Dandelions

Very soon we will treated to fields and verges glowing golden with millions of dandelions.
If like me you tend to ignore them because they are so common then it is a surprise to find out that there are some many species.One of my guide books, Wild Flowers of Britain and Ireland lists them as part of the Daisy Family, Asteraceae,  It tells me that the  Daisy family is the largest family of flowering plants and usually called composites because their flowers are packed into a compound head.
The Dandelion is a group of about 240-250 diverse short perennials, some very common, some rare, the great majority difficult for the non expert to distinguish! I feel better reading that because even looking at the yellow flowers in our lawn it is clear there are several varieties.
But the reason for this post is to include a You Tube video of a dandelion flowering in slow motion. Not something most people would sit and watch. Its impressive to see the way it moves through the stages of growth to finally disperse its seeds. Its dispersal technique is another story. I found this on the Wildlife Trusts national web site as part of its Watch Club page. Here is the video.

Ancient woodland protection- the Woodland Trust

I've just received an email from the Woodland Trust who are very concerned about proposed changes to planning laws and the effect it will almost certainly have on Ancient Woodland. It would follow that all woodland will be more vulnerable to over development with little or no protection. I will be sending an email in support of their campaign.

I've also added some photos taken in a local wood being managed for conservation. Probably a very old wood.

The heading below should give a link to their web site.

Ancient woodland protection- the Woodland Trust

National Planning Policy Framework Consultation

25+ policy statements into one

Changes to the planning system are threatening what little protection from development is in place for ancient woodland.

Ancient woodland is land continuously woods since 1600 and is our richest habitat for biodiversity, yet covers a mere 2% of England's landscape. Once lost it cannot be recreated - it is irreplaceable. Protecting what we have left is vital and this will in turn deliver the ‘ecosystem services’ that trees and woodland provide such as flood alleviation, aiding climate change mitigation and adaptation, tackling wildlife loss and improving

Paragraph 10, in Planning Policy Statement 9 Biodiversity and Geological Conservation, explicitly recognises ‘ancient woodland is a valuable biodiversity resource both for its diversity of species and for its longevity as woodland. Once lost it cannot be recreated. Aged or ‘veteran’ trees found outside ancient woodland are also particularly valuable for biodiversity and their loss should be avoided’.

In stressing that Local Planning Authorities ‘should not grant planning permission for any development that would result in its loss or deterioration' it has been instrumental in protecting ancient woods and trees since its publication in 2005.

The existing caveat however – ‘unless the need for, and benefits of, the development in that location outweigh the loss of the woodland habitat’ - has left, and continues to leave, ancient woodland open to development threats.

Without the proposed NPPF retaining and strengthening the essence of this policy and removing this specific caveat, outright protection for this precious asset will never be achieved and what little remains of our heritage lost forever.

Old Mans Beard. Clematis vitalba

A local walk took us past a patch of Old Mans Beard rambling over a hedge. The afternoon winter sunshine created a memorable display in January.

As part of efforts to prepare a local guide to nearby Wildlife Trust nature reserves we drove to near Stoke St Mary to find the Thurlbeer Wood reserve. Approaching along narrow country lanes we found extensive displays of Old Mans Beard in the hedge rows.

 These two photos were taken at the entrance to the Trusts Thurlbeer Wood reserve.

 At the northern entrance to the wood is the display board.

It seems to have been an exceptional year for this clematis with views like these in many locations at least in South Somerset.
As you walk into the wood you find clearings such as the one in the photo below where the Hazel and other small trees have been cleared to make an open space

 This reserve is an important and well managed entry in our reserves leaflet.

Starlings spectacular

 Many people visit this Blog searching for information on Starlings.  I cant provide any of my own photos this time but  Lyn Newton does a great job of regularly photographing the display at Westhay, Ham Wall  and other local reserves and I recommend your visit her web site using this link.   Click here:

White Paper on the Natural Environment, grassroots feedback. No 9.

These are my feedback comments ( in full, its a bit long!)   for the DEFRA consultation for the proposed White Paper. This was a supplementary request for examples of local conservation projects with suggested headings and questions.

DEFRA consultation on the proposed White Paper on the Natural Environment.

Feedback Form to be submitted by Jan 31^st 2011

These comments are based on discussions with other local residents, many, but not all, members of The Somerset Wildlife Trust and other conservation organisations. Comments are related to questions given in the DEFRA consultation documents.

What natural environments or locations did you discuss?

These comments are based on local experience with a four acre meadow.

The field was purchased 5 years ago by a syndicate of 11 local residents who wished to conserve and manage the field as a nature reserve. Its ecological value and biodiversity has been confirmed by professional survey and other Botanical Study Groups visits. The survey carried out by Mr Jon Marshall of Marshal Agroecology Ltd was accepted on 23^rd Jan 2007 by the Somerset Environmental Records Centre as showing that the field met the criteria for County Wildlife Status, (now called Local Wildlife Sites).  Each year the field is notable for displays of a rich variety of butterflies, flowering plants and insect life.

