Jim Baldwin

Tel: 07528 586683

The warm spell in mid-February was a great tonic to us all, with the first signs of spring accompanying it. Crucially, for me, it coincided with the first appearance of my beloved butterflies from hibernation. Four species of butterfly hibernate during the winter as an adult: Brimstone, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell and Comma. Red Admiral also overwinters as an adult but does not enter a dormant state and can be seen on sunny days throughout the winter. Of all the butterflies, it is the Brimstone which is synonymous with early spring. Keen butterfly observers note the date of their first Brimstone sighting and this year on the Island, it coincided with Valentine’s Day.

The male Brimstone matches the colour of sulphur perfectly and emerges from its slumbers dashing off in search of females. However, the paler female emerges later so its early pursuit is in vain. They can survive until the end of May, having the longest adult stage of the UK’s butterflies. Brimstone is among the oldest butterfly names, being established in the 17th century. Because of its colour, there is even the suggestion that the Brimstone was the original butterfly but this has yet to be proven.

Brimstone can be seen anywhere although the early records come predominantly from woodlands. Firestone Copse and Parkhurst Forest are two sites where you are likely to see one. If there is a cold spell in March, Brimstone will return to its wintering quarters and hibernate until the warm weather returns.

With butterflies starting to appear, now is a good time to register with Butterfly Conservation’s Garden Butterfly Survey. If you do not have a garden, you can still take part at an allotment or community space. You can survey your site throughout the year recording the species you see and enter your sightings online. You can find out how to take part at www. gardenbutterflysurvey.org

Recording butterflies is so important. The recent State of the UK’s Butterflies 2022 report has just been published and revealed the alarming news that 80% of butterflies in the UK have declined since the 1970s.

Don’t forget to record the butterflies you see out on your walks. There is an excellent iRecord free app which you can download to your phone. Enjoy your butterflies and let me know what you have seen.

News Report from Cllr. Michael Lilley for Ryde Appley and Elmfield 07769 551 578 | Michael.lilley@iow.gov.uk www.michaellilley.uk access to locally produced food and locally grown vegetables brings me on to my 2nd cause.

Spring is here, and the Daffodils are out in Ryde!

This is my favourite time of year and whatever the difficulties we face, just seeing the spring flowers gives me something to smile about.

Save the Curlew as well as Westridge Farmland and Local Food Production!

On the 21st July 2021, IWC Planning Committee controversially approved 472 houses being built. Local residents started a campaign and employed the services of a specialist solicitor to take the matter to Judicial Review. However, until a legal agreement was signed by the developer with all the landowners involved and IW Council, consent could not be given. Natural England at this point in 2022 after not objecting to the application, raised concerns the houses were being built on the protected feeding grounds of Solent Waders and Migration Birds including the Curlew. This has meant that the original conditions of the planning application have to be changed and the application has to come back to the IWC Planning Committee on 21st March or 24th April 2023. I am concerned that whatever is agreed between IW Council, the developer and Natural England, residents and Ryde Town Council and other stakeholders have not been consulted let alone asking the Curlew. The Curlew and other birds such as Brent Geese who have been travelling to the protected Ryde Sands have been feeding on these fields for 100 of years, possibly thousands. Why should they lose their home as the tenant farmers who farmed Westridge since the 1960s have lost theirs? I will continue to object and fight this development as unjust, unfair and not needed. This farmland was productive and environmentally friendly and with Barrow Boys closed the issue of

Child Poverty and Food Insecurity in Ryde and Isle of Wight

Every year since 2016, I have campaigned, raised awareness and funding for food poverty in Ryde. In January 2019, I successfully put a motion to IW Council for the IW Council to commit reducing child poverty in 5 years on the Island.

The Ryde Annual Pancake Day event held on the 21st February 2023 raises funds for 4 Ryde food project all in or near my ward. These are Oakfield Primary School Community Pantry, Ryde Food Bank, Oakvale Food Share and Ryde Aspire. Since 2016, over £10,000 has been raised and I am hoping further funds are raised as this money is desperately needed and the food it finances. I have raised questions at Corporate Scrutiny and Cabinet Committee’s, and I intend to put forward a Motion on Child Poverty to the IWC Full Council meeting in March 2023. The reality is child poverty has risen in Ryde in the last 4 years not reduced and I am going to ask that IW Council recognises this and commits to a new 5-year commitment to reduce it radically. It is totally unacceptable to me that over 2000 children in Ryde are not only on free school meals (there has been a 63% rise in children eligible for free school meals on the IW over the last 4 years and this is an indicator in rise in child food poverty) but over 69% of these children live in deep poverty. Our children and grandchildren are literally going hungry. Please support me and donate to my Mayor’s Charity Fund - www.justgiving. com/crowdfunding/mayorscharityfund