Notes from the Editor

Early Season for Butterflies

With spring arriving two to three weeks early the butterflies seemed to be out and about early as well. The star of the show in Suffolk must be the Green Hairstreak, with good numbers being seen at existing locations and new records from other locations including an Ipswich allotment. There is also good news on the Wall, after its virtual absence in 1996, reports from coastal areas in Suffolk like Minsmere tell of good numbers seen. It is quite possible that all butterfly species in Suffolk could be on the wing at least three weeks early this year. Remember, if you have any interesting early encounters, why not write and tell us, we can include it in an edition of the Argus.

Suffolk Water Park, Bramford

Saturday, August 9th Change to Map reference

Unfortunately we gave an incorrect map reference in our 1997 outdoor programme for the above event. The map reference should now read TM120485 (Landranger 169).

Forest Enterprise Annual Festival at Rendlesham Forest. Sunday, 17th August

This years event will mark the l 0th anniversary of the 1987 storm with VIP guest Michael Fish planting a time capsule.

The branch would very much like to attend the event with our display stands and promote the work of Butterfly Conservation. If any member(s) can help our at this event please contact Steven Goss or James Mann (see back cover for telephone numbers).

Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera) . . . . . . . \\

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1997 Annual General Meeting

The Chairman opened the meeting at 7.30 pm by welcoming everybody, in particular Julian Roughton from the Suffolk Wildlife Trust. He briefly commented on how early the season was compared with last year and how much people enjoyed seeing butterflies. On the biodiversity front a lot had happened with English Nature producing draft natural area profiles for:- East Anglian Plains, Suffolk Coasts and Heaths, Suffolk Coast Maritime, The Broads and East Anglian Chalk. The branch had been invited to comment on these. To follow were the Brecklands and Fenlands. East Anglian RSPB had produced a draft species list for all species under threat, it was explained how the branch would become a partner in this. Suffolk Wildlife Trust had produced an updated recovery plan for the Silver-studded Blue on the Sandlings. It was explained how we would be working with S.W.T. on this and on the recommendations of the Recovery of Butterflies in Suffolk which was close to completion. The chairman also mentioned his other meetings with the National Trust, RSPB, Suffolk Wildlife Trust and correspondence with English Nature and various local authorities. On the Butterfly Conservation front the branch was working on the Regional Action Plan. We have produced a species list of butterflies which will have to be placed into priority order in conjunction with our partners in the Norfolk and Essex and Cambridgeshire branches. Work would also have to be done in surveying likely Dingy Skipper and Silver-studded Blue habitats. This year the branch had already attended the Eastern Region FWAG conference anq the Chairman had also been invited to talk on BBC Radio Suffolk about ICI sponsorship for the national recovery of the Large Blue and Pearl-bordered Fritillary. Each officer of the Committee then gave a brief report on their work during the year. Richard Stewart, County Recorder (butterflies) hoped that the remaining unrecorded tetrads in the county could be covered this year. The Treasurer's report will be included in the next addition of the Argus. The election of the committee was disappointing in so far as no new names came forward but the current committee expressed their willingness to continue with the exception of Michael and Jenny Kelsey who had decided to stand down from the committee. At this point the Chairman thanked Michael and Jenny for all their hard work in support of the branch since it was formed in 1993. Julian Roughton, Conservation Manager for the Suffolk Wildlife Trust, then gave a very interesting talk and slide show presentation on biodiversity and how in particular it affected Suffolk. The Chairman thanked Julian for an excellent talk and hoped that the branch would be working together with the Suffolk Wildlife Trust particularly on the recovery plan for the Silver-studded blue and the Recovery of Butterflies in Suffolk. At this point refreshments were taken which gave members the opportunity to raise questions with the committee. The Chairman closed the meeting by thanking our speaker and the members who had attended.