If you have never been to a Suffolk Naturalists' Society AGM, how about coming along to the Forte Posthouse, Ipswich (near Tesco's on the A1214) at 7.30 p.m. on Saturday 24 April? If you have been before, you know what an interesting event it can be. This year our guest speaker is Rob Parker, who will be talking about 'Invertebrate Conservation'. Author of The Butterflies of Cyprus, Rob has a long-standing interest in entomology and has been involved in habitat management for the conservation of invertebrates on MoD sites in Suffolk.
Business proceedings will include brief reports from the Society's Chairman, Hon. Secretary and Hon. Treasurer; and, of course, there will be the annual nomination of two new council members, a system which ensures that new ideas and enthusiasms are continually introduced.
The meeting also provides an excellent opportunity to exchange your natural history news with other members. So put this date in your diary. We look forward to seeing you there on the night.
This is in June this year (2nd and 3rd ) and is an occasion when the Society can show off its many attributes. It is also an opportunity for those involved in the Society to demonstrate what they have been doing, particularly Recorders - informal chats with the public bring in new records and new members. Colin Hawes' Stag Beetle Survey attracted a great deal of interest last year, particularly as he had some of the enormous grubs on show. So if your recording needs a boost please contact Joan Hardingham and arrange to have some space to show off! We also need volunteers to man the stand and talk to the public as well as someone to organise a quiz. Otherwise just come along and see what the Society has been doing.
Programme details are enclosed with White Admiral. Book early to be sure of a place. For more information please ring our Secretary, Joan Hardingham on 01449 720820
Ipswich Borough Council Museums and Galleries is again participating in National Museums Week Saturday 15th May - Saturday 22nd May 1999, a week of activities celebrating Britain's Museums. As part of the events they have organised a trail around the Museum taking a close look at how much Suffolk has changed over the years.
From Saturday 15 May until 5 June (including half term)
All change in Suffolk
Over thousands of years the natural history of Suffolk has been constantly changing. Follow the trail around the Museum which takes us on a journey into Suffolk's past and meet the former inhabitants, from mammoths to tortoises. Be introduced to some newcomers who have decided to stay and make Suffolk their home.
Pick up a free Trail Sheet from the Museum's reception desk. Suitable for children and adults of all ages.
Suffolk's first Biodiversity Newsletter, produced by the Biodiversity Working Group, was published in Autumn 1998. The newsletter which will be produced at least twice a year will report on the progress being made on the Suffolk Biodiversity Action Plan and will include contributions from a wide variety of individuals and organisations who are involved in biodiversity initiatives in the county. The newsletter is available from Peter Holborn, Suffolk County Council, Department of Environment and Transport, St. Edmund House, County Hall, Ipswich IP4 1LZ
Biodiversity Working Group members are: Suffolk County Council, English Nature, Suffolk Wildlife Trust, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Suffollk Biological Records Centre, Environment Agency, Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group and Suffolk Coastal District Council.
Hearty thanks are due to Enid Hyde for her sterling work in the role of Plant Recorder for the Society. She has held the post jointly with Francis Simpson for the past twenty years and has put in many long hours recording and documenting the Flora of the County. Her meticulous notes on new and interesting Plant Records for Suffolk Natural History over that period are a lasting record of her work and a very hard act to follow! Her 1999 list is almost completed. I am sure she will continue with botanical recording in and around the Shotley Peninsula and I hope her retirement will give her more time for the delights of field work.
Martin Sanford
As well as his work for the Suffolk Wildlife Trust, where he is responsible for heath restoration, rare plants recovery and improving management of conservation land, Nick Gibbons has taken on the role of Conservation Officer for Thetford Forest. Nick's work in Thetford Forest will play and important part in a major project to reinstate traditional Breckland Heath to areas of the forest.
Congratulations to Derek Moore on his secondment from the post of Director of the Suffolk Wildlife Trust (SWT) to take up the post of Director of Programmes at the National Office of The Wildlife Trusts. We wish him well in his new position.
During the past 14 years Derek has led the growth of the SWT into one of the most influential groups in Britain, work for which he was awarded the OBE earlier this year.
Derek has been a great ambassador for nature conservation in Suffolk. We congratulate him on his award and look forward to him maintaining his links both with the SWT and the Suffolk Naturalists' Society.
In March this year Dr. Anne Brenchley moved from the English Nature Suffolk Team at Bury St. Edmunds to join the Wigan Office as Senior Conservation Officer and Acting Manager for the English Nature North West Team.
Anne, who joined the Suffolk Team as Conservation Officer for Breckland, and later, as Senior Conservation Officer for the agency managed all of the county's conservation matters from the Bury Office, was closely involved with the Breckland Special Area of Conservation heathland sites which forms part of Elveden Farms Limited (see Bill Nickson's article p.22)
Please note that two of our regular field meeting leaders are at new addresses:
Steve Fryett, 25 Pound Corner, Grundisburgh, Woodbridge IP13 6TN Tel: 01473 735698
Ashley Gooding, 18 Withipoll Street, Ipswich IP4 2BZ. Tel: 01473 217514
RSPB 'Birds' magazine, from 1966 to end of 1998 - complete set of 151 copies: a real archive collection for £50, i.e. approximately 33 pence per copy.
Set of 16 'Plants of The British Isles' colour posters by Barbara Nicholson, each approximately 23 x 30 ins. £12.
Buyer(s) to collect. Richard Stewart (Tel. 01473 216518).
Those of you who are familiar with the drawings of W. Heath Robinson will have noticed that the caption, 'The Habits of the Night Moth', was omitted from the illustration which appeared on page 22 of White Admiral 41. The illustration was reproduced with kind permission of the author's agents, Laurence Pollinger Limited.
Two records of late butterflies were omitted from 'Early and Late butterfly Records, White Admiral 41, page 21. These are appended to 'The Millennium Butterfly Survey - A Final Request' see page 18.
The estimated cost of the 70th anniversary dinner (Wednesday 1st December, 1999) appeared as £6.50 in White Admiral 41. This should have read £16.50.
Copperas = FeSO4.7H2O, not FeSO4,7H2 as appeared on page 38 of White Admiral 41.