again to help us run the survey, bringing along his Robinson type 125W mercury vapour trap and generator and Sally brought her Twin 30w Actinic Skinner Trap along. The night was perfect, warm, no moon and no wind.Almost as soon as we switched on the lights the moths arrived in their hundreds, some huge,

fluttering along and banging into us, some with brilliant colours and one butterfly joined the moths in their frantic dash to the lights and straight into the traps.The butterfly was a Red Admiral. A huge Poplar Hawkmoth landed on our Hedgehog lady, Becky’s leg, and stayed with her all evening.

The moths filled the air and the variety of species was

amazing. In 3½ hours Steven had counted in over 700 moths between the two traps and had identified 112. I will attach a list of those trapped in the winter news letter.

LEOPARD MOTHELEPHANT HAWKMOTH

SWALLOW TAIL MOTH

Flower Walk on Benfield Hill Sunday June29th.

A group of 23 people had a very pleasant walk over the hill looking at and identifying the flowers. The weather was kind to us apart from the wind which probably kept the butterflies out of the air-only a few being seen. Over 70 species of plants were identified which was a good total for the time spent looking. The Common Spotted Orchids were virtually finished, but we

had a wonderful show of Pyramidal Orchids-probably the best we have seen over the years .In an area on the west where a maximum of over 50 were seen a few years ago there were well over 100 spikes . There

was no sign of the Fragrant Orchid, but someone had a photo of one on the east side, so all is not lost yet. There were no surprises, but the hill looked pretty good thanks to grazing sheep, hard working volunteer scrub clearers and the weather. Thank you to all those who came along.

************************************************** Sally’s Moth Trap.

Two friends bought me a moth trap as I had been showing interest since we had some trapping on Benfield. Bearing in mind I have a bit of a moth phobia (Motte phobia) it was a risky gift, but I am finding it fascinating. After only two trappings in the garden I and my two friends identified 10 moths the first time and 18 the second after much searching through books and the internet. As there are about 2,500 moths in the U.K. I am well on the way to recognising them all !!!!!!! If anyone is slightly interested in moths, I can recommend a trap. Have a go.The trap is a Twin 30w Actinic Skinner Trap which runs off the mains. It measures 45cm.square and 35cm. high. The company is called Anglian Lepidoptera Supplies.

Adventures in the Outdoor WorldTalk by Michael Blencowe,

Of the Sussex Wildlife Trust

Michael Blencowe very kindly stepped in replacing Dr Danahar for our talk at this year’s Annual General Meeting for which we are most thankful for. Michael’s exciting, fascinating and humorous talk, on this occasion, looked at one of his personal stories. The year 2011 was one of significance in his life – Michael got married and also lost his job. He also bought a book called ‘The Outdoor World (A Young Collector’s Handbook) by William Furneaux 1855 – (Died 1940) - All a boy wants to interest him in Natural History. Life was different in those times. Entertainment was found in fields e.g. with butterfly nets. The book gives advice on collecting bird eggs, preserving soap – saucepan should not be used for anything else! It also talks about guns, and buying arsenic and cyanide at a chemist, how times have changed. Michael also inherited Mrs Beaton’s Cookery Book with recipes for Lark or Rook pie, Corncrake, Roast PartridgeMichael decided to put together a list of things to try to see during the year and several have been noted here.Michael was hoping to see a Pine Martin on his honeymoon in Scotland, so this was noted on his list. The Visitors book said people had seen one, but in spite of trying to tempt them with special cake, jam sandwiches and haggis, early in the morning, only ptarmigan was seen. However, an actual mountain hare was seen later.The Mottled Umber moth was on the list and the book describes the caterpillar’s locomotion, it belongs to the family of geometer, inchworm or earth measurer. The female has no wings. David Burrows, a moth expert, suggested shining a torch on the bottom of trees but after doing this many times had no success. Then Michael got an email from a friend who asked what type of insect was on the washing. On arrival he found it was the above moth!!!.The Death Watch Beetle was another yet to be seen, on the list. This was eventually found and a recording was taken of the noise it made chewing through the wood, we were all intrigued to hear the recoding which Michael played for us. Michael had not seen a Quail, so this was duly put on the list. He had heard that they are on the South Downs. So with his friend Graham Lyons, who was doing a Farmland bird survey. They both went out early one morning, but only heard them. Graham went again the next day and saw two!! Just how frustrating was that!!

