| Solihull Environment Day |
Butterfly Conservation - Warwickshire were present at the Solihull Environment Day at Meriden Park, Chelmsley Wood on 21st June 2008.
In spite of a day of continuous rain just under £100 was raised through the tombola and donations. Thanks to Val Weston, Keith Warmington and John Reeve for enduring the awful conditions to show off a good range of moth species, trapped overnight on our Ryton Wood Meadows reserve by Alan Prior. Thanks also for help on the stall from the volunteers from Barclays Bank.
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21-06-2008 |
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| Declines in the Small Tortoiseshell |
Many people have noticed dramatically reduced numbers of the Small Tortoiseshell butterfly during the last two
summers. Butterfly Conservation has become concerned that Sturmia bella, a parasitoid fly that has arrived recently in the UK
may be to blame. A new project to investigate this is underway in collaboration with researchers at the
University of Oxford.
Volunteers are needed to help with this research by collecting and rearing small tortoiseshell and
peacock caterpillars to assess levels of parasitism. If you are interested in taking part, further information and instructions is available online at:
http://users.ox.ac.uk/~scat3369/
Dr Owen T. Lewis (e: owen.lewis@zoo.ox.ac.uk)
Department of Zoology, University of Oxford
South Parks Road,
Oxford,
OX1 3PS |
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02-06-2008 |
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| Turning Landfill into Wildflower Meadow |
 The last of the Barclays Bank sponsored work parties took place at Ryton Wood Meadows on Saturday 17th May 2008.
Blisters and broken trowels were the order of the day as over 100 Devilsbit Scabious plants were planted in the meadow and also Dog Violets under the newly planted hedge lines. Butterflies on the site should appreciate the extra nectar sources that these plants provide. |
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17-05-2008 |
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| An epidemic of extinctions: Decimation of life on earth |
Species are dying out at a rate not seen since the demise of the dinosaurs, according to a report published today (Friday 16th May 2008) and human behaviour is to blame. Emily Dugan (The Independent Newspaper) counts the cost.
The world's species are declining at a rate "unprecedented since the extinction of the dinosaurs", a census of the animal kingdom has revealed. The Living Planet Index out today shows the devastating impact of humanity as biodiversity has plummeted by almost a third in the 35 years to 2005.
The report, produced by WWF, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and the Global Footprint Network, says land species have declined by 25 per cent, marine life by 28 per cent, and freshwater species by 29 per cent.
Jonathan Loh, editor of the report, said that such a sharp fall was "completely unprecedented in terms of human history". "You'd have to go back to the extinction of the dinosaurs to see a decline as rapid as this," he added. "In terms of human lifespan we may be seeing things change relatively slowly, but in terms of the world's history this is very rapid."
And "rapid" is putting it mildly. Scientists say the current extinction rate is now up to 10,000 times faster than what has historically been recorded as normal.
As nations meet for the Convention on Biological Diversity in Bonn, these alarming figures will cast a shadow over government pledges to make a "significant" reduction in biodiversity loss by 2010. In fact, the report's authors say that global inaction has already made such a goal totally unattainable.
"It's very damning for the governments that are party to the convention that they are not able to meet the target they set for themselves," said Mr Loh. "The talk doesn't get translated into action. We are failing, and the consequences will be devastating."
Tracking nearly 4,000 species between 1970 and 2005, the team has not only revealed the destruction of the Earth's wildlife, but also pointed the finger at the perpetrators of this devastation.
Ben Collen, extinctions researcher at ZSL, said: "Between 1960 and 2000, the human population of the world has doubled. Yet during the same period, the animal populations have declined by 30 per cent. It's beyond doubt that this decline has been caused by humans."
The study picked out five reasons for species decline, all of which can be traced back to human behaviour: climate change, pollution, the destruction of animals' natural habitat, the spread of invasive species, and the overexploitation of species. At a time when America has finally added the polar bear to the endangered species list, it is emerging that the scale of species destruction reaches far beyond the headline animals. But as in the case of the polar bear, mankind's behaviour needs to be radically changed in order to stop this pillaging of the Earth's biodiversity.
The Yangtze river dolphin is a case in point. Scientists believe it is extinct, as successive searches for the freshwater mammal have proved fruitless. There are many reasons for its rapid path to extinction: collisions with boats, habitat loss and pollution. These factors all point back to one perpetrator: mankind.
Aside from tackling global emissions, the report recommended two ways that species decline could be combated – by avoiding the destruction of animals' natural habitat by overdevelopment or cultivation; and in avoiding the over-farming or fishing of individual species.
The implications of such drastic reductions in biodiversity are already having an impact on human life. "Reduced biodiversity means millions of people face a future where food supplies are more vulnerable to pests and disease and where water is in irregular or short supply," said James Leape, director general of WWF.
