Wildlife Conservation: Heart of the Levels Wildlife Group

Field Study Centres face closure

2012-01-31T11:38:00.000Z

I have been passing this message on by Twitter and it may be of interest to Bloggers too. Its an extract from an email I received yesterday!

Use this link to view the youtube video produced by the Field Studies Council:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPEenciK8uQ

From: Steve Tilling [mailto:steve@field-studies-council.org]
Sent: 25 January 2012 10:46
To: Steve Tilling
Subject: Save Our Outdoor Education Centres

We have launched a petition to the government calling for them to protect outdoor education centres from imminent closure.

One in three Local Authority outdoor education centres are facing closure which could mean millions of young people are denied potentially life-changing experiences, at a time when health, physical activity and contact with nature are all declining. Some children from poorer and disadvantaged groups may not have another opportunity to share a night away from home and visit places they would not otherwise see.

The sad fact is that closure need not happen, in many cases given extra time these centres could become self sufficient. If centres close they may not reopen again.

****************************************************************************

I'll add a link to see the petition a bit later.

This photo is nothing to do with the email above. I took it in a pub whilst having lunch the other day. Its a very good view of the parts of a flower. The sort of thing our Botany Group have been studying.

A photo a day Jan16th to 20th

2012-01-24T16:25:00.001Z

A rainy day to day, managed a few photos after the rain and taking the opportunity to update my Blog.

The small pond freezes over. 0 C - Jan 16

The dragon fly bugs I photographed in August have been identified for me:

" It looks to be a libellulid dragonfly larva, most probably Libellula depressa, the Broad-bodied Chaser. I think your pond was in its first year last summer - is that correct?

It would be nice to know when it was actually filled with water. This dragonfly is an early species (May) and a colonizer of new ponds. So very likely your specimen was hatched out from an egg laid in May and had grown well and quickly thro' the summer. The adult should emerge next spring i.e. in about 4 months all being well. "

I will be hoping to photograph the event!!

Garryaceae elliptica fully in flower-Jan 17

Rose picked in garden -Jan 18

Snowdrops in shade on east side of garden just opening -Jan19

Probably Helleborus orientalis. Jan20

A photo a day Jan 11th to Jan 15th

2012-01-22T18:12:00.000Z

All a bit time consuming, this photo a day lark. Trying to keep up with it as a record of things happening in our garden. The middle of winter is a hard time to start but it is surprising just what nature is busy doing despite the cold. So here are another batch.

This is the first snowdrop found in a corner of the garden. -Jan11th

This lonely crocus was showing in the lawn and a bit tattered. - Jan12th

The weather forecast was spot on and it was foggy across the levels of Somerset. - Jan13th

The next day was quite a different picture and frosty. - Jan14th

In the middle of our lawn in a spot from where it will have to be removed this thistle has been steadily getting established. This takes us to 15th Jan.

A photo a day jan 6th- 10th

2012-01-16T10:09:00.000Z

Lonicera fragrantissima-Jan6

Crambe cordifloria-Jan7

Mosses and Lichen on slab by lawn-Jan8

lichens various-Jan9

Ivy- Jan10

The big question

2012-01-08T16:49:00.001Z

Our local wildlife conservation group has frequently thought about what we are trying to do and whether it is what our members expect and so in the next copy of the SWT magazine we hope to show the following open letter to our members. But you can read it first.

Yes,but what do you do? I've been asked that a few times and consideringall the meetings and events we organise, I see it as a wake-up call.

Itgives me the feeling that we're not making much impact. I'm stillsearching for a sensible answer but we do have options.

Wecan play it safe with a few meetings on easy subjects or we canbecome much more radical and arrange discussions on the biggerissues. These could be changes to local planning rules and the statusof local wildlife sites, delays in setting up marine conservationareas or the effect on wildlife of anticipated changes to farmingsubsidies.

Wecould do more to support local campaigns like the appeal for theChalkhill Blue Butterfly project.

Ournational body, The Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts, is celebrating100 years since it was set up and pursues nationally importantcampaigns including how the High Speed train projects will affectwildlife. Should we get more involved with these? Check out theirwebsite.

Whatdo YOU think? We'd like to know but whatever we do, we need youractive support. Find out more and how to contact us at:

http://www.somersetwildlife.org/Heart_of_the_Levels

A photo a day in 2012

2012-01-07T17:16:00.000Z

My family thought it would be a good idea if I posted a photo each day taken in our garden featuring our wildlife patch but not necessarily excluding garden plants so I've started but its been a bit difficult to keep up the 365 schedule. Here are the first few.

(The choice of photo revised 14.01.12)

January 1st; Garryaceae elliptica just flowering.

Choisya ternata -Jan2

Fly checking out the notice-Jan3

Our new pond very still-Jan4

January 5th; This doesn't really show the strong winds last night when fences were blown down.

Trying to show effect of strong winds on Eucalyptus

Anger over plans to weaken EU wildlife protection | The Wildlife Trusts

2012-01-03T17:12:00.001Z

Anger over plans to weaken EU wildlife protection | The Wildlife Trusts

The national organisation supporting the Wildlife Trusts around the counties has a web page( see above link) to communicate its views on important national issues. Somerset Wildlife Trust is very involved and we want to keep our MP's informed of our views. Please visit this web site to keep up to date on development

Ragwort identification

2012-01-03T11:41:00.001Z

Towards the end of last summer I was trying to decide what form of Ragwort was growing in our meadow and requested help from Anne and John Bebbington. It may be that we have both Hoary and Common Ragwort. To help John has sent me these photos and as they look so bright and cheerful on this very wet, gloomy and windy January day I thought I would show them here.

First Common or Senecio jacobea

Next is Hoary Ragwort or Senecio erucifolius

And finally both together.

I'm sure you can tell which is which?

All photos by John Bebbington.When summer arrives again I'll report back on my identification efforts!

A Moment In Time Photography Alaska

2012-01-02T21:22:00.000Z

A Moment In Time Photography Alaska

Its a little chilly here in Somerset and I am trying to get one or two photos in our garden each day in 2012. After the second warmest year ever its not surprising that we have no snow. Whilst I sort out my photos the link shown above should take you to Alaska and some snow covered trees. Happy new year!

2011-12-17T09:46:00.001Z

Happy Christmas everyone!!!! Lets all wish for a positive, constructive, peaceful, rewarding and environmentally friendly new year.
Having said all that I'm having problems with my internet connection now so I'll sign off and try again soon.
David

Durban COP 17 News.

2011-12-05T16:07:00.001Z

Click here for more info.

Durban - Nothing short of a new energy industrial revolution is going to hold global warming below 2°C, economist Lord Nicholas Stern said on Monday.

He told reporters at COP 17 in Durban that radical cuts would have to be made in global greenhouse gas emissions.

"The numbers on climate change - if we’re going to have a reasonable chance, at least 50-50, of holding to 2°C - are very clear," Stern said.

"And it’s also clear that they imply that if we’re to achieve the reductions that we have to achieve to get to 2°... those reductions have to be radical, and to achieve it means a new energy industrial revolution."

Stern, author of the landmark Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change, was speaking a day ahead of the start of high-level political negotiations at the climate change conference.

Climate change, the demand for action

2011-12-02T15:07:00.001Z

If you know how the United Nations is organising the battle to limit climate change then just skip the next bit.

Because I was getting confused about what is going on I did a bit of surfing.

IPCC is the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. They have just had a meeting in Kampala. It was identified as the 34th Session from 14th to 19th November. They are working to produce their Fifth Assessment Report, AR5. Due for completion in 2014. Their previous report called AR4 was released in 2007. The IPCC produces assessment reports for the FCCC.

The FCCC is the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Set up in 1992 at the so called Earth Summit in Rio De Janeiro. That led to the Kyoto Protocol.

The FCCC works in parallel with the IPCC. It progresses through COP's (short for Conference of the Parties). Their COP17 is currently in progress in Durban , South Africa. 26th Nov to 7th Dec.

Reports from Durban talk about AEOSIS which is the Alliance of Small Island States with 39 members and LDC's which are the 48 Least Developed Countries. This combined grouping of countries is about 50% of the total UN membership and they want action to start on Jan 1st 2012.

