n NATURE WATCH

With Dawn Lawrence

J.B.S. Haldane wittily remarked that God must have an inordinate fondness for beetles: with around 400,000 species of beetle already described you can see what he was getting at. Beetles make up around 25% of all known animal species!

Here in Britain we have around 4,000 species. Out there in the wild roam the elusive stag beetle of ancient woodlands, the sinister sexton beetles that bury carrion for their young to feed on; the dung beetles with similarly unsavoury habits regarding dung; and the death watch beetle, scourge of ancient buildings, whose larvae can turn ancient oak beams to dust. There are beetles galore: the Claviger beetle lives only in ant nests, the green-socks peacock (honestly!) lives amongst the liverworts and algae on the edge of wetlands and the cramp ball beetle lives in those black fungi that are also called King Alfred’s cakes.

If we home in on our gardens we can bring the Coleoptera into closer focus. As well as a dozen different ladybirds (all with their own unique lifestyle) we will find the strawberryseed beetle that has an inordinate fondness for, well, I’m sure you can guess; lily beetles, as red and shiny as a freshly painted pillar box, whose larvae avoid predators by wrapping themselves in their own faeces; violet ground beetles that patrol the vegetable patch eating slugs and snails; the wasp beetle whose passable imitation of a real wasp offers protection from predation; and the common red soldier beetle – you can see from the photograph why they are so common. But now consider the duckweed weevil. Despite appearances, duckweed (those pinheadsized blobs that float on our ponds) is not a simple alga but a fully developed flowering plant. That fact alone amply demonstrates the unfathomable inventiveness of evolution, but that duckweed has its own tiny weevil consort that will live nowhere else is just mind-blowing; I was temporarily stunned to learn this. Truly no space, no nook or cranny is left unpopulated, at least by beetles. Peer under the surface of the pond and you will find water beetles – air-breathing insects that lead an almost entirely aquatic life – and skate-dancing on the surface film (when it is not crowded by duckweed) are the whirligigs, often the first insect to colonise a new pool.

As most beetles can fly there is always the possibility of finding a new species for Bristol, or indeed for the country. The rosemary beetle was an early harbinger of climate change. It became established in our southern counties in 1994 from its origins in southern Europe and has since spread to every part of Britain; it rarely does more than minor damage to the lavender and rosemary plants that it favours and, in the humble opinion of someone who is in awe of beetle kind, it more than makes up for the damage with its eye-catching metallic green and red stripes, as bright as any flower.

n NEWS FROM OUR MP

Calling on the government to scrap its Rwanda scheme

I’m continuing to oppose the Tories’ cruel, unworkable, illegal Rwanda scheme at every opportunity. On 11th July, I voted 18 times to protect the commonsense amendments made in the House of Lords.

This included measures to protect children and pregnant women from being detained indefinitely, which we pressured the government into accepting.

I also voted for a 10-year strategy for dealing with refugee crises and human trafficking, and more support for victims of modern slavery.

Holding Boris Johnson to account

Over the last month, I’ve been leading the debate for Labour holding Boris Johnson to account for lying to the House of Commons and to the people of this country about law-breaking parties in Downing Street during the pandemic.

I’ve also been demanding he reverses his decision to approve Johnson’s dishonourable honours list and questioned his judgement in using taxpayers’ money to fund Johnson’s legal defence. Johnson should pay back every penny.

Fighting for Bristol’s Windrush generation

75 years ago, the first people from the Windrush generation arrived in the UK. Last month, I recognised the huge contribution they made to cities like Bristol. Shockingly, through a mix of the Home Office’s cruel ‘hostile environment’ and sheer Tory incompetence, many people were prevented from accessing healthcare, work and housing.

Worse still, some were wrongly detained, denied legal rights, and threatened with deportation. I’ve been fighting the Home Office for years for the people in Bristol West caught up in this scandal.

In a speech to the House of Commons on 22nd June, I raised the cost and complexity of the process and the lack of access to affordable legal advice. I called on the government to clear that backlog and give these people the compensation they’re owed.

Rebuilding the UK’s relationship with Europe

It has been deeply frustrating to see the damage done to the UK’s relationship with our close friends in the European Union.

This month I had the pleasure of meeting with the German Ambassador, Miguel Berger and Madam President Annita Demetriou, the first woman to be elected President of the House of Representatives in Cyprus.

I highlighted the importance of Bristol’s musicians and artists accessing short-term visas to tour within the EU. I also spoke about the need to seek mutual recognition of professional qualifications to enable our service industries to do business in the EU.

Sharing lessons from Bristol Beacon’s refurbishment

As Shadow Leader of the House of Commons, I am part of the team responsible for Restoration and Renewal of the Palace of Westminster – not just our workplace but also a global beacon of democracy and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

It was a pleasure to welcome restoration experts from the team to Bristol to connect with suppliers and learn from the people working on restoring buildings such as the Bristol Beacon.

The Bristol Beacon is at the heart of our cultural landscape, and it’s been great to share the lessons from the refurbishment.

Regular Events

Monday n REDLAND WIND BAND has vacancies for some woodwind, brass and percussion players. This friendly group meets 7.30-9.30pm at Redland Church Hall, Redland Green. Contact via email on redlandwindband@gmail.com n 19 JULY TO 3 SEPTEMBER

KIDS GO FREE THIS SUMMER

From 19 July, Brunel’s SS Great Britain are welcoming children 16 years and under for free when you book tickets online. Highlights this summer include a brand new family food trail, AR binoculars and a cricket display. ssgreatbritain.org/ summer n DICKENS SOCIETY. 7pm, at Leonard Hall, Henleaze URC, Waterford Rd, Bristol BS9 4BT. Talks, costumed readings, book club and social events. See www.dickenssociety.org.uk or phone Roma on 0117 9279875. n PLAY BOWLS at Canford Park in a friendly, social atmosphere. Qualified coaches and equipment provided. Contact: Les on 07305695579