"No one can escape the impact of biodiversity loss because reduced global diversity translates quite clearly into fewer new medicines, greater vulnerability to natural disasters and greater effects from global warming. The industrialised world needs to be supporting the global effort to achieve these targets, not just in their own territories where a lot of biodiversity has already been lost, but also globally."
From The Independent Online |
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16-05-2008 |
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| Day of Action at Ryton Wood Meadows Reserve |
Thanks to the generous support of Barclays Bank an extra 40th anniversary event was held at the Ryton Wood Meadows Butterfly Reserve in Warwickshire.
The meadows have recently been fenced so that grazing by five Dexter cattle can be introduced... view the full report |
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19-04-2008 |
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| Rugby Railways & Spoilbank Update |
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Rugby Great Central Disused Railways & Spoilbank
Landscape Project Update
This landscape area for key butterflies and moths has suffered recently by key sites being lost. The GEC site was lost due to development, and the Navigation Cutting was lost due to scrub encroachment.
The loss of the Navigation Cutting sites was particularly sad as in the early 90’s it held one of the two largest Green Hairstreak colonies in Warwickshire together with smaller colonies of Grizzled and Dingy Skippers.
There is developing good news. Thanks to Phil Parr’s effort, the building of the Rugby Western Relief Road, and other developments, there is now an opportunity to reverse this decline.
Mike Slater and Phil and are working with Carillion, CEMEX, Railtrack, St Modwen’s, Warwickshire County Council and Warwickshire Wildlife Trust to create a number of new habitats for the these three threatened butterflies
On the 20th February 2008, there was a meeting with the County Council local representative. Following this Phil and Mike met with the Carillion ecologists from Penny Anderson Associates.
Advice was given on ways to encourage butterflies on newly created habitats on verges of the relief road and areas nearby associated with drainage. Part of the proposals involves using turves from remnants of calcareous grassland in Parkfield Road to create new grassland on a south facing slope at Cawston.
This gives the opportunity to carry out experiments at Cawston to discover which prescription will benefit our key species best. |
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09-03-2008 |
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| Day of Action at Ryton Wood Meadows Reserve |
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| Another 'Day of Action', this time on our butterfly reserve at Ryton Wood Meadows. It is hoped that the several tones of brick and rubble moved during the day to enhance the existing rubble wall will help generate further breeding habitat for Grizzled and Dingy Skipper butterflies. |
| View the full event report. |
03-03-2008 |
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| Day of Action at Stockton Cutting |
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Butterfly Conservation Warwickshire volunteers supported by Barclays Bank volunteers take part in Butterfly Conservation's
40th Anniversary day of action to create habitat for the Grizzled Skipper butterfly at Stockton Cutting. By clearing scrub, it is hoped that the habitat will improve and help both the Grizzled Skipper and Dingy Skipper.
It is also hoped that the Small Blue may re-colonise the site from nearby colonies after volunteers planted 750 Kidney Vetch plugs. In the next few weeks, Birds-foot-Trefoil plants will be planted to help other species. |
 Supported by the CEMEX Community fund. |
| View the full event report. |
25-02-2008 |
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| Government Cuts Threaten Conservation |
Butterfly Conservation fears that budget cuts could undermine Natural England, the agency overseeing and funding biodiversity and wildlife protection.
The issue has been raised in the House of Commons by two MPs wanting to know more about the Government’s intentions.
Butterfly Conservation’s Chief Executive Dr Martin Warren is seeking a meeting with Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for the Environment, to discuss the matter further.
Along with the heads of seven other wildlife NGOs, Dr Warren has set out his objections to the proposed cuts in the following letter to The Guardian:
'It is barely a year since the Government established Natural England as “a powerful new champion of nature”. This commitment has quickly evaporated. Defra now seeks cuts of over 15% to Natural England’s core budget, threatening the loss of up to 150 highly experienced staff or major cuts to core conservation programmes. Even more cuts are planned for 2009-10.
Our country has suffered relentless biodiversity loss over recent decades, The Government has promised both the European Union and its own electorate that this will be halted and reversed by 2010 – i.e. within 36 months at the most.
It will not be possible for the Government to meet this goal, and to do other vital work mitigating climate change, if it cuts back its frontline delivery agency.