What were the Big Ideas that your discussion produced?

Our experience has demonstrated that for most of us taking on the conservation of a four acre meadow is a “Big Idea”. In as much as there is a great deal to learn and regular management tasks to carry out. None of the members of the syndicate had any significant relevant experience. Over the 5 years we have learned by “doing”.

The “Big Idea” was however only the start and raising the funds for purchase and to cover subsequent management was, and still is, problematic. We are not included in any funding scheme and have no income from the field. We even pay to have the grass cut and removed as hay. It can be said that what we have done is of value to the village and all the residents but as we haven’t advertised it at all very few people know about it and we would like to change that. A number of the original syndicate have withdrawn their initial funding and others wish to do so. If this continues the field may have to be put back on the market.

What is the role of local people or other organisations in delivering those big ideas?

There has been great encouragement from local conservationist but in general the syndicate members have been on their own and relying on their own resources including finance.

It started with the group of residents who committed money for the purchase without any guarantee of a return of the money. A local farmer has given free advice and valuable practical help.

The Somerset Wildlife Trust has given advice and visited the field as did Butterfly Conservation to search for and find Brown Hairstreak butterflies.

We employed a professional consultant to carry out a botanical survey.

Heart of the Levels Botany Study Group have also surveyed the field and used it for field trips for plant identification training.

Three years ago Somerset County Council provided a grant for a new 200m hedge planted by volunteers.

What other information would you like to share with us?

Now after 5 years experience we feel able to explore the potential for wider use of the meadow. We have always welcomed visitors and dog walkers and others have frequently come to the field although there is no existing public right of way.

In the summer months flora and fauna are displayed in abundance.

In addition to the local involvement noted above we hope to arrange for the local primary school to make educational visits. Perhaps also the Huish Episcopy Academy six form unit might find it useful.

The local Wildlife Watch Club for parents and children (part of Somerset Wildlife Trust) are planning to use the field for educational visits.

How does the meadow contribute to the local environment?

Virtually all other land around our village is intensively farmed with some notable exceptions where wildlife provisions are made.

Being located close to the boundary of the village, the field is within 10 minutes walk for hundreds of families. Most other fields are monoculture and despite the presence of footpaths they have limited environmental interests.

Our meadow changes with the seasons with flowering plants seen at different times including  celandine, cowslips, buttercups, vetches, pyramidal and bee orchids , bromrape, knapweed, field scabious, agrimony,  ladies bedstraw and many others. We see around a dozen species of butterfly and many more moths, several species of grass hopper and the Great Green Bush Cricket.

The meadow has ancient hedges on two sides containing 15 woody species which gives scope for educational use and provides nesting sites and food for birds and mammals. This will improve as the new hedge develops.

How does the meadow positively impact on our lives?

By getting involved in healthy outdoor activity, land management and farming, learning about the natural environment and local history and sharing our experience with others, young and old.

What is good and what could be better and what more can we all do.

A moth count has been suggested for June 2011.

Visits by residents living in sheltered housing might be welcomed.

We already have paths around and through the field and these could be kept in a more suitable condition for disabled visitors. One of our syndicate members requires the use of a wheel chair. We could be more active in inviting groups of visitors and produce educational notes to encourage an attitude of discovery. We have seen how learning can be promoted by bringing together school parties and local natural history experts. For adults guided walks are always very popular and we could explore ways to set these up.

We could do more to get the interest of the Parish Council and explore ways in which they could support some aspects of the venture.

We can use the recently started community web site and local community news sheet to provide information and encourage visitors.

The Government should set a good example.

Barriers to be identified and solutions explored.

These include;

A basic lack of knowledge amongst the general public which can also produce a lack of interest in conservation.

We have found that there is nevertheless a lot of interest to be tapped.

Our meadow is privately owned but other similar projects are publicly funded probably after donation of land. A partnership between private purchase through donations and public ownership with volunteer management might be a useful formula to be promoted.

Many of the extra things noted above need finance and as it stands if that is not available then improvements will not happen.

“One thing” that would help would be a publicly funded insurance cover. This is a significant annual cost that we had not anticipated.

Whilst there are funding schemes for farmers and large land owners we have found little to fit our situation. Relatively small funding to help pay for a botanical survey and items such as  third party insurance, hedging,  hay cutting and removal  are likely to be needed to encourage others to follow this “Big Idea”.

Finding ways to encourage or enable farmers to support community projects and when they do to publicise their contribution.

Local residents supporting this submission.

BM, , H H, R W, K C, M M

Submitted by:

Signed:

David German

Pyrchroa coccinea. Wildlife Trust photo competition

While DEFRA carries on consulting about the future of wildlife there are people who get on with managing their woodland  patch part of our lovely county  and taking photos of what they see around them.