They are now confronted by the rest, some of whom also qualify as LDC's including India, Brazil and China who don't want action before 2020.

To find our what the situation is in the Conference you can find reports on the BBC Environment pages and no doubt else where.

If I've missed anything important don't hesitate to tell me! Click here for a link to the BBC. Wiki is very good also.

2011-12-02T10:08:00.001Z

The natural environment has been identified as the major obstacle in the future prosperity of the UK.
Please read the HM Government Document;
National Infrastructure Plan 2011
Click here to view the plan.
Here is an extract from the plan which expands on the views which many people have objected to in the Planning System proposed newNational Planning Policy Framework:

Reforming the planning and consenting systems
To tackle barriers in planning, the Government is placing the presumption in favour ofsustainable development at the heart of the planning system, requiring a positive approach tobe taken to plan-making and to decisions on individual planning applications.
As set out in Chapter 6, as part of implementing the recommendations of the Penfold Review,the Government will:

ensure the key consenting and advisory agencies have a remit to promotesustainable development as soon as the National Planning Policy Framework isfinalised. This will ensure that these bodies consider the impact of their decisions onsustainable economic growth and swiftly approve consents when it is appropriateto do so; and
introduce a 13 week maximum timescale for the majority of non-planningconsents, to speed up the consenting process and give certainty to developers. Thiswould take immediate effect for Government agencies.
In addition, the Government will:

ensure that there is a more effective mechanism for applicants to obtain an awardof costs, if there is an appeal against refusal of a planning permission where astatutory consultee has acted unreasonably, through measures to be implementedin summer 2012. The Government will also improve the performance of the keystatutory consultees in responding swiftly to applications;
build more flexibility into the new major infrastructure planning process, particularlyin the pre-application phase, by summer 2012, as part of a light touch review ofthe process responding to feedback from users of the regime; and
ensure that compliance with the Habitats and Wild Birds Directives does not lead tounnecessary costs and delays to development, while continuing to support theDirectives’ objectives. The Government is reviewing the directives as currentlyimplemented in England by Budget 2012 and is committed to tackling blockagesfor developments where compliance is particularly complex or has large impacts. Inaddition, the Government can announce progress on specific projects wherecompliance has already proved problematic, including Falmouth Harbour.

Reflections of a Curlew: New Relationship With Nature - The Government is g...

2011-11-30T15:50:00.000Z

By visiting the Blog shown below you can read a lot more about the Radio 4 programme and Mary Colwell's thoughts on the subject.

Reflections of a Curlew: New Relationship With Nature - The Government is g...: The Great Hall at the University of Bristol for the recording of Sustaining Life for Radio 4 Panelists J...

World population and nature

2011-11-30T15:08:00.001Z

I listened to a poem written specially for the occasion and read out by the poet during the Radio 4 recording on Monday evening. In the middle of a discussion about world population growth and its effect on nature it was a dramatic part of the whole evening. Listening to it live is probably the best way to experience the poets feelings for the subject. Below are some extracts from a transcript of the spoken word.The reading had more impact by taking place in the Great Hall of Bristol University. Its a splendid venue.
You can find out more about the Radio 4 programme by going to my later posting.

Listen to the recorded programme on Dec 23rd on Radio 4.

Celebration

Go fora walk run in the woods and breathe in
Mother nature till shefills your veins
Travel, view, as many beautiful landscapes
asyou can until your imagination complains

*********************
*********************

Sit on top of a satellitesee the world
and the lands on which we all live
Take it inand ask yourself what can I invent?
what can I not take? What canI give?

***************************
***************************

Trust her she continues tofeed us
and give us all we need to drink
but she does more thanthat
She’s that essential creative link

*************************
*************************

You can do it, amazeyourself,
this place is all we’ve got
This is our home andour children’s
children’s, children’s home
What? Don’ttell me you forgot?

Read by the poet, Miles Chambers

Living Landscapes

2011-11-23T10:51:00.001Z

Its always good to start with a great photograph and I think this qualiflies. Photo by John Bebbington showing a Large Elephant Hawke moth on honeysuckle. I include it because its a special image but also as a demonstration of the wildlife that the subject of this post is all about.

Its probably three years since I heard Diana Pound run a session at a Wildlife Trust AGM. I liked the subject and format and kept in touch with her consultancy by email. Details of a big event next Feb have just been announced and the subject is very topical and very relevant to the world we find ourselves in. I hope that people will enquire about this event and I hope someone from Somerset will be able to attend. Living Landscapes are an important part of SWT strategy.

Click here for more details.

and if you want to see what the Somerset Wildlife Trust means by the term Living Landscape, click here

Here is a brief extract from the flier for the event:

This event champions smarter thinking, co-operation and collaboration to help you achieve more with less across urban and rural landscapes and benefit people, places and wildlife.

Keys to success are effective partnerships, pooled resources, effective communication, good practice stakeholder participation, novel collaborations and social enterprise.

Orchid - night flowering

2011-11-22T12:15:00.001Z

Our local orchids

Having a photo of a common pyramidal orchid on the header for my Blog I was very interested to see a news report on BBC about a new variety of orchid which normally only flowers at night. It was discovered in Papua New Guinea in an area authorised for logging!
Click here to go to the BBC web page. On the page is another link to " videos, news and facts " about orchids both in the UK and world wide.
We have two species on our local meadow, Bee and Pyramidal.
On our local Wildlife Trust reserves we can find around half a dozen species. We are planning to organise a visit to all 15 or so reserves next summer and will record what we can find.

2011-11-17T14:59:00.001Z

Being a volunteer with the Wildlife Trust is almost a full time job and in another short briefing here are some of the recent activities I find myself involved in.

No sooner had I sent off my comments to my MP and the Gov on the NPPF ( see my earlier post) than I learn about the Neighbourhood Planning Bill ( which I suppose I had heard about but not taken too seriously). It might be very significant and I've started finding out what its implications might be. I think there is a consultation period now so that could important but what should we say?

I might join the local history society to find our more about the history of the hedges round our village and fields. Some are likely to be hundreds of years old. It important from a wildlife point of view to be able to argue against any move to cut them down.

Attended a meeting of the local Area Groups a couple of weeks ago, which is a good place to find out how other groups are getting on . We can them make our views known to the Trust. We have some differences about how we volunteers would like more support in trying to get better web site coverage and in making contact with our members. An ongoing discussion. Our Group had thought about having its own web site but that's on hold at present.

This week have had a local group committee meeting with two guests who might join our committee. The meeting as usual ranged over quite a few topics and might have been a little confusing for our guests. Talked about our future programme of events for 2012. More summer site visits to our local reserves perhaps. Tonight we have a talk about the importance of woodlands and how they function. Hope we have a reasonable turnout.

Yesterday spent most of the day at the HQ of the SWT. First in a meeting of the Private and Community Nature Reserves Network . Its just a way for land owners with a few acres to get help in managing their land for the benefit of wildlife and to be able to share their experience. with others.There are about 200 members. Discussed two field events next year with a Botany field trip included

Most of us stayed on to sit in on a presentation by the manager of the local RSPCA rescue and rehabilitation centre. Its about 10 miles from here and I hope to arrange a visit to see their work and facilities. Very impressive.

Lastly a committee member is hoping to find more people to take a few battery hens from local farmers who are banned from keeping chickens in battery conditions from next Jan. A good idea , not wildlife of course and I don't think we could cope with looking after them. The Hen Welfare Trust will tell you more.

That'll do for this week.

PS Don't forget that the IPCC is meeting this week in Kampla between 18th and 19th. We should hear their latest news and views on climate change.

Reflections of a Curlew: People and Wildlife - A Shared Earth - BBC Recording

2011-11-17T00:04:00.000Z

Reflections of a Curlew: People and Wildlife - A Shared Earth - BBC Recording

You might find the programme referred to in the link of interest. Just click on the words above. I've reserved three tickets and as far as I can see tickets are still available. ( checked today 20.11.11).
This is a BBC recording on November 28th at 6.30 pm for a Radio 4 programme debating world population issues and their effect on Wildlife.The programme will be broadcast on 23rd Dec 20.00 hrs and repeated on the 24th
Its part of a series which I regret I havent picked up on before called "Saving Species" and this particular programme is titled Population and the Natural World.Its produced by Mary Colwell who amongst other things writes the Blog at http://marycolwell.blogspot.com/ or click.here.

