Butterfly conservation’s South East Woodlands Project 2010
NEWSLETTER
The South East is one of the UK’s most heavily wooded regions and it is here that some of our most threatened butterflies and moths have experienced severe declines. Butterfly Conservation’s biggest conservation project is now two years into its programme to halt alarming declines in woodland butterflies and moths.
The South East Woodlands Project focuses on 3 project areas covering over 100,000 acres in Sussex, Kent and on the Hampshire/Wiltshire border, and is using the experience gained here to promote sustainable woodland management across the region. The project offers guidance to woodland owners and managers on how biodiversity can thrive alongside woodland production. We also encourage local communities to use and treasure the public woodland resources.
The South East Woods Project helps butterflies and other wildlife by: Providing advice on enhancing biodiversity and assistance with grant applications. Providing free workshops and training which enable woodland managers to share information. Arranging species surveys to help owners understand the wildlife value and increase enjoyment of their woodlands. Developing markets for woodland products. Duke of Burgundy lost from East Sussex in the 1970’s, this lovely butterfly is benefitting from conservation work in Hampshire and Kent. © Dr Sam Ellis / Butterfly Conservation
Providing special conservation projects in key locations - coppicing, woodland edges and field margins, hedgerows, and wayleaves.
The South East Woodlands Project is funded by The Heritage Lottery Fund, Tubney Charitable Trust and several other generous funders. If you would like to get involved please contact the South East Woods Team (see back for details).
Fran Thompson leads a butterfly walk at Wye National Nature Reserve, July 2009. © Dave Rogers, Natural England
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Natural England report highlights the importance of woodland managment The loss of the Pearl-bordered Fritillary from many of our woodlands features prominently in Natural England’s recent report, “State of the Natural Environment in the South East”. In 1997 there were an estimated 250 Pearlbordered Fritillary colonies in England, and as many as 50 colonies in the South East. By 2008 the butterfly had become restricted to just seven sites in the region. The report shows how populations of woodland birds have also declined severely in recent years. “The cessation of traditional woodland management such as coppicing is the most important factor affecting the condition of our woodlands and the biodiversity they support” Natural England. Good management produces sunny open spaces in the woods where woodland flowers and butterflies can thrive. As woodlands regenerate new clearings can be opened up, thus creating a succession of open space, shrubby regrowth and mature trees – ideal for all sorts of wildlife. Maintaining this cycle of woodland management is an important way of conserving much of our woodland flora and fauna. Butterfly Conservation’s South East Woods team is working with Natural England, targeting Environmental Stewardship in areas that will bring the greatest benefit to woodland fauna.
A temporary glade created by coppicing in Rother, East Sussex. © Steve Wheatley / Butterfly Conservation Higher Level Stewardship grants are being awarded to farmers whose land buffers key woodlands or whose hedgerows connect important woodland blocks. The management of small woodlands can also being included in these schemes. Grant support for larger woods is offered by the Forestry Commission.
The report (NE135 - State of the natural environment in the South East) can be downloaded from the Natural England website. www.naturalengland.org.uk
New Priority Species Factsheets Butterfly Conservation has produced a new and updated series of species factsheets for important South East butterflies. These lovely A4 sheets give useful information on the lifecycle, foodplants and habitat requirements of the butterflies and provide simple management recommendations which can be used to help these species. Silver-washed Fritillary Pearl-bordered Fritillary Dark Green Fritillary White Admiral Factsheets for Dingy Skipper and Grizzled Skipper are also available. All of the factsheets are available free from Butterfly Conservation and can also be downloaded from the website: www.butterfly-conservation.org
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SE Woods Team Help Woodland Owners to claim over £200,000 in Forestry Commission Grants Woodland Improvement Grants (WIG) are helping to improve many woodlands which have not been managed for years, to help them become more economically viable in the long term. The South East Woodlands Project Officers have now directly helped woodland owners to access over £200,000 in Woodland Improvement Grants through the English Woodland Grant Scheme (eWGS). The Forestry Commission have supported the project by offering higher grant rates in the targeted project areas. These grants have been used to restore uneconomic or overstood coppice, install deer fencing to protect coppice regrowth, widening and resurfacing or re-profiling access routes to improve ease of management.
