WILDLIFE MATTERS
Further information can be found on the Sussex Wildlife Trust
website
This page is for information on all aspects of local wildlife. It provides
an additional home for monthly newsletters from the Sussex Wildlfie Trust, who
kindly provide the information on a regular basis. Click on the headings on
the left to read the news on Sussex wildlife and wildlife activities.
The
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
- · Our first butterfly of the year, a Red Admiral, was spotted on a warm 4th January. Last year we had to wait until 16th February before a butterfly was recorded.
- · Woodlarks will now be returning to the High Weald to look for breeding territories. These lovely birds (similar to skylarks) could find the newly cleared areas at Broadwater especially attractive. They haven’t bred at Broadwater for many years and their long-term decline was one of the key factors in the RSPB buying the site in 2007 and embarking on this ambitious landscape restoration project. It would be lovely if 2012 was the year they came back. Please let us know if you hear one on the reserve. You can hear their distinctive song on the following webpage: http://www.rspb.org.uk/woodlark
Broadwater Warren
- · The new fencing and gates at Broadwater are almost complete. We’ve created a 150 acre area that can be grazed. Five Exmoor Ponies will be arriving in April. They are currently grazing on the South Downs where they spend their winters mulching through the rank grasses. Here’s their website: http://sussexponygrazing.co.uk
- · Large flocks of Lesser Redpoll have been seen up on the eastern side of the reserve. Flocks of 50+ have been seen frequently. A flock of over 300 was whirling over the open areas on 16th January.
- · A new sighting for the reserve: On 26th January, a Little Egret was seen flying over from north to south. The killing of Little Egret for their feathers was one of the factors that led to the establishment of the RSPB. This beautiful white heron returned to breed in the UK in 1996 and is now a regular and successful breeding species. http://www.rspb.org.uk/littleegret
- · Another unusual sighting.... a Mazda MX5 was spotted at various locations on the reserve, after contractors left a gate open and a visitor drove in, looking for the car park. Finding the gate then locked he had to call us at the reserve office to be let out.
- · Several wooden towers have appeared on the reserve, built from the off-cuts left over from the recent felling work. We rather like having a couple of these interesting and surprising environmental sculptures on the reserve. You can see photos on our Broadwater blog: http://www.rspb.org.uk/broadwaterwarren
- · We’re not only removing trees at Broadwater, we’re also planting trees. 16 of our volunteers have just attended a tree-planting training day and planted 50 native trees and shrubs in an area that we have coppiced for the benefit of our resident dormice. More tree planting will take place in February to enhance areas for dormice and to help restore a rich and diverse native woodland.
- · An excavator has been busy at Broadwater all winter, creating soil scrapes and piling up the material into bunds. This will have uncovered the heather seedbank and we should see lots of heather growing in the scraped areas in 2012 and 13. This expensive but effective method of soil preparation should produce benefits in heather growth for at least 70 to 80 years.
- · 3 small ponds are about to be dug. This is something of a test but we hope these spots will become focal points for wildlife and will also provide an alternative water source for the grazing animals. If successful, we hope more small ponds can be created over the next few years.
- · The dam at the decoy pond has had to be repaired and reinforced this winter. More work at this large pond will take place in 2012 and 13 to make pond more wildlife friendly. Coppicing the trees on the island is going to be a particular challenge!...any volunteers?!?
Tudeley Woods
- · Coppice cutters are close to completing their winter cutting at Tudeley. These guys are cutting sweet chestnut which is then shaped for fencing or other uses. The coppice stools then regrow and the same area can be re-cut in around 15 years time. In the meantime there is a flush of woodland flowers that is great for butterflies and other insects. The new fence posts at Broadwater were cut from the woodland at Tudeley.
- · Heather cut at our Tudeley Woods Reserve has been used at the new Pembury Hospital site in the ground work and restoration around the new hospital buildings. The heather cuttings will provide seeds that help lovely heather-rich banks to develop around the site.
Fore Wood
- · Assistant Warden, Mathew Allen, and a team of volunteers finished opening up one of the main rides that had been made impassable by scrub and logs. This work has created a beautiful sunny ride that will be great for butterflies like the Silver-washed Fritillary. Link: http://tinyurl.com/swfritillary
Events
- · An exciting and varied 2012 events programme for both Broadwater and Tudeley is being put together. Details will be sent out in the March update.
If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact me.
Steve Wheatley
RSPB Weald Sites Manager
Mobile: 07766 697785; Office: 01892 752431
RSPB Wealden Office, Unit 10, Sham Farm Business Units, Eridge Green, Tunbridge Wells, TN3 9JA
Here are some links:
RSPB Broadwater Warren: http://www.rspb.org.uk/broadwaterwarren
Sussex Wildlife Trust reserves: http://www.sussexwt.org.uk/reserves/index.htm
The short-haired bumblebee reintroduction: http://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/subt_project.html
Sussex Butterflies news and sightings: http://www.sussex-butterflies.org.uk/sightings.html
Siskins: http://www.rspb.org.uk/siskin
Photo courtesy of Bill Baston |
And now - click here to hear the Wadhurst nightingale:
recorded by Peter Collins on a tiny Sanyo digital recorder in May. Turn
the volume fo your speakers down or you will be deafened!
If you would like to hear more - Peter can supply a 16 minute CD for
£3. Contact him by e-mail |
.