High speed train plans are off the rails | The Wildlife Trusts

2011-11-13T18:54:00.002Z

A friend who lives near the proposed route of the new HS train asked me to do what I could to help their campaign to reduce the irreversible damage which will be caused to many environmentally vital areas along the route. I used to be a member of the local Berks,Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust (Visit their campaign page, here, for full details of the wildlife which will be damaged or lost). It covers much of the Chilterns so I feel personally the damage which will be done even though I now live over 100 miles away. I'm showing below what the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts has said about this project.

High speed train plans are off the rails | The Wildlife Trusts

High speed train plans are off the rails

Thursday 16th June 2011

Stephanie Hilborne OBE, Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts

"The Prime Minister will be heading ‘off the rails’ if he doesn’t withdraw the current HS2 proposal and fully consider the role of high speed rail in England.
At The Wildlife Trusts’ annual conference, held this week, chief executives of 36 local Wildlife Trusts signed a letter to David Cameron, in which they express shared concern at the “very serious damage to wildlife and the countryside that would result from development of the preferred route for the proposed high speed railway line from London to the West Midlands (HS2 Phase 1).”
The letter continues: “We recognise the need for an efficient and sustainable transport system and support moves to a low carbon economy. But as your government has recognised, nature also has great value both to the economy and to the well being of society. To develop built infrastructure at such cost to wildlife contradicts the principles at the heart of The Natural Choice: Securing the Value of Nature – a white paper we called for and greatly welcome.”

“We believe a fresh look is the only way for this Government to leave a positive legacy and to live up to its ambition"

Stephanie Hilborne OBE, Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts, calls on the Prime Minister, on behalf of its membership, to withdraw the proposal for High Speed 2 Phase 1 until there has been fuller strategic consideration of the role of High Speed Rail in this country.
She said: “The last Government initiated these proposals in the absence of this and the current assessment of options is in our view flawed. It has failed to take proper account of alternative approaches to improving the speed and capacity of train routes north from London, or even alternative routes for HS2.
“We believe a fresh look is the only way for this Government to leave a positive legacy and to live up to its ambition, expressed in the white paper, of ensuring that ‘this generation is the first to leave the natural environment of England in a better state than it inherited’.”
The Wildlife Trusts have a total membership of more than 800,000 and is the largest voluntary organisation dedicated to conserving the full range of the UK’s habitats and species."

I feel obliged to write yet again to our "Green " government.

National Planning Policy Framework ( NPPF ) Reply to my comments.

2011-11-10T11:16:00.001Z

I was pleased this morning to receive in the post a letter from the Under Secretary of State replying via my MP to my comments on the NPPF.
I was intending to include it in this post but I have a problem with my scanning so hope to add it later.
I take it to mean that whilst it doesn't say that they agree with me, of course, it might show a glimmer of hope that the Govt is listening to the public and all the other organisations who have criticised the proposals.

I've copied it to our Wildlife Trust so they can see that we volunteers and doing our bit to support their more official efforts.

We have a committee meeting next week so I'll be able to show the results of my comments. We also have our next public meeting with a talk on the importance of woodlands. Woods are often one of the elements of our countryside which suffer with housing and commercial developments.

With some help I can now attach the letter. Just deleted my address.

Spider. Smallest and oldest

2011-11-09T22:27:00.001Z

BBC News has the story behind the presentation of a 53 million year old, 1mm spider found in a piece of amber in France.

Click .here

National Planning Policy Framework ( NPPF )

2011-11-04T11:47:00.001Z

The Kingfisher Project introduces primary school children to wild life out on the fields of a local farm.

Here they were examining owl pellets to identify their food and then being shown a beehive.

There is a great deal of work going on in many ways to educate our children in environmental matters.

But I've just written to my MP! I am commenting on the consultation process which has been held recently about proposed changes to planning law. This is a personal view not necessarily the views of our local group.

David Heath CBE MP, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA

04.11.11

Dear David Heath MP,

Thank you for your letter dated 13^th October on the subject of the NPPF.

I did also send my comments via the web site for comments.

I made the point that I have had some contact with planning laws over many years, first in my work in the construction industry and more recently as a member of a local village society in Buckinghamshire and very recently as a volunteer with the Somerset Wildlife Trust.

The words “presumption in favour of development” jumped off the page in the draft document and I can’t believe they are meaningless or should be read to mean nothing has changed. The whole exercise is designed to change what had gone before.

To say that nothing has changed since the 1940’s is, I’m afraid, a sad reflection on our failure to respond to the huge advance in Climate Change science which will be no doubt reviewed again in South Africa shortly. Biodiversity loss is yet another related major issue.

The opening words in the document should have said that there is a presumption to ensure environmental sustainability before any development is approved. The future of our one and only planet is quite important.

I notice that even our military leaders recognise that running an aircraft carrier is unsustainable. That is new!

I notice you refer to protection afforded to national parks, AONB’s and SSSI’s. I am involved in the conservation of a Local Wildlife Site and they are important too.

Your enthusiasm for The Localism Bill is worrying. To remove carefully worked out national directives which have the benefit of scientific guidance will leave local councillors very much in the dark in trying to decide which developments are sustainable. There have been plenty of local examples of pressure being applied to get council approval for suspect schemes, some within your own constituency.

It is a concern that the South Somerset District Council has only one Ecologist employed and then only part time.

I can only hope that you and your colleagues will exercise your own due diligence in making sure you don’t preside over a damaging new law.

Yours sincerely,

Starlings

2011-11-04T09:49:00.000Z

Starlings at Dawn!
Here is a good reason to join the Twitter family. Somerset Wildlife Trust provides a lot of news items this way and I recommend you sign up to Twitter and follow Somerset Wildlife Trust. I've copied the Tweet information which may give you a link to this particular photo. If you are already on Twitter then it should be straight forward.

I'm pleased to see this photo taken at dawn as the overnight roosting birds leave to to go back to their "day job" I fully intend to make the early visit myself soon.

SomersetWT Som Wildlife Trust

Cracking photo of the starlings leaving Ham Wall - early morning magic ow.ly/7iFjG #somersetstarlings #somersetlevels ^JA

or try this:

Starlings | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Local news

2011-11-02T12:56:00.001Z

I think I should Blog about some of the small stuff going on in my small part of Somerset. We're getting on with our programme of public meetings. Talks so far on Beavers and then on Rattle Snakes I missed the first which whilst an important conservation subject only attracted a small attendance. Snakes were a more popular subject. We need a certain number paying our very reasonable charges just to cover the cost of the speaker and the hire of the hall.
Last Sundays walk in the Beer Wood was excellent and discovered a rare species for this part of Europe. That was a bit special for the group and a good addition to the record. We must look again next year to see if it will reappear.
Here is a picture of the moment of discovery! Identified as Battarrea phalloides or also known as a Sandy Stiltball. Followed by the Group gathering round to see what all the fuss was about.I should add that the specimen was well into the cycle of dispersal of spores but the specimen was left in place as a sensible practice.

I came across an old small booklet recently on the subject of hedges. Their history is very much tied up in social history going back to the Enclosure Laws which allowed land owners to make it impossible for the general public to have access. It included articles on methods of dating hedges based on a survey of the numbers of species of shrubs and trees that had appeared over time. I've made contact with a local History Society to see if they can help in any way with identifying local ancient hedges.

This photo is of our newly planted hedge three years ago which contains seven species of hedge plants. According to the theory if you found a hedge with such a number of species it would be several hundreds of years old. That might be confusing at some time in the future! Here is a picture of a worthy volunteer doing the planting by fitting canes and plastic guards to stop the rabbits from eating the young plants..

Last Monday I attended a regular meeting of Chairs of Local Area Groups and had a very stimulating discussion about how we all function and how we relate to the parent body , the Somerset Wildlife Trust. Amongst many points raised was the need to review and update a 5 year old document which laid down rules and guidelines for the work we all do as volunteers. On the basis of the old rule that anyone who speaks out on such items gets asked to be involved in the job of doing the revision. So I've got a nice little project for the next 2 or 3 months.