Ride widening in private woodland in Rother, Winter 2009. © Steve Wheatley / Butterfly Conservation
The Project Officers have worked closely with the Forestry Commission’s Woodland Officers to see that each grant is right for the woodland owner, the woodland and its wildlife. Our promotion and support has also led to many other woodland owners taking up these grants of their own accord. Over £1.2million was allocated in 2009 to woods across the South East. The Project Officers have run workshops and other events to promote the woodland grants with many attendees going on to secure woodland grants ranging from just a few hundred pounds to over £40,000. Almost £1million in Woodland Improvement Grants has been made available in the SE for the year starting 1 April 2010, £600,000 of this is targeted at the South East’s priority areas which include our three project areas. Newly increased ‘standard costs’ (used to calculate grant amounts available under the scheme) will also now help woodland owners meet the true costs of management work.
Woodland Trust opening up the woodland in Denge Woods. © Fran Thompson / Butterfly Conservation
Events
Forty introductory events involving more than 1,500 people have been organised so far, including butterfly walks, moth trapping, volunteer work parties and indoor talks. One innovative approach included video conferencing a wildlife question and answer session with 250 primary school children in Kent. Staff also promoted the project at major public events such as the New Forest Show and Wye Festival, interacting with hundreds of people. Many more events are planned for the South East woodlands, especially in the project areas. To find out about upcoming events visit www.butterfly-conservation.org
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Butterfly enthusiasts come into contact with some farm pigs in Rother 2008. © Steve Wheatley / Butterfly Conservation Upcoming Events: Butterfly Identification and Recording Workshops Workshops and site visits for woodland owners / managers Guided Walks Moth Recording Evenings
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South East Woods Project Unlocks Landfill Tax The South East Woods Project Officers have so far raised £117,472 through the landfill tax scheme to undertake crucial habitat work at key sites to help some of our most threatened species. This major work is not only providing significant habitat improvements at key sites but also provides examples of best practice that can be used as the focus of workshops to encourage management activity further afield.
Denge Woods glade creation works funded by Biffaward. © Fran Thompson / Butterfly Conservation
The Landfill Communities Fund is a grant scheme for community and environmental projects in landscapes near to landfill sites. Landfill operators pay into the Landfill Communities Fund to offset the negative impacts of living very close to a landfill site - the fund supports projects enhancing the local environment, administered by the various landfill operators.
In the Tytherley Woods Project area £29,758 was granted by SITA Trust for restoration of an integrated woodland network at Bentley Wood Site of Special Scientific Interest to increase the Pearl-bordered Fritillary population. Work has now been completed on this exciting project and butterfly colonies will be monitored to see how they respond.
In the Rother Woods Project area £42,828 has been awarded by SITA Trust to save the Grizzled Skipper at Beckley Woods. The wood was once a Grizzled Skipper stronghold but just 15 individuals were recorded in 2008. The work will also benefit many other butterfly and moth species, as well as birds, bats and small mammals. In our Denge Woods Project area Biffaward granted us £44,886 for habitat improvements on Forestry Commission and Woodland Trust land to help save the Duke of Burgundy butterfly in Kent. Works include coppice restoration, glade creation and ride widening. Butterfly Conservation is continuing to work with these organisations to increase habitat diversity and support a wide range of species in this area.
BBQ for Butterflies Butterfly Conservation supports UK farmers, woodland managers and craftsmen in producing fantastic food, charcoal, firewood and other products through sustainable management of our countryside. In 2009 the three project areas each hosted a woodland barbecue, and more than 250 people enjoyed local produce cooked over charcoal from local woods. Sunshine and local venison was on the menu in Denge and Tytherley Woods, whilst in Rother, Butterfly Conservation teamed up with the Woodland Trust to host an event which included great food, music, guided walks and the weaving of a giant willow butterfly.