This is what John and Valerie do and the photo below is  their  particularly interesting photo of a Cardinal Beetle (Pyrochroa coccinea). They're usually about 14 to 18 mm long and live in woodland edges. They normally fly between May to July and can be seen on flowers and old tree trunks. This photo won this years competition.organised by the Trust. My entries were unplaced! My excuses are several. They must use a better camera. They are very lucky. They have lots of spare time to sit waiting for such opportunities, Etc.
Photo by Valerie Godsmark. All rights reserved.
Here is the photograph:
( its even better if you  click a couple of times on the picture to magnify.)

Climate change.

 Having posted my photos of frost pictures it might seem odd to make this next post.  But this subject is still with us and not going away and if the approach shown in the video is good one we should be doing our best to follow the advice offered.

I've just watched a YouTube video on this subject which is quite innovative in its approach to the arguments we have all seen for years now. Its not new and it has attracted a lot of sceptic comment as has the speaker Greg Craven ( see wikipedia ) but  I would be very interested to hear from anyone who watches it with your reaction to it.

Frost art , even more examples!

I must apologise for indulging my fascination with the patterns which appear on my car windows in certain conditions. There are many other important issues I probably should be Blogging about but these patterns are quite extraordinary and entirely as the appeared first thing in the morning of 19th Jan 2011

Any guesses about what the first photo shows?

Somerset Wildlife Trust, Area Group public meeting

Somerset Wildlife Trust  works closely with the Area Groups of volunteers who organise amongst other things, local  public meetings on natural history and conservation  subjects as well as carrying out  fund raising. The Groups provide an important feedback from all parts of the County. Hundreds of hours of volunteer labour in many forms is quite priceless. However, I'm sure I've said before that organising public meetings is always a fairly stressful activity. Mainly because we never know if anyone is going to turn up! So when the event is a new venture like last Thursday's quiz evening it was even more uncertain. But as it turned out it can be claimed a success but a number of aspects need reviewing and our organisation needs sharpening up.
What went well was that a sufficient number of members and some non members did come along, the questions went done well, we did meet up with around 20 people who don't usually come to talks and we collected enough money to cover costs. And of course most importantly everyone said they had enjoyed the evening including the committee.

With 10 sections of questions only two were natural history  ( because we didn't want to put people off) and they were challenging enough. We did intend taking a photo to prove it happened but forgot all about that in the rush and after a few glasses of wine.Should we do it again , well the committee will need to talk it over and we will see how everyone judged the event. I would say yes but with a number of important details which need to be more carefully organised.

 Identifying this butterfly was one of the questions , not too difficult but do you know its latin name?

 Photographed in our local meadow.

Some of the committee in action last year.

Sustainable development.

 These are the grounds of Marston House near Frome the venue for the SWT AGM in 2008,
Chris Baines was the main speaker and gave a very stimulating presentation on " green infrastructure".

Following my rather haphazard policy of blogging anything at all connected with the natural environment, otherwise known as wildlife, I am showing details of a conference. Its being run by a consultancy which I came across when they were part of the Somerset Wildlife Trust AGM  two or three years ago. On that basis I think they are playing a useful part in helping to resolve 21 st century dilemmas. If you have been to one of their conferences I would like to hear from you. Such events cost money and probably only attract people working in the conservation world. Not me for instance, but it is good to see such work going on. As they say : "dialogue matters".

From:  dialogue matters ltd

Natural Connections - achieving more with less across rural & urban landscapes

Date: Thurs 17^th March 2011

Location: SOAS, Russell Square, London, WC1H 0XG

Green Infrastructure <> Natural Linkages &
lt;> Landscape Scale Change

This conference is about natural or semi natural networks that are managed, enhanced, created and designed to have multiple functions and deliver multiple benefits for people and nature.  This thinking is at the heart of planning “Green infrastructure” for sustainable development in urban and rural areas, core to the best  landscape scale projects,causing a rethink in river management and how best to manage protected landscapes and other areas.   Benefits can include improved public health and quality of life, adaptation to climate change, economic regeneration and growth, functional wildlife links,  flood control, recreation, and a host of other benefits.  This agenda also looks set to be an important element of the Natural Environment White Paper. But with fewer resources to achieve all this, it has never been more relevant  for public bodies, NGO’s, other interests and communities, to all work together to achieve more with less. Please join us on the 17th March 2011 to find out more about: §   the latest news on the White Paper and other drivers §   key concepts and evidence §   approaches and methods that work §   resources to help §   inspiring success stories Draft conference programme and booking form: http://www.dialoguematters.co.uk/registration.asp

dialogue matters ltd
ecological and environmental stakeholder dialogue
designing <> facilitating <> training

Email:   admin@dialoguematters.co.uk

Tel:       +44(0) 1233 813875

Web:     www.dialoguematters.co.uk