Meanwhile of course our own small committee has its next meeting in a weeks time when we will need to review our future programe and work out what our priorities are. We are very limited in volunteer resources and need to attract more help.

Fungi Foray

2011-11-01T12:41:00.001Z

We had another fascinating day in Beer Woods and the weather had been kind to us by raining during the week but giving us a dry day for our search.

I've just received a preliminary listing of the fungi spotted by the 14 members and friends who spent over two hours looking for specimens.

We are lucky that we have records of previous forays starting with 2004. A check on the numbers of different species seen shows a wide variation.
2004: 36; 2005:25, 2006:42, 2007:42, 2008: 48; and now in 2011 a total of 23, maybe with a few more awaiting identification.
Most fungi enthusiast in this area reckon it has been a bad year weather wise for fungi and our count reflects that.

Our group got quite excited by the discovery of a single specimen of Battarrea phalloides also known as Sandy Stiltball. A rare find here apparently and a Red Data Book listing. When you have spent hours looking for the Holy Grail I think its reasonable to get a bit excited.

Advertising and Wildlife

2011-10-25T10:56:00.002+01:00

This is an interesting view on a major influence on our efforts to conserve wild life. Please read the full article in the Guardian to see George's argument in full. The title below should link to the article.Our problems in wildlife conservation are all linked to the demands put on our environment by our human demands for endless development, growth and prosperity. Advertising must make it harder to find a sensible balance.George Monbiot gets to the heart of a big issue as usual. Posted: 24 Oct 2011 12:25 PM PDT Extracts.Advertising trashes our happiness and trashes the planet. And my income depends on it.By George Monbiot. Published in the Guardian 24th October 2011We think we know who the enemies are: banks, big business, lobbyists, the politicians who exist to appease them. But somehow the sector which stitches this system of hypercapitalism together gets overlooked.I am talking about the industry whose output frames this column and pays for it: advertising. For obvious reasons, it is seldom confronted by either the newspapers or the broadcasters.Advertising claims to enhance our choice, but it offers us little choice about whether we see and hear it, and ever less choice about whether we respond to it. Since Edward Bernays began to apply the findings of his uncle Sigmund Freud, advertisers have been developing sophisticated means of overcoming our defences(3).In public they insist that if we become informed consumers and school our children in media literacy we have nothing to fear from their attempts at persuasion. In private they employ neurobiologists to find ever more ingenious methods of bypassing the conscious mind.

Tell Hicks Herpetologist extrordinary.

2011-10-22T00:15:00.002+01:00

Lace Monitor

� All content contained within this site is protected by
Copyright Laws.
No images may be copied or reproduced without full
written permission from the copyright holder.

We had an excellent talk and presentation on Thursday on the fascinating subject of research and field studies for the identification of rattlesnakes. Tell Hicks was the speaker who has a life time spent studying these beautiful creatures and painting them in oils. The Lace Monitor above shows the range of Tell's work..

Although Tell started his interest in snakes when he was a teenager in England he soon left home and started travelling round the world trying to learn all he could about his chosen subject. He started finding snakes in the most isolated places much of the time in the USA. Without any formal art training he was soon producing a range of fine and very detailed oil paintings of the numerous sub species of Rattlesnake.His paintings have been awarded professional recognition in recent years and are much in demand.

In an hours talk he could only touch on the subject but nevertheless the trials and tribulations of herping were very amusingly brought to life. He brought with him prints from his extensive range of work normally undertaken on commission together with caps and tee shirts all sporting his designs. It became clear that observing and studying wildlife is the same the world over and requires a lot of patience and field knowledge. Tell's work has taken him to the dramatic Grand Canyon as well as our local Quantocks in Somerset
He has a web site where you can see much more of his work. Click here

Included on his home page is a well known US citizen who wished to acquire a tattoo based on Tells work. In the talk I had to clarify that the gentleman was not in fact Tell himself despite a slight resemblance.
He did end his presentation with a slide showing a beautiful English Adder which he agreed was as striking as any overseas rattlesnake.

Tell has given many talks to us in the Wildlife Trust in Somerset and elsewhere in the UK and spends a fair time in the USA so we were very pleased to get the chance to meet with him again.

Starlings roosting displays.

2011-10-20T11:28:00.000+01:00

Just checked the Hot Line for news about the starlings.

The Starling Hotline at 07866 554142 is NOW OPEN and starlings have been gathering locally round Langport for some time now. Last year the Hotline recommended visiting during the week or at DAWN which it says is just as good. Ham Wall is said to be the current roosting locations.

See my earlier posts on the subject.

The Bolas spider

2011-10-19T18:16:00.001+01:00

A friend has sent me a link. to a video clip showing the hunting habits of the Bolas Spider.
Its a good job my wife didn't open it ! Being curious about the origin of the clip I did a bit of web searching.
The clip seems to be a copy of an extract from a BBC programme in which Sir David Attenborough describes how the spider catches its prey , in this case moths.The same clip seems to be used by others but with out credit to the BBC so I prefer to use this way of showing it.
Viewing the clips posted by others means that you are shown lots of adverts.
To view the BBC clip go to this link here.
This way you don't get all the distractions.

Draft National Planning Policy Framework

2011-10-16T22:58:00.001+01:00

Against the context of the NPPF today I came across some interesting background Blogs and Web sites. Starting with a 2010 report on biodiversity:

Making Space for Nature:
A review of England’s Wildlife Sites and Ecological Network
Chaired by Professor Sir John Lawton CBE FRS
See the report here

A brief summary of the report says:

We propose that the overarching aim for England’s ecological network should be to deliver a natural environment where:
Compared to the situation in 2000, biodiversity is enhanced and the diversity, functioning and resilience of ecosystems re-established in a network of spaces for nature that can sustain these levels into the future, even given continuing environmental change and human pressures.

Prof Lawton has also been reported as saying:
Professor Sir John Lawton FRS described the coalition government’s proposed ‘dismantling of the planning system‘ as ‘truly terrifying‘ and the ‘backpedalling‘ on climate change in George Osborne’s conference speech as being ‘deeply worrying‘.

Another interesting blog is here where Sir Johns speech to the RSPB is reported. and the same blog gives a link to the:

Planning Officers Society Final #NPPF Response

Click here for the link.
All these reports help to clarify the extent of the debate about the proposed changes.

Tomorrow , the 17th Oct is the closing date for the consultation period. I managed to send off some additional comments this afternoon!

Botany for Botanical Artists

2011-10-13T15:52:00.007+01:00

The detailed construction of a wild flower is well shown in this photograph taken by John Bebbington of the Yellow Archangel.

It's a good illustration of the detail needed to be able to translate nature into a drawing or painting.
Its good to be able to give some publicity to a workshop to investigate this form of art.. Our local group of the Wildlife Trust has had the benefit of working with Dr Anne Bebbington for two years now and we wish her latest venture every success described in outline below.

'Botany for Botanical Artists'

'Botany for Botanical Artists' is an informal course especially suitable for people with some experience of illustrating, who want to explore and enjoy the intricacies of plant structure, function and development. A successful pilot of 10 sessions was run from September 2010 – July 2011

Course tutors Anne Bebbington and Mary Brewin, together with their students, invite you to see an exhibition of their work and hear more about the course, how it might be shared more widely
and even how you could become involved in the future if you wish.

To be held at: Nature in Art, Twigworth, Gloucestershire GL2 9PA

All enquiries for this workshop should be addressed to Sue Nicholls by email at: Sue@Nichcoll5.plus.com
Please use form shown below to confirm your interest. By clicking on the form you can increase its size.

With the support of the Institue for Analytical Plant Illustration.
( http://www.susannah-nicholls.co.uk/iapi/publications.htm )

Wildlife Gardening.

2011-10-08T15:35:00.006+01:00

The Somerset Wildlife Trust has an active and productive gardening section. Click here to visit their web pages.
With a bit of luck you will also be able to see some relevant photos.