The Field Cricket was another one on the list. These are on two sites in Sussex. A colleague was contacted to help locate them but again they could only be heard, even after finding and sitting near their burrow, from where they didn’t emerge. Michael subsequently saw one in France.

These were just a few on his list which have been recounted here. We had an excellent evening and sincere thanks go to Michael for a most enjoyable talk.

Looking Towards the Future of Our Young People

A surprise phone call from Hannah Norton of the South Downs National Park asking us to guide seven science teachers around Benfield Hill Local Nature Reserve, to show how the hillside has been managed and the results. With all our wonderful chalk loving flowers in full bloom and with the orchids scattered all over the hillside, it was an easy task.Hannah explained that South Downs Project uses the incredible diversity of landscapes, habitats, places and learning providers that make up the South Downs National Park to support year-round structured programmes of learning and engagement based around the National Park.

The Teachers were encouraged to consider the John Muir Award for their pupils. A national environmental award that encourages people of all backgrounds to connect with, enjoy and care for wild places through a structured yet adaptable scheme. The Award isn't competitive but should challenge each participant.  It encourages awareness and responsibility for the natural environment, in a spirit of fun, adventure and exploration. The Award is open to all, and is the educational initiative of the Trust. To achieve an Award each participant must:

Discover a wild place Explore its wildness Conserve - take personal responsibility Share experiences

There are 3 levels of the Award, encouraging a progressive involvement. The same 4 challenges are repeated for each level, with increased involvement in time, activity and ownership.

1. Discovery Award (introductory level) minimum 4 days2. Explorer Award (intermediate level) minimum 8 days3. Conserver Award (advanced level) minimum 20 days over 6 months

So with the help and encouragement from Hannah at the South Downs National Park we really do hope the teachers will take up the challenge of the John Muir Award. More information

can be found here. http://learning.southdowns.gov.uk/help/learning-outside-the-classroom *************************************

PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR GROUP

PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR GROUP

PLEASE JOIN US FOR OUR AUTUMN TALK ON THE

“ A – Z OF SUSSEX” BY CLIVE HAMBLINON WEDNESDAY 29TH OCTOBER 2014 7.30

AT THE OASIS CHURCH HALL CORNER OF NORTHEASE DRIVE AND HANGLETON WAY.

LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE ..... RAFFLE TEA COFFEE

Stanmer Festival

Every year this event gets more interesting with the different variety of stalls exhibiting with lots of free things for the children to do and make. The Rangers did sterling work clearing up and making good after the occupation once again of the travellers.

As sheep Lookerers for Brighton and Hove Conservation Flock we occasionally help out at the various events the young petting lambs are taken to, and Stanmer is definitely one of our favourite events. We ensure the children wash their hands after petting the lambs, helping with the queues of youngsters waiting their turn to tentatively touch a sheep and explain to the parents the reasons why we use the sheep to help in the conservation of our special chalk habitats.

Among the stall holders this year was a group from the university of Sussex including our Hedgehog advisor Becky Walton and Kate , of the Hedgehog Survey Tunnels. Becky was helping the children to make small model Hedgehogs to take home.

The Drumming group was excellent entertainment. Paul Gorringe the Brighton and Hove City Ranger cetainly had his work cut out showing and explaining the large container of lively black caterpillars he had brought along.The Southern Water Board stall had good advice on saving water and money with free handouts.If you did not make it this year, put it in your diary to attend the Stanmer Festival next year, it is well worth a visit and the children will really enjoy it.