We represent Non-Governmental Organisations that have pledged hundreds of thousands of hours of volunteer labour and millions of pounds to help the Government meet this biodiversity target. To have the rug pulled out from under us at this late stage would be the bitterest of setbacks. We urge the Government to reverse these damaging cuts and to honour its commitment to conserving the natural world and the UK’s wildlife'. |
| 22-01-2008 |
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| Branch reserve manager wins award |
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| Mike Slater (3rd from right) was given an Outstanding Volunteer Award during the National AGM, held at Leamington Spa, Warwickshire in recognition of his work at our Ryton Wood Meadows Reserve which was opened in 2007. |
| 18-11-2007 |
| Butterfly Conservation Warwickshire Hosts 2007 National AGM |
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The 2007 National Annual General Meeting and Members Day will
be held at the Trident Technology and Business Centre near Leamington Spa in Warwickshire on Saturday 17th November. The AGM will be followed by several exciting presentations on the work and achievements of the Society. |
| 19-09-2007 |
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| Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull Butterfly News |
The Silver-washed Fritillary appears to be breeding in 11 Warwickshire Woods with Purple Emperor in 3 woodland areas. It is also thought that Purple Emperor may be present in Brandon Woods and Coombe Woods.
There's also great news regarding the Small Blue in the county. it is thought that the species may have colonised a site where Warwickshire BC, with the support of Barclays Bank, planted Kidney Vetch along the Southam bypass in 2005. 60 plants were flowering and Mike Slater hopes to conduct a larval search in the very near future to confirm if Small Blue are indeed breeding here, having made their own way to the site from adjacent breeding colonies in the Southam area. |
| 26-07-2007 |
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| Princethorpe Butterflies |
Silver-washed Fritillary appears to be doing well and is now thought to be breeding in a minimum of 4 of the 8 woodland blocks within the Princethorpe complex. We now have confirmation that Purple Emperor is currently breeding in two woodland blocks and it is suspected that two other blocks may also support breeding Emperors.
Hanson Aggregates have done some great work following advice from Warwickshire BC creating coppiced scallops along the conveyor belt ride at Bubbenhall Wood, while Forestry Enterprise have carried out thinning in Weston Waverly Wood which should benefit our woodland butterflies and moths, especially Wood White and Grizzled Skipper.
It is thought that Green Hairstreak has now colonised Ryton Pools Country Park and Brandon Wood from the Ryton Wood Meadows Reserve colony. BC will be working with Ryton Wood Country Park staff to create new and manage existing Wood White, Green Hairstreak and Grizzled Skipper habitat later this winter. |
| 26-07-2007 |
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| Bubbenhall Meadows |
| Hanson Aggregates have started work to create Dingy Skipper, Wood White and Green Hairstreak habitat at Bubbenhall Meadows. We are also looking to find someone who can monitor a butterfly recording transect at Bubbenhall. |
| 26-07-2007 |
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| Ryton Wood Meadows Reserve |
Tom White Skips are providing essential help in creating Grizzled Skipper habitat with our first skip of rubble being recently delivered to our Ryton Wood Meadows Reserve.
Staff at Barclays Bank will also be helping out on 17th August to create experimental Dingy Skipper and Grizzled Skipper habitat in order for us to ensure effective habitat creation on the reserve in the future, while Middlemarch Environmental will also be providing help removing the dominant weeds on our reserve.
LaFarge and Butterfly Conservation Head Office are providing help with other restoration works on site in order to prepare the meadow for controlled grazing. Once the grazing and habitat management is in place, we look forward to seeing greater numbers of Grizzled Skipper and Dingy Skipper at this important site. |
| 26-07-2007 |
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| Princethorpe Project Update |
The Warwickshire Branch of Butterfly Conservation has been working closely with the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and Carillion over the summer, creating and improving existing Wood White habitat in the Princethorpe Woodlands Complex. 100 to 180 staff will also be providing much needed help with ride management and planting of 3,200 Birdsfoot Trefoil plugs in coppice areas.
During the day, Mike Slater will also conduct several guided walks with the WWT/Carillion staff, providing much needed information about other important species such as the Grizzled Skipper and Dingy Skipper in order to increase awareness and understanding of the needs of these species.
We are also working with WWT and Carillion to formulate on-going support for the Princethorpe Wood White Project. |
| 26-07-2007 |
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| 28th May 2007 - Butterfly and Moth Reserve Opening |
Warwickshire's first Butterfly and Moth reserve was officially opened by Dr Martin Warren, Chief Executive of Butterfly Conservation on the 28th May 2007.
Despite the bad weather typical of a bank holiday weekend, the event was well attended and we even managed to find a few butterflies including Dingy Skipper and Grizzled Skipper butterflies during the Meadows Walk.
The walk was followed by a superb buffet which was enjoyed by everyone even though the rain continued to fall.
[+] further information about the reserve |
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| Mike Slater discusses management issues. |
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| Just some of the people present at the official opening. |
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| BC Chief Executive Dr Martin Warren with Mike Slater cutting the ribbon. |
| 31-05-2007 |
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| Working in Partnership |
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| The Warwickshire Branch of Butterfly Conservation works in partnership with many organisations who actively support our work. |
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