I had this in mind whilst talking to a couple who run a local plant nursery. Note not a garden centre. I liked what I saw and suggested that, locally we in the Wildlife Trust, could cooperate with them in some way to encourage people to make their gardens as wildlife friendly as possible.

They have a web site and a Blog and here are a few quotes from their site.

"We are surrounded by the Somerset Levels, with flora and fauna abundant and no noise or pollution. Just the sound of nature in a relaxed and tranquil setting.

Throughout the Nursery you will find plants that originated from all corners of the world. We owe a great debt to the Plant Hunters who were willing to risk danger and disease so that we could enrich our gardens with colour, fragrance and beauty.

It makes sense to ‘buy local’ and help your environment grow: healthier and cleaner.

We strive to be environmentally friendly, by collecting rainwater from our tunnels to irrigate and mist the plants. We let the birds, insects and amphibians control pests and we carry out good plant husbandry techniques to eliminate diseases."

I hope something can come from this exchange of thoughts on an important subject.

SOMERSET WILDLIFE TRUST - FUNGI FORAY - YouTube

2011-10-07T16:06:00.002+01:00

Just received the Autumnwatch newsletter from Somerset Wildlife Trust and was pleased to see a link to a short video with local fungi expert Michael Jordan on site in our local Great Breach Wood just up the road from Somerton. We have a a fungi foray arranged for October 30th in Beer Wood close to High Ham and this video is a good introduction to our event during which we expect to find a large number of species of fungi. We usually get a good selection.We start the day with an hour or two in Beer Wood followed by a sandwich lunch in the local village hall and a display of our findings with identification provided by local experts.

Autumwatch in Somerset

Watch our fungi film

Autumwatch kicks off on Friday, Nov 7 so tune in to BBC2 8.30pm Fridays. To wet your appetite for all things autumnal take a look at our new fungi foray video with nationally renowned expert Michael Jordan as he explores our Great Breach Wood nature reserve.

SOMERSET WILDLIFE TRUST - FUNGI FORAY - YouTube

London Olympic Games 2012.

2011-10-06T16:59:00.006+01:00

295 days to London Olympic Games 2012

Click for more information.

328 days to London Paralympics

2011-10-06T16:54:00.002+01:00

328 days to go to London Paralympics

Campaign for the Protection of Rural England

2011-10-06T10:20:00.000+01:00

There is unprecedented activity by all the major environmental groups, all saying much the same thing, all demanding the Government to think again about its planned changes to planning law.
So accepting a risk of boring my readers I am posting on this reference to the CPRE campaign. You might agree that it is of considerable interest to compare the approach adopted by the environmental groups. Its the sort of topic I could easily have come across in my Open University studies!
So here is the CPRE approach:
Click here to visit their web site.
or use this url.
http://www.cpre.org.uk/magazine/opinion/item/2561-icons-of-england-come-to-the-defence-of-the-countryside

Bill Bryson and friends stand up for the countryside

Led by CPRE President Bill Bryson, 16 major public figures have issued the following joint statement urging the Government to rethink changes to the planning system which threaten the countryside:

"We urge ministers to listen to the deep concerns being expressed by people across the country".

"The NPPF marks a significant relaxation of protection for the majority of our countryside — so-called “ordinary countryside”. It also moves away from a “brownfield first” approach to development that has been in place since 1995."

"In the final stages of the government's public consultation on the draft NPPF, we urge ministers to listen to the deep concerns being expressed by people across the country and make substantial changes that will protect and enhance our extraordinary countryside for generations to come." Bill Bryson President, Campaign to Protect Rural England

I like the reference to the " ordinary countryside" which happens to fit nicely with views expressed so vividly by Richard Maybe in his books "Nature Cure" and "The Unofficial Countryside" .

Planning reforms in England

2011-10-05T12:00:00.001+01:00

As the subject is so important for the future of the natural environment I'm sharing my letter to my MP.

For more background click here:

*******************************************

David Heath MP

House of Commons

London SW1A 0AA

October 5th 2011

Dear Mr Heath,

I hope you will be able to add my voice to the many others expressing concern about the headlong rush to make damaging changes to our planning laws. Over sixty odd years I’ve seen the pressures on the natural environment grow. Recent progress in creating some protection now appears to be stripped away simply to make life easier for developers.

I’m using advice from the Wildlife Trusts to seek your help in influencing the Government’s reforms to planning in England. I’m also drawing on my involvement in the conservation of a four acre Local Wildlife Site here in Curry Rivel.

The planning system is vital for securing the long term public interest. However, I am concerned that the Government’s draft National Planning Policy Framework does not include enough protection for the natural environment and gives too much weight to economic growth.

I strongly believe the Government needs to make the following changes to its planning policy:

· Re-instate the importance of the natural environment in national planning policy;

· Require councils to plan for nature’s recovery in their local area as well as new homes and other development;

· Give specific planning protection to 40,000 Local Wildlife Sites across England; otherwise these important places for wildlife will be under threat.

I hope you will help change Government policy on this vital issue for the future of our country.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

David German

http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/nppf

Planning reforms in England: local wildlife under threat | The Wildlife Trusts

2011-10-04T19:21:00.000+01:00

Click here to read the Wildlife Trusts comments on the Governments planning changes.

Planning reforms in England: local wildlife under threat | The Wildlife Trusts

Somerset Wildlife Trust is doing its bit with the other county organisations to alert the public to the implications of this Government proposed change to the way our planning system works.
I think we need to be very careful about making it so much easier for planning applications to get the go ahead. Planning applications have always been heavily weighted in favour of the developers because they have the financial strength to employ professional people to present their case in the best possible light and then pay for legal help to follow it through.How can you or I stand against such power. We need to support the Wildlife Trusts on this.

New Blog format

2011-09-29T18:38:00.001+01:00

If your new to this format then join me in trying it out and I welcome your thoughts and comments. I've tried all the optional arrangement and like this magazine style best.
Maybe by coincidence the viewing figures have shot up today so I'll let it run for a few days to get a longer test run.

It seems that if you are viewing and scanning the items shown you just click on the window to see the whole posting.
Maybe you can revert to the original format.
What ever way you view it the content must remain the important element!

Tim Jackson and "Prosperity without Growth"

2011-09-27T09:43:00.001+01:00

Over breakfast this morning I casually picked up and revisited the concluding chapter in Tim Jackson's book, "Prosperity without Growth"
It immediately made me think about all the drama unfolding around the world over the lack of economic growth and the debt problem. The party conferences are fighting about who is doing most to get the economy going again.
In this brief post I am giving you a link to a talk given by Tim Jackson.
Click here to view the talk.
Its the first time I've seen Tim Jackson speak to an audience and for me its a very thought provoking experience. He does make reference to the natural world just in case your wondering!
I must come back to this topic again soon.

Or use this URL:
http://resolve.sustainablelifestyles.ac.uk/

Simon Barnes and the SPNVS

2011-09-23T23:08:00.002+01:00

Two weeks on holiday and back home to try and catch up on the world of wildlife conservation and my Blog. Along with numerous emails and post I received my National Trust magazine today. The opinion feature sounded interesting and it was written by Simon Barnes. He wrote “How to be a bad birdwatcher” which I found an easy book to read and useful for a non bird watcher! He wants to start a new campaign to promote, “the Society for the Preservation of Nothing Very Special” or SPNVS for short. I agree with him that it is important to seek to protect living places and living things before they get special. Special usually means rare or endangered. Our four acre meadow could easily be classified by planners or developers as ordinary. Yet unimproved grasslands are already rare in the countryside and so I aim to become a member of the SPNVS.

If you too would like to join go to www.nationaltrust.org.uk, search for the digital NT magazine Autumn 2011 and Simon Barnes article is on page 15. Or of course you could join the NT as a member.

