Annual General Meeting 2001 .......................................... 1

blackthorn, Speckled Woods causing momentary excitement as they flew up from perches on the canopy. Back at the car park and refreshed by ices, it was decided that the remainder of the afternoon would be spent searching for Black Hairsrreak at its Knighton's Copse and Organ's Hill colonies in the sourheasterly quarter of the Salcey complex. We moved off down an open ride, an area of regenerating clear fell to one side, mature woodland to the other. Our attention was initially drawn to a number of Common Blues enlivening the rather arid terrain of the clear fell and to male Wood Whites engaged in their relencless search for mates. However, as blackthorn began to dominate the flora of the woodland edge, the pace slowed as necks were craned skywards and eyes were trained upon the tops of the scrub. Following another ride towards Organ's Hill, the group lingered around a particularly sheltered and sunlit blackthorn stand backed by oak and ash. Although rhe canopy seemed to shimmer slightly under the intensity of the mid afternoon sun, its oucline was not to be broken by the characteristic flight of a hairstreak. Returning to our vehicles, we reflected with satisfaction upon a final count of forty plus Wood Whites. Somewhat paradoxically, numbers of this delicate rarity had far exceeded those of the normally ubiquitous browns and other whites recorded over the course of the day. Thanks are due to Alan Johnson for organising the field trip, and to Andy Patmore of Forest Enterprise for describing the natural history and management of Salcey Forest. Species List; Large Skipper, Orange Tip, Brimstone, Wood White, Large White, Common Blue, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown, Ringler and Red Admiral.

Wood white by Beryl Johnson

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Brimstone ( egg-laying on Purging Buckthorn) by Douglas Hammersley

S.W.T. Reserve at Carlton Marshes. Near Carlton Colville, Lowestoft

Saturday 14th July by Bery/Johnson

':4 unique and fragile wetland -A home for a magical diversity of wildlife-A place to be treasured". A quotation from the S.W.T. leaflet for Carlton Marshes, which I am sure, the nine members ofB.C. who attended this meeting would endorse. We were warmly greeted, at the centre, by Nick Sanderson, Education Officer for the reserve who in his introductory talk described the varied habitats found within Carlton Marshes and its management for wildlife. Lying one metre below sea level, in the ancient valley of the River Waveney, this area, in excess of one hundred acres, has been managed since 1975 and a reserve since 1980. Within its boundary can be found stretches of open water, reedbeds, fen and grazing marshes intersected by dykes. At present these marshes are under threat from the rush becoming too dominant due to under grazing.

Green-veined White by Douglas Hammersley

As we set off with the warden, to study, at closer range, some of the habitats found on "The Level"we were accompanied by the distant flashes oflighming and rumbles of thunder from the dark clouds rolling in from the north. We followed the footpath through the grazing marsh towards the fen noting

Common Valerian, Hemp Agrimony, Milk

Parsley and Purple-Loosestrife which were coming into bloom. In the dykes Water-

Soldier and Frogbit were growing happily in the pure water. Southern Marsh Orchid,

Knapweed and Greater Spearwort brightened the ''Managed Fen", where regular cutting takes place. It soon became apparent that in order to provide and preserve the right conditions for all the different species, which inhabit Carlton Marshes, ''Management"is a fine balancing act. In spite of the rapid fall in • temperature, since our arrival, we were still able to record Meadow Brown, Greenveined White and Small Tortoiseshell but we were not to escape the storm, which we had hoped would pass us by. Although we sheltered under some Willow trees we were soon all drenched by the torrential rain.

When the rain eased we headed back to the visitor centre where Nick kindly made us hot drinks and where we could eat our lunch in the shelter of the "Ted Ellis Room". The plan for the day had been to have a guided walk in the morning and explore, on our own, after lunch but due to the continuing rain the meeting was drawn to a premature close. . However, we all felt it

Carlton Marshes in the programme for 2002, maybe \ towards the end of July.