Visitors enjoying BBQ food and learning about butterflies in Sussex. © Mike Pepler
Dr Dan Hoare of Butterfly Conservation said “the use of sustainably produced British charcoal for barbecuing, as well as other woodland products, help to underpin the economics of woodland management.” A leaflet promoting the use of local charcoal and other products is available from the Butterfly Conservation website: www.butterfly-conservation.org Rob and Liz in their wood in Rother, making the charcoal for the Rother BBQ. © Steve Wheatley
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Project Achievements So Far Here are some of the achievements of the South East Woodlands Project so far: Over 150 landowners and managers have been identified, contacted and informed of events, developments and opportunities. Over 100 site advice visits have taken place to help owners and managers improve their properties for wildlife, access grants, identify good contractors and arrange wildlife surveys. Help has been given to woodland owners in applying for woodland improvement grants totalling over £200,000. Support has been given to landowners applying for Environmental Stewardship grants, including Entry Level, Higher Level and Organic Level Stewardship. We’ve supported woodland owners and managers in applying for grants through other funding bodies such as the South East Development Agency (SEEDA) for equipment and training and investing in infrastructure.
11 Woodland Management Workshops involving 195 people have been organised for land managers covering topics such as deer management, woodfuel, management planning and woodland grant schemes. More than 140 volunteers have contributed a total of over 1,500 hours to the project. This has included recording wildlife, improving habitats, leading walks and reporting back to landowners. Over 45,000 butterfly sightings were recorded across the three project areas in 2009 alone. 40 butterfly species have been recorded and mapped. Previously unknown colonies of Duke of Burgundy, Grizzled Skipper and Dingy Skipper (all UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Species) have been discovered. These records provide valuable feedback to landowners, managers, and other environmental groups.
£117,472 has been raised through the Landfill Communities Fund to undertake targeted work at key sites. Our free public events have attracted over 1,500 people. 25 Woodland Guardian Workshops have been organised involving 276 people, including butterfly identification workshops, survey techniques, habitat assessment and certified chainsaw training for key volunteers.
Butterfly enthusiasts attended a Butterfly ID workshop at Brede High Woods. © Michael Blencowe
The Challenge Ahead Providing advice and support for woodland managers has delivered significant benefits to wildlife in the three project areas. Ensuring long-term, environmentally sustainable woodland management across the South East remains the greatest challenge of the Project, its partners and supporters. We will continue our strategy of targeted action. The successes of the South East Woodlands Project are also already being applied beyond the original project boundaries. Developing a network of Woodland Guardians (volunteers and landowners) will be an essential outcome of the Project. These Guardians, supported by Butterfly Conservation’s dedicated County branches, will continue to raise awareness, record butterflies and feedback environmental gains to landowners and environmental bodies.
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Volunteer Neil Hulme offering habitat advice for a newly discovered Duke of Burgundy site in Kent. © Fran Thompson / Butterfly Conservation
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Butterfly Conservation’s New Woodland Reserve in Sussex It is with great excitement that we can announce Butterfly Conservation has bought Rowland Wood, an 80-acre wood in East Sussex, next to our existing Park Corner Heath Reserve. The Park Corner Heath reserve supports the last surviving colony of the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary in South East England. It is hoped this tiny butterfly will respond to habitat improvement work in the neighbouring Rowland Wood and colonise these new areas. The next nearest colonies are in the New Forest and on the Hampshire/Wiltshire border. Rowland Wood, which forms part of the famous Vert Wood complex near Laughton and Lewes, also supports many other important species, including Grizzled Skipper, White Admiral and Silver-washed Fritillary, Nightingales, Dormice and several nationally scarce beetles. We’ll be able to undertake controlled scientific studies of woodland species and there is potential to consider a reintroduction of the Pearl-bordered Fritillary, which was lost from the area just a few years ago.
Rowland Wood in autumn © Michael Blencowe
The wood has the potential to be one of the best butterfly and moth reserves in the South East. The South East Woodlands team will work closely with Butterfly Conservation’s Head of Reserves and our excellent local volunteers to improve this woodland for wildlife and visitors. Butterfly Conservation was able to purchase Rowland Wood thanks to the great generosity of Miss Pamela Lewis, who left the charity a substantial legacy specifically for nature reserve acquisitions, in memory of her mother and father. The purchase of Rowland Wood was a unique opportunity, which Butterfly Conservation could not afford to miss but there is now a huge amount of work to do. An emergency appeal for funding has been launched. If you can help please donate, and we hope to see you in this wonderful wood over the coming seasons!