I was pleased to see how our new pond was getting on and of course it is getting on alright in my absence. The dragon fly nymphs are still lurking in the murky water which really needs more oxygenating plants. Waterboatman are more numerous than before and a dead reddish dragonfly lies in the water. Water snails seem to be steadily demolishing it.
Walking across the lawn to the pond I noticed a small butterfly ( shown above) which I thought initially was probably a female Common Blue. Eventually I managed to get close to it and with the help of my trusted book on UK butterflies I am convinced it is a Small Heath. That is the first time I've ever recognised one. The books says they are one of the most common butterflies in the country so I must have been very negligent in not seeing it before. I am adding a photo of my butterfly and the unfortunate dragon fly and the dragonfly nymph

"Prosperity Without Growth"

2011-09-07T16:06:00.000+01:00

I've read the book that stimulated a friend to write this letter, which he copied to me and I considered it relevent to the nature conservation theme of this Blog so here it is.

"Prosperity Without Growth"

A letter to the "Economist" magazine written by Dr Michael J. Parr.

To: the Editor

In his 2009 book, Prosperity without Growth - Economics for a Finite Planet, Tim Jackson made an extraordinarily compelling case against continued economic growth in developed countries. Jackson, who is Professor of Sustainable Development (University of Surrey) presents the mounting evidence that continued and increasing consumerism in the major economies is destined for disaster because we live in a finite world. Common sense tells us growth cannot continue indefinitely, and indeed, Prof. Jackson describes how our recent problems relate to the collapse of the ecosystems sustaining our western economies due to ever-rising consumerism.

In his analysis, Jackson outlines how human society can not only survive, but flourish, within the clear limits of our finite Earth. Obviously, change is essential for our long-term survival on this planet but politicians, the media and governments still continue to promote, discuss and apparently fully accept economic growth as the only way forward. It seems to me we have this state of affairs because

1) politicians and governments are too afraid to tackle these critical issues for obvious reasons, and

2) the general public is simply not aware of the huge and increasing difficulties caused by consumerism and economic growth.

At the present time some large businesses, for example IBM and Unilever, are making some of the right noises, but for real change to occur there is a vital need for very open, inclusive acceptance of the problem by populations and governments.

Therefore, my call is for Prof. Jackson's thesis to be fully aired and discussed on national TV, radio, the Web and in the press. Until this is done, we have no hope of a new and necessary system of eco-economics to supersede our present failing growth option. Could I start the ball rolling by asking economists why many of them appear to have their heads in the sand? Could they logically explain why Jackson's analysis is flawed, and most importantly, what alternative would they like to propose?

Dr Michael J. Parr

Garden visitor

2011-09-07T13:40:00.001+01:00

A few weeks ago I spotted this bird sitting quite quietly and looking around. I took these photos from a window until it flew away.

It looks like a juvenile but can you tell me the species.

Probably a Sparrowhawk!

Confused about Government Policy ? Planning Law

2011-09-06T13:39:00.001+01:00

In a recent post I quoted the CPRE views on proposed changes to planning laws.

I've just read an article by George Monbiot on the subject and as usual he makes some good points on the subject.
Here is a taster of what he says.

"Economic growth should not be the purpose of the planning system. It should ensure that human needs are met while the environment is protected. But if growth is your aim, strong planning is more likely to deliver it than weak planning. The government’s attack on planning is likely to deliver the worst of both worlds: trashing the environment while trashing the economy."

I recommend a read of the article which you can see by clicking here

garden butterflies

2011-09-05T15:14:00.000+01:00

We've had around a dozen species in our garden this summer and these two were enjoying a spell of sunshine last week.

Just ordinary garden butterflies in an ordinary garden and the photographer is quite ordinary too!

The camera is very good though.

Comma

Speckled Wood

Planning law changes

2011-09-05T10:48:00.001+01:00

The Wildlife Trust's are concerned about the effect of reducing planning controls over development everywhere in the countryside. All the Conservation organisations are equally concerned.
Here is what the Campaign to Protect Rural England says on its web site:

"The Government has published a highly sensitive draft National Planning Policy Framework for public consultation. This represents the biggest shake-up of planning for over 50 years and CPRE believes it will place the countryside under increasing threat.

Many elements of the Framework are deeply worrying. In particular, Ministers have failed to commit to the principle that the countryside should be protected for its own intrinsic character, beauty and heritage.
The new Framework will make the countryside and local character much less safe from damaging and unnecessary development.
We fear pressure on the countryside from damaging development will grow due to:

loss of emphasis on brownfield regeneration - as a result of the removal of the national brownfield target and the failure to promote efficient use of land
over-allocation of land for new housing - the draft Framework requires local councils to allocate at least 20% additional sites for housing over and above the existing five year supply
weakening of the ‘town centre first’ policy by removing office development from the sequential test
pressure for increased car use - by removing the requirement to set maximum parking standards for non-residential parking in major development
abolition of exceptions policy which allows small scale affordable housing to be built in rural settlements, which is likely to add to pressure for market housing and reduce the supply of affordable housing
weakening of controls over outdoor advertisements, including no mention of billboards being inappropriate in the countryside
changes to Green Belt policy which would allow local communities to support building which would previously have been restricted

Please help us protect our beautiful countryside by asking your MP to say no to growth at any cost.

Write to your MP

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Click here to view web site.

Or here.

As part of forming an opinion on the proposed changes it is useful to review the views of other organisations such as the National Trust and RSPB.

Harvest Time

2011-08-30T11:27:00.000+01:00

This morning has turned out dry and cloudy and the forecast says mostly sunny and 10 per cent chance of precipitation!
I hope its correct because I have just arranged for a local farmer to come and take a hay cut on our wild flower meadow.
Last year for various reasons the cut wasn't made till October. Benefits were that butterflies and the Great Green Bush cricket were left alone. Just what effect the date of the cut makes on our insects I'm not sure. Visually of course its more attractive to walk round the uncut field than a field of stubble.
Two years ago I arranged for a 10 metre wide strip to be left to allow Meadow Browns and Common Blue butterflies to enjoy the grass. For the following two years it has been quite clear that the leaving the grass uncut created in the 10 metre strip a more dense grass growth that elsewhere.
Yellow Rattle has spread over most of the 4 acres and patches of Knapweed, Ladies Bedstraw, Perforate St Johns Wort, Field Scabious, all appear to be spreading.
This morning before the cut I've been round helping to spread those patches by taking seeds still on the plants and casting it around generally in the same area but increasing the coverage. That after all is what the cutting machines do and it will be interesting to see if I've have helped or not.

But whilst I'm writing this Blog, we have a problem, with the hay cut. The contractor has been to the field and because of the narrow lane he cant get his very long machinery in though the gate. So back to square one and more telephone calls are already taking place. Watch this space.
In the mean time here are some Burnet moths on a scabious flower in our meadow.

Confused about Government Policy ?

2011-08-20T20:06:00.001+01:00

I thought I would try to be non party political in my Blog but today it seems difficult to steer a neutral path through Govt statements.

In my last post I started to look at the new draft planning proposals and I more than ever hope they are draft and a long way from being final! Issued by the Department for Communities and Local Government. ( a Dept I am sure I've never heard off before and their web site doesn't look like a normal Govt site at all. Is there something fishy about this?)
Here is a link to the planning doc, click here

********************************************************************

Today by chance I came across a news statement by another department of the Govt. This time the Department for the Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs. Visit by clicking here..

********************************************************************

The former (DCLG) says:
Clause 13. Under the sub heading:- "The presumption in favour of sustainable development".
"The Government is committed to ensuring that the planning system does everything it can to support sustainable economic growth. A positive planning system is essential because , without growth, a sustainable future can not be achieved."

Clause 14. "At the heart of the planning system is a presumption in favour of sustainable development, which should be seen as a golden thread running through plan making and decision taking."

*********************************************************************

The latter statement ( DEFRA) issued on 19th Aug 2011says: "New strategy to save and protect England's Wildlife"
.
Launching Biodiversity 2020, Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said:

"Our wildlife is not only something that we should value because its nice to look at. Nature underpins our very existence, giving us clean air to breath, clean water to drink and healthy food to eat.
This strategy sets out how we will stop the loss of species and habitats, so that this generation can be the first to leave our natural environment in a better state than they found it."

********************************************************************

I much prefer to follow the lead given by DEFRA than that by DCLG!

PS. I'll try to add some wildlife photos in my next Blog!

Draft National Planning Policy Framework

2011-08-18T18:21:00.001+01:00

I received an email the other day from someone monitoring planning and environmental issues and thought you might like to see some of it.

