Colin Hawes
3 Silver Leys, Bentley
Ipswich, Suffolk, IP9 2BS, England
The Suffolk Naturalists' Society's connection with Redgrave and Lopham Fens goes back many years to well before the time that David Bellamy and Francis Rose produced their paper on 'The Waveney-Ouse Valley Fens of the Suffolk - Norfolk Border' for the Society's Transactions (Bellamy and Rose, 1960). The story of Redgrave and Lopham Fen, its connection with the SNS and the latest dramatic changes that have taken place at this Suffolk Wildlife Trust reserve would have taken the Spotlight position in this issue of the newsletter but, unfortunately, unforeseen difficulties delayed its production. The article and the accompanying photographs will now appear at a later date.
'Geological Events' reappears in this issue. The editor accepts full responsibility for its inadvertent omission from White Admiral 39.
Once again the Society is indebted to the Robert Stebbings Consultancy Limited and to Brenda Arden in particular for word-processing the copy for the newsletter. Thanks are due also to Anne Beaufoy for her continued support. Copy for White Admiral 41 should reach the editor no later than October 7th.
As many readers will be aware, 'Out of place', the editorial feature which appeared in White Admiral 39, was taken up by David Green of the East Anglian Daily Times (11 May 1998) and then by Radio Suffolk, who used the piece as the basis for a phone-in programme. Judging by the response, both in the press and from those who commented over the air, the majority of the public take the view that our roadside verges are enhanced by planting cultivar daffodils; a view which takes no account of the fact that the natural flora supports the native fauna. Native plants attract more insects. More insects - more birds. Would those who ask, 'does it really matter what grows on our verges as long as it is more attractive to look at than litter ' take the same view if they realised the loss to insects and birds?
No apology is offered for continuing the theme of wild plants where they belong.
'Eighty per cent of the trees planted in Britain each year are raised from foreign seed - usually from Eastern Europe - in preference to more successful and ecologically adapted British varieties', according to the report from a conference organised by the National Urban Forestry Unit (Daily Telegraph, June 18, 1998). These 'imported trees did not grow so well under British conditions, often coming into leaf early and being hit by frost. Insects that were used to the leafing times of their British counterparts were not attracted to them', the conference was told.
These comments brought to mind Flora locale, an initiative of Plantlife, the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management and the Nature Conservation Bureau, whose 'principal aim is to protect indigenous wild plants and plant communities (such as heathland, meadows, native woods and ancient hedgerows) from introduced species and varieties.'
Of immediate concern according to Flora locale, ' is the widespread planting of alien varieties of native species of wild plants in amenity, wildlife, forestry, and landscaping schemes.' The problem, the organisation informs us in its publicity leaflet, is the sheer scale of introduced alien varieties which poses a potential threat to the genetic integrity of wild plants in local areas.'
'Some of the alien varieties of native plants are different in their form of growth and behaviour. They may flower earlier, have different dormancy periods and may be less frost-tolerant. This can mean that the flowers are over before pollinating insects appear or they may be less well adapted to their new climatic situation so grow less well. In contrast, some wildflower varieties grow more aggressively and have the potential to invade and weaken the local genetic stock of the same species.'
In autumn 1997, Flora locale produced Flora watch, the project's first newsletter from which the following piece is taken.
Vast amounts of wild and cultivated plants: seeds, trees and shrubs are being used in ecological restoration and reforestation schemes, sometimes close to or within critical areas of native vegetation such as ancient woodlands and species-rich native grasslands. At the moment the majority of plants and seeds used do not originate from the local area, the national territory or biogeographical region in which the restoration projects are being carried out. Some of the plants being used are alien and potentially invasive to the country concerned, while the mass-use of imported genotypes may place at risk local varieties of local wildflowers, grasses and trees, and in some cases has already had significant economic consequences. The situation threatens to undermine the basic premise of the Convention on Biological Diversity, which aims to protect the variety of life, including local genetic variety between and within wild species.
The majority of wildflower seeds used to create new wildflower grasslands in Britain are sourced from continental Europe, usually Eastern Europe, and include fodder varieties and genotypes new to Britain. The same is true of trees and shrubs used to replant ancient native woodlands and plant up new motorway verges or farm hedges.
In some Member States of the European Union (EU), completely alien and potentially invasive species (as well as non-native genotypes) are being planted within Environmentally Sensitive Areas.
Massive amounts of public funds used for ecological restoration are already being used to create vegetation which does not resemble native plant communities, and this problem could well increase in future years.
Nearly all the grasses used in ecological restoration schemes funded under the EU's agri-environment programme are cultivated varieties, often from New Zealand or North America, usually developed for their vigorous growth and for the amenity grass or agricultural market. They are better suited for productive ley grassland and silage, or for football pitches, rather than for nature conservation purposes. Genetic engineering poses new threats; even faster-growing grasses are being developed and will soon be widely available. If these are used in ecological restoration schemes it is unlikely that any wildflowers sown with them would survive for long.
There are a growing number of seed houses and forest nurseries in Britain which are collecting native-origin seed to propagate for ecological restoration schemes but their efforts are currently being constantly undermined by the flood of cheaper imported seeds and plants, making it difficult for local growers to produce at the necessary economies of scale that would make their stock available at competitive prices. However, there is no mandatory requirement for schemes funded from public programmes to use native-origin stock for nature conservation and ecological restoration projects. The majority of funds are currently provided through the UK's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Authority (for Agri-environment and woodland restoration/ planting). Flora locale welcomes the fact that both organisations are currently reviewing their policies on this matter.
1 am grateful to Sue Everett, Flora locale project co-ordinator, for permission to reproduce material from Flora watch and the Flora locale leaflet. Flora locale may be contacted at
36 Kingfisher Court, Hambridge Road, Newbury, Berkshire RG 14 5 SJ.
Tel: 01635 550380. Fax:01635 550230.
E-mail: floralocale@naturebureau.co.uk
Web address http://www.naturebureau.co.uk/pages/floraloc/floraloc.htm
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