Butterfly Recording Goes Through the Roof The South East Woodlands Project has generated a massive increase in butterfly recording over the last two years. More than 45,000 butterfly sightings were recorded in 2009, including the discovery of several previously unknown colonies of UKBAP (UK Biodivserity Action Plan) species. The amazing increase in recording is helping to build up a valuable picture of biodiversity in the region, providing important data on gains, losses and identifying opportunities for wildlife improvements. Four new locations in Kent were found to support Duke of Burgundy this year - Wye National Nature Reserve (NNR), and three small colonies at private sites in the Wye & Crundale area. In Sussex, the British Gypsum site at Mountfield has been found to support one of the strongest colonies of Dingy Skippers in the whole of Rother – a result of their implementation of an admirable environmental strategy. There were also good results for White Admiral and Silver-washed Fritillary (both species recorded in almost 30% of all woods). In Rother one of our volunteer recorders spotted the rare white form of the Small Copper butterfly (ab. schmidtii) – only the fourth example seen in Sussex in 150 years! Moth recording has also seen a big increase. Across the three project areas, 881 moth species have been recorded and mapped including at least 9 Red Data Book species, 5 UK BAP species and 37 Nationally Scarce species.
Rother Records Online
Volunteers in the Rother Woods Project area have put the Rother butterfly records for 2009 online. To see the fascinating results visit: www.sussex-butterflies.org.uk/rother
Butterfly recording is for all ages. Butterfly recording in Kent. © Fran Thompson
This all illustrates how easily an important rare species can be overlooked and the value of being allowed access to carrying out these important surveys. A big thank you goes to all the landowners and land managers (over 200 individuals) who have allowed unprecedented levels of access for surveys specifically for this project. Moth survey at Mill Wood in Rother. © Mike Pepler
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Record numbers of UKBAP moth in Rother Record numbers of the rare Clay Fan-foot moth were recorded by Project Officer Steve Wheatley in Rother in 2009. This UK Biodiversity Action Plan moth is strongly associated with coppicing. In two different coppice coupes, seven miles apart, Steve recorded 118 individuals; 66 in coppiced woodland near Peasmarsh and 52 three days later near Sedlescombe. This represents the largest number of Clay Fanfoot recorded anywhere in the UK in 2009 and the most recorded in Sussex since 1958. A further 38 were recorded across Rother in 2009.
Clay Fan-foot photographed in 2008 at Sussex Wildlife Trust’s Flatroper’s Wood. © Steve Wheatley
“This find shows how important coppice management can be for key species,” said Steve Wheatley, “The decline of this moth in recent decades seems to correlate very closely with the decline in coppicing in the South East. This moth is an important indicator for a whole range of species that have suffered. It might be one of our plainest, least colourful moths but it brings a cheer to my heart when I find it in a recently coppiced wood.” In July 2010 a special ‘Clay Fan-foot Festival’ has been organised by Steve. This involves coordinated searches across a number of woods, coppiced and otherwise, to learn more about this rare moth.
Duke of Burgundy in Kent. © Alfie Gay
Dukes in Denge Owners and managers of all sites known for Duke of Burgundy in Kent for the last 15 years came along to a Duke of Burgundy Management Workshop in April 2009. All are now onboard and are incorporating works to create, improve or link suitable habitat for this species, via Higher Level Stewardship or Woodland Grant Scheme agreements, Landfill Communities Fund and in some cases, good will. A subsequent Guardians Workshop is helping project volunteers to develop an ongoing monitoring program for Duke of Burgundy in Kent. Once widespread in Kent, Duke of Burgundy was restricted to just two known sites in 2007. The Denge Woods Project has found five additional sites in the wider landscape. With owners of known sites and potential habitat nearby committed to helping the cause of this disadvantaged Kentish species, we hope to ensure “The Duke” doesn’t disappear from Kent.