( click here to go to Government web site )

***********************************************************************************************************

Hello all

I’m sorry to do this to you , but I need to talk to you all about planning. No, wait – don’t run off, it’s not boring stuff, I promise – it’s pretty important, actually. And I need your help. Stick with me, it won’t take more than 3 minutes unless you trot off to make a cup of tea halfway through.

I’ve been waiting a while for something called a National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) to be produced by the department for Communities and Local Government (CLG). In the run up to its release, the NPPF was touted as a document to promote “sustainable development”, and consolidate the raft of existing national planning guidance into an easy to use, simple, 60-something pages. Great – every sane person out there will agree the planning system would benefit from a bit of simplification. So the NPPF in principle seemed a good thing, and we planning folk waited excitedly to see what, post-Lawton, post-NEWP, would emerge…

…and we waited…

…and then on 25^th July, just minutes before all the MPs trotted off on their jollies, the draft NPPF was quietly slipped out into the world, and a consultation launched to find out what we all think of it. Excellent timing.

It takes a staunchly, unabashedly, pro-growth stance, and places the pursuit of economic prosperity above the other “pillars” of sustainability. So much for Lawton. A sample quote will give you a flavour of what I mean: “The Government is committed to ensuring that the planning system does everything it can to support sustainable economic growth. A positive planning system is essential because, without growth, a sustainable future cannot be achieved. Planning must operate to encourage growth and not act as an impediment. Therefore, significant weight should be placed on the need to support economic growth through the planning system.” It goes on like this for quite a while, and while you’re reading the various chapters you notice you’re chewing your finger to keep yourself from pouring forth a diatribe of frustration (you can experience this for yourself if you feel like it – I have attached the NPPF for those of you with an inclination towards masochism).

There are some cracking elements to the NPPF, with the potential to be good and strong…if only it wasn’t for the erosion of their punch by the weight and predominance placed on economic growth! Sadly there’s a great deal in the NPPF to be nail-chewing about.

To put it simply, this document will make it harder to…

· defend good sites

· defend sites with potential

· defend species that don’t have statutory protection

· achieve ecological enhancements

…simply because ecological concerns are placed well beneath the pursuit and delivery of growth.

I won’t bore you with anymore than this – read it yourself and find out, or don’t. It’s your choice, but I will just say that planning affects us all – it shapes places, it shapes our environment, it lends or erodes quality from the areas we live. If we want an environment rich in wildlife for everyone, we have a lot to be concerned about in this NPPF, because wildlife will be consigned to national parks and not much else. It’s hard to convey in an email how worried I am by this. The NPPF is a once in a generation thing: it’ll be here for 20 years or more. At the moment, it reads like a developer’s charter, and I for one don’t want us stuck with that.

For those of you with the time and willpower, who want to read the NPPF, I would welcome your thoughts on it.

Comments should reach me by 26^th August.

A final response will be sent to CLG by 16^th October.

Followers

2011-08-18T11:37:00.000+01:00

When someone appears on my Blog as a follower I am always curious to find out a bit about them. Why choose my Blog to follow , what do they Blog about and what are their interests etc.
The newest arrival is a Blog called Sunflower Haven based in Connecticut US.( URL http://sunflower-heaven.blogspot.com/) Ignoring any thoughts that this might not be the sort of Blog I would want to know about I checked it out so to speak.
This is all just first impressions but does lead to something interesting.
This blog covers hand made jewelry and not especially of interest to me but it does have posts on the subject of Bugs and photographs which are of interest.
Also I noticed the Blogs Sunflower Haven follows and one is called Bug Eric and this turns out to be a
pprofessional writer and entomologist. His Blog says:
The Blogger is Eric R. Eaton, a professional writer and entomologist, principal author of the Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America. Eric says that he has built a loyal following as a volunteer for AllExperts.com, Bugguide.net, and WhatsThatBug.com.

I'll leave you to follow up on this if you are as curious as I am. Eric's Blog looks very interesting to me, is full of some very attractive insects with good photographs and if he lived in Somerset I would be more than interested in hearing one of his talks.

Monsters in my new pond

2011-08-17T15:33:00.001+01:00

There be monsters about in Somerset.
Just 60 days since we filled our new garden pond with fresh rain water and I've just noticed something stirring in the silt lying on a shelf in the pond. We have only a couple of flowering plants and some floating oxyginating plants some water boatmen and black beetles and not much else. Or so I thought.
Having tried my hand at pond dipping for the first time I managed to collect an odd looking monster, very hairy and quite scary looking for anyone who doesn't like spiders for instance.
So using my friends in the Wildlife Trust and getting the best photo I could manage I have been informed that I have a dragonfly nymph, probably the Broad-bodied Chaser variety.
To back up my discovery here is my photograph.

Barcroft Hall, Somerset

2011-08-10T10:46:00.004+01:00

This is a large private estate in Somerset which has attracted quite a bit of media coverage lately because the owner has created a 2 acre wild flower meadow out of old derelict farm land over the last two years or so. Abandoned buildings have been removed and the land worked on to make it suitable for planting wildflower seeds. This summer and up to the end of August visitors are invited to walk round the field on pathways kept for the purpose to admire this remarkable collection.

I visited last weekend and was surprised to see so many plants still in flower and more so the range of plants. There are some non native plants.
As a visual spectacle it certainly has the wow factor in big measure.

I recommend you visit before it is all over for this year.

Click here for a link. If that doesn't work use this URL: http://barcrofthall.co.uk

This is the first year for this project and next year may be different and without in any way detracting from this achievement there may be ways in which it can be made even more interesting and wildlife friendly. I should add the conservationist have a wide rang of views on what they consider good practice so my views may not be the only way to go. I think you have to see it for yourself and then we can comment. Bearing in mind that if it wasn't for the private owner there would not be anything except derelict farm buildings to comment on.

For your interest here is a list of some of the flower growing on the field but not necessarily in flower for your visit in August:

Details taken from the Barcroft web site ( any errors in transcribing the list especially in spelling will be mine!)

Ammobium alatum    Winged everlasting

Brachyscome iberidifolia   Swan River daisy

Calendula arvensis    Calendula

Chrysanthemum carinatum   Chrysanthemum

Cladanthus arabicus   Palm Springs daisy

Clarkia amoena     Farewell to spring

Collinsia bicolor    Chinese houses

Consolida regalis   Forking larkspur

Convolvulus tricolor Morning glory

Coreopsis basalis      Golden Mane

Coreopsis tinctoria    Plains Coreopsis

Cosmos bipinnatus      Cosmos

Cosmos sulphureus      Sulphur Cosmos

Cynoglossum amabile    Chinese forgrt-me-not

Daucus carota          Wild carrot

Delphinium ajacis      Wild dephinium

Didiscus caerulea      Silver scabious

Echium vulgare         Viper’s bugloss

Eschscholtzia californica    Californian poppy

Gaillardia aristata     Blanket Flower

Gaillardia pulchella    Indian blanket

Gilia capitata       Blue field gilia

Gilia tricolor       Birds eye gilia

Gypsophila muralis     Baby’s breath

Helichrysum monstrosum    Dwarf everlasting flower

Helipterum roseum       Paper flower

Iberis amara         Dwarf candytuft

Iberis umbellata       Candytuft

Delphinium consolida     Larkspur

Lasthenia Californica     California goldfields

Lavatera Trimestris     Rose mallow

Leontodon hispidus      Rough hawkbit

Linaria maroccana      Spurred snapdragon

Linum grandiflorum     Scarlet flax

Linum usitatissimum     Blue flax

Lomas inodora         Yellow ageratum

Nemophila menziesii    Baby blue eyes

Origanum majorana      Origano

Nolana paradoxa        Wild bird

Papaver rhoeas        Poppy

Phacelia Campanularia   Californian bluebell

Phacelia Tanacetifolia   Lacy phacelia

Ratibida columnifera     Prairie coneflowers

Scabiosa columbaria      Scabious

Silene vulgaris      Catchfly

Tolpis barbata      Umbrella milkwort

Ursinia anethoides     Ursinia

Venidium fastuosum    Cape daisy

Viscaria occulta     Blue angel

Agrostemma githago    Corncockle

Chrysanthemum segetum Corn marigold

Xeranthemum annuum    Everlasting flower

Zinnia elegans     Zinnia

Anthemis Arvensis    Corn Chamomile

Ammi majus      Queen Anne’s lace

Centaurea cyanus    Cornflower

Clarkia unguiculata    Mountain Garland

Bats

2011-08-03T16:14:00.001+01:00

One of the posts on this Blog which attracts the most searches is any reference to bats.
Not being a bat expert I usually visit the Somerset Bat Group web site or contact its members.
We recently arranged to go on a walk to inspect bat boxes and attempt to identify the species found flying by using detectors.