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A Thank You and Reminder from the Membership Secretary

Our Membership secretary, Dave Bell, would like to thank all of those kind people who have paid their April subscriptions so promptly and a reminder that if you have received this newsletter and not paid that your subscriptions are now overdue.Your subscriptions are the mainstay of the group and enable us to pay for our insurance for the group, to provide the newsletter three times a year, provide leaflets for the notice board, hiring the hall, talks, tools, training etc.We would like to welcome all our new members, thank you for joining us; we hope to meet you on the reserve or at our talks.

Back Garden Hedgehog Survey

Becky Walton’s Hedgehog event in May this spring was a great success and hopefully the message came over to everyone that Hedgehogs are declining, please be careful when you are strimming the rough edges in your garden and leave a space under your fence so that Hedgehogs can move freely around the area to get food.

I wonder how many people signed up with Kate from the Sussex University, to use the Tracking Tunnel survey kit, offered at the event. In the past we have had hedgehogs in our garden and by undertaking the survey, we hoped to find out if we still had them around.

The survey was conducted over five days, and the instructions were quite straight

forward. As you can see in the photo it is a triangular shaped tunnel, flat packed for convenience, just pops up into shape and sheds the rain easily. Inside the tunnel there is an easy, slide out flat board, at each end of the board goes a sheet of blank white A4 paper pinned with paper clips to keep it in position in the centre of the board you place the bait you are given, which in our case was a tin of hot dogs!! And then a mixture of non poisonous ink mixture was placed either side of the food, enabling the creatures to enter the tunnel eat the food and leave their footprints behind on the paper, to be checked.

On checking the paper covered in little footprints there were no Hedgehogs in the garden and only mice tracks were shown clearly on the paper.

When the time was up, Kate collected up the paperwork and the results of this survey will now be checked and collated at Sussex University. This was a most interesting garden project and if you are interested in conducting a survey yourself you can contact them on http://www.mammal.org.uk/footprint-tunnel-survey-0 e mail hedgehogsurvey@ptes.org     or ph: 020 70628623

Ink PadsPaper clips

Dates for your Diary

Benfield Wildlife and Conservation Group Autumn Talk “The A –Z of Sussex” on Wednesday 29 th 0October 7.30” at The Oasis Church

Hall corner of Northease Drive and Hangleton Way Hove. Please support your group. Ph 01273 410430 Tea – Coffee – Raffle

Scrub Clearing on Benfield Hill Local Nature Reserve. Starting on Tuesday 24th September at 10.30 and every Tuesday. Work takes place

until end of March 2015. Meet 10.30am on the hillside. Please come along and help for as long or short a time as you want. Wear suitable clothes, footwear and gloves. Contact ph no. 01273 410430

After dark Saturday 20 September 7 pm - 9 pm Price: Cost: £10 per person (£5 for RSPB members and half price for children £5/£2.50) As the sun begins to set all sorts of creatures emerge; owls hoot from the woods, bats flit around the trees, moths search for nectar and newts explore the ponds.

We’ll take you on a walk and introduce you to some of our night creatures. Booking essential. Torch and insect repellent recommended.

Directions: RSPB Pulborough Brooks nature reserve Wiggonholt, Pulborough Telephone: 01798 875851 E-mail: pulborough.brooks@rspb.org.uk

Festival of fungi Saturday 4 October to Sunday 19 October Drop in between 9.30 am - 5 pm Price: Normal nature trail entry fee. Fairy ink-caps,

green elf cup and witches’ eggs - it’s no wonder that there are so many magical tales about fungi. Join us for a celebration of fungi and see if you can distinguish the yellow brain from the yellow stags horn and the parasol from the puffball. Come along any day and try our self-guided fungi trail which explores the heathland and helps you find and identify some marvellous mushrooms using our fungi ‘top trumps’ spotting sheets Telephone: 01798 875851 E-mail: pulborough.brooks@rspb.org.uk

Wild families - Wild in the woods Saturday 1 November 11.30-1 pm Price: Cost: £4 per child (£2 for Wildlife Explorer members); Adults pay the normal nature trail entry fee. Go on a woodland treasure hunt, hug a tree and build a woodland den as we go 'wild in the woods'. Telephone: 01798 875851 E-mail: pulborough.brooks@rspb.org.uk