Volunteer Alfie Gay reports on late season Butterfly hunting in Kent For the past two years I have participated as a volunteer for the Denge Woods Project whilst studying geography at Kings College London, returning home to East Kent in the summer to spend much of my free time recording butterflies. This has proved to be a rewarding experience and I had many memorable encounters with butterflies in the 2009 season. A walk in Denge Woods on the 13th of August provided my personal highlight of the 2009 summer. Denge Woods is a fascinating stretch of woodland but in the past I have only visited it in May to see the spring flowers and of course, the Duke of Burgundy butterfly. When I set out from my home in Elham it was warm and sunny, but by the time I had arrived at the Forestry Commission entrance to the wood it had become quite cool and overcast. As I passed along the ‘Bonsai Bank’ I saw little in the way of butterflies but admired the displays of goldenrod, tufted vetch and marjoram. The sky had begun to clear as I reached the Woodland Trust part of the wood. As I approached the slope up to the warren a small, dark brown butterfly flew in front of me and perched on dogwood beside the path. Initially I thought that it might be a Brown Argus or female Common Blue, but as its wings opened, they revealed the distinctive orange-chequered markings of a Duke of Burgundy. Very surprised by the sight of such a butterfly in August, I immediately took a photograph and notified Fran who informed me that it must have been a rare second brood individual. Interestingly, on my way back I saw a Drab Looper, another species that is normally only seen in May and June but which also appears to enjoy an extended flight period.
Duke of Burgundy Management Workshop in April 2009. © Fran Thompson / Butterfly Conservation
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Good Luck to Kate With some sadness we wish farewell and good luck to Tytherley Woods Project Officer Kate Dent. Kate will be the new Head of Conservation and Education in Berkshire for Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT). Project Manager Dr Dan Hoare said “Kate has been a fantastic project officer and made a great contribution to Butterfly Conservation, but she has secured a very good permanent position with her local Wildlife Trust, so while we’re very sad to lose her we’ll now have an excellent contact and supporter in Berkshire! I’m sure you’ll join me in thanking Kate for the terrific work she’s done with us, and wishing her all the best in her exciting new role.” Although Kate will be a hard act to follow, the rest of the South East Woods team will work together to continue her excellent work. Tytherly Woods Project Officer Dr Kate Dent with presenter and naturalist Chris Packham. The Tytherley Woods Project was featured on the BBC’s ‘Inside Out’ (South Region) programme, broadcast on 15.10.08 on BBC1.
About Butterfly Conservation Butterfly Conservation is a UK Charity formed in 1968 in response to the alarming decline of many of our butterflies. Butterflies and moths are beautiful and intrinsically valuable and their sensitivity to environmental change makes them valuable indicators of the health of the countryside. We have more than 14,000 members and 31 volunteer Branches throughout the British Isles. We employ over 50 people including many highly qualified scientists, making us the world’s largest research institute for butterflies and moths. We operate 33 nature reserves and we are involved in 78 landscape-scale projects. We work with a wide range of partners to conserve butterflies, moths and their habitats by: Advising landowners and managers on conserving and restoring important habitats Purchasing and managing land for threatened butterflies, moths and wildlife Carrying out surveys, monitoring and essential research Lobbying government and its agencies to influence land use policy Butterfly Conservation, Head Office, Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5QP t: 01929 400209 e: info@butterfly-conservation.org w: http://www.butterfly-conservation.org
Credits
SE Woods Team
This project would not have been possible without the work of our Project Officers, Project Manager and volunteers supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Tubney Trust and many other funders. These collaborations are helping to strengthen our working relationships with major landowners such as the Forestry Commission right across the UK, and improve our ability to influence land management for Lepidoptera far beyond the immediate remit of the South East Woodlands Project.
South East Woods Project Manager also Tytherley Woods contact Dr Dan Hoare t: 023 9259 7612 e: dhoare@butterfly-conservation.org
The South East Woods Project is supported by:
Rother Woods Project Officer (Sussex) Steve Wheatley t: 01580 8759958 e: swheatley@butterfly-conservation.org Denge Woods Project Officer (Kent) Fran Thompson t: 01303 815171 e: fthompson@butterfly-conservation.org
Butterfly Conservation. Company limited by guarantee, registered in England (2206468) Registered Office: Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5QP Charity registered in England & Wales (254937) and in Scotland (SCO39268) Design & Typesetting by Steven Cheshire Rother-Woods-Newsletter.indd 8
e: steven@steven-cheshire.co.uk
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