As well as learning a little more about bats I was surprised to find out that bat detector devices are used to search for grass hoppers and crickets!

Their web site gives details of their walks and events and has a photo gallery.

Their home page is at this link. Click here.

Their photo gallery is here.

One of the items on my " to do " list is to arrange a bat survey around our meadow and hedges. I also need to organise a moth count as well.

Hope this helps.

This is one animal I don't get to photograph!

The Natural Choice. HM Goverment White Paper

2011-07-29T09:19:00.003+01:00

Looking for a reaction from the Wild Life Trusts about this new legislation I found these videos on the subject.
If my photograph appears on top of the clip its just a layout problem I must sort out but dont let it put you off!
The Wildlife Trusts also make the following comments:

The Natural Environment White Paper - what happens next?

The much anticipated Natural Environment White Paper has been published. This marks the culmination of effort, pressure and engagement from The Wildlife Trusts and its members on Government to recognise the need to make the natural environment a priority. However, this pivotal moment just marks the first step of the journey on nature’s road to recovery.
In the build up to the 2010 General Election, The Wildlife Trusts called for a White Paper on the Natural Environment to identify the policy changes needed for nature’s recovery. We were delighted when the Coalition Government committed to produce a White Paper. A consultation over the summer 2010 resulted in Defra receiving more than 15,000 responses - the most a Government White Paper has ever received!
The Wildlife Trusts’ members were fundamental in demonstrating to the Government just how much people value their natural environment and that nature is worth protecting and restoring. Thank you for your engagement so far – it has made all the difference.
The Wildlife Trusts have pushed for Government to take leadership and to establish a framework to enable people and communities to value, and take action for, wildlife. We want to see the recovery and restoration of the natural environment happening everywhere in the UK.
We now need to keep up the pressure on Government to ensure they meet their commitments set out within the White Paper. Please continue to support The Wildlife Trusts at this exciting time, not only for wildlife and the natural environment but for each and every one of us, as we embark on nature’s road to recovery.

Apologies for absence

2011-07-19T08:15:00.001+01:00

Here are a few photographs from John Bebbington which show why I find wildlife so fascinating. We have to take three days off this week for family reasons and its never convenient because of the never ending work to help the fight for wildlife conservation.
I have had to miss a regular meeting of our "Private and Community Nature Reserve Network" committee which was set up some years ago to help individuals and community groups with advice and information about the management of small areas of land. These sites are defined as not intensively farmed land and not a garden. They vary from less than an acre to tens of acres of woodland. In case your wondering , an acre is 4046.86 square metres.
On Wednesday there is a " Living Seas " conference organised by the Wildlife Trust. All the counties in the South West of England have a coast line and are involved in the campaigning to protect our coastal waters. This session should give some direction to work by all the involved groups in the south west. I will read reports of the proceedings with interest.
Our local Area Group of the Somerset Wildlife Trust had its last organised walk in a woodland local reserve last Sunday in slightly gloomy weather. The variety of flowering plants was the highlight in the circumstances.
Last week we had the last of our 2010-2011 Botany Group study meetings and so putting it all together we might get a welcome break from the endless round of meetings and project work.

Conservation of meadows

2011-07-13T13:52:00.002+01:00

We held a Wildlife Trust site visit on Sunday 10th July which was a great success. The weather was warm and dry and 16 members arrived to explore the plants and insect life. No sooner had I said that I knew that the Great Green Bush Cricket was usually found in the field and one appeared on cue for photographs.

The photographs shown here are a common sights in our meadow: Marbled White butterfly, Common Ragwort and Bee Orchid , this latter now finished flowering and hence difficult to spot. Examples were found showing the seed pods well developed hopefully to provide a good population next year.

Two groups were led around the paths kept mown to reduce the impact of random walking except for occasional inspections of particular plants. Dr Anne Bebbington led the exploration to identify flowering plants and John Bebbington FRPS led a group looking for insects of which there were many. Including day flying moths.Almost every time we do such an inspection we find new species.
Well over 100 plant species, large and small have been found in the 4 acres including 15 grasses.

Following the visit we agreed that the site was worthy of an annual visit by our Botany Group to carry out a formal transect survey probly each June. This would use a fixed and permanent line on the long axis of the field with a half metre square examind at fixed locations along the line. The records would be kept for comparison from year to year. A long term project!

Because the Bee Orchid photo is out of focus here are two Pyramidal orchids of which there are many still in flower in the meadow.

British Dragonflies

2011-07-04T22:31:00.001+01:00

http://www.british-dragonflies.org.uk/sites/default/files/images/anisom2.thumbnail.jpg

A recent local report from " a usually reliable source" has caused the equivalent of a twitcher frenzy for a rare migrant bird.

The link shown above gives an impression of a Norfolk Hawker, Aeshna isoceles, which whilst reported outside Norfolk is not thought to be present in Somerset.

To try to check for any other sightings I'm seeking news of any other possible sightings in Somerset. Please contact me if you think you can help
Here is some information about this Dragonfly taken from the Natural History Museum web site.

Aeshna isosceles, Norfolk Hawker. © R Jurecek
This dragonfly is restricted to one area of Britain - the broads district of Norfolk. It has been scarce and local in Britain since records began.
It is now categorised as endangered in Britain and is listed in schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
In Britain, this endangered species of dragonfly is found only around the Norfolk Broads, but it is also found in other parts of Europe and North Africa. In Norfolk, it prefers to live close to waterways where the water soldier plant - Stratiotes aloides grows. Its name Aeshna isosceles relates to a distinctive triangular marking on its abdomen

Local Wildlife Group Five years old!

2011-06-27T00:01:00.000+01:00

Sent this brief report off for publication in our Somerset Wildlife Trust magazine. You can read it first here. World scoop!! There is a 200 word limit on what we can say which is why it is so short!

The Heart of the Levels Group has just celebrated the fifth anniversary of starting our Group.

Five years into a new venture is a good point at which to look back on what we have achieved as a small group of volunteers.

Here are some of my personal highlights.

A talk by Chris Sperring accompanied by live owls was special.

Our one day workshops on Art and Wildlife and recently on Wild Flower

Photography were a great learning experience.

The setting up of our Botany Study Group with the professional help of Dr Anne Bebbington and John Bebbington.

Learning about nature has been inherent in all our activities. Starting a local Wildlife Watch Club was another big step forward.

Funds raised through our activities enable us to make a contribution to SWT Appeals and to support our Watch Club.

We submitted comments to DEFRA on Badgers and the Natural Environment.

We are currently writing a short guide to our local reserves.

Helping SWT set up a new reserves working group for the East Polden Hills is in progress.

Writing a natural history Blog on our activities and environmental issues.

Starting our local group was the best way to learn about wildlife.

Common Blue butterfly

2011-06-16T21:42:00.004+01:00

To say this butterfly is common is often only one step away from ignoring it. So this Blog is simply paying a tribute to the evolutionary process which has resulted in a most amazing small insect. The patterning on the under side of its wing is fabulous. This particular specimen happened to come to rest in the late afternoon today on a lavender bush. It wasn't feeding and it just sat there in the late sun whilst I got my camera together . A tripod to minimise hand shake and a 90 mm Macro lens and also a remote button for extra measure. I even had time to experiment with auto, AV and auto macro. The best results with the sharpest and clearest image was definitely using the tripod and macro lens. Click on the picture to see a larger image. Can you tell which one used a 50mm standard lens and which used a macro 90 mm lens and tripod and remote control? Both images are shown with a reduced file size for faster uploading.

Image A

Image B