King Fensman 3-Man Hide, some damage.
Contact Richard Stewart (01473-216518) for further information.
Remembrance is the title of a recently published book of poetry written by Suffolk naturalist Richard Stewart. The poems, mostly relating to East Anglia, are about animals, the countryside and the environment.
This very reasonably priced little volume can be obtained from local bookshops (price £3.95) or direct from Richard (price £4.50 including packing and postage) at the following address:
'Valezina', 112 Westerfield Road, Ipswich IP4 2XW.
Remembrance will be reviewed in the October issue of Suffolk and Norfolk Life.
The response to the survey far exceeded all expectations. Over 10,000 records were submitted to the People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) by more than 4,500 people. More than 900 stag beetle records were submitted from Suffolk making it one of the top four counties for these amazing insects. Additional, non-duplicate records were received at the Suffolk Biological Records Centre (SBRC) and have since been added to the PTES database.
The preliminary analysis of the results from the survey will be reported in Suffolk Natural History 1999.
This year SNS, SWT and English Nature are assisting the survey organisers (PTES) in gathering more records from outside the stag beetle's known strongholds. In Suffolk the project would be pleased to hear from anyone who has sightings of stag beetles from the edge of its range, e.g. Ashfield, Debenham, Felsham, Heveningham, Hitcham, Laxfield, Preston St. Mary, Wetherden and Woolpit. Any reports of stag beetles from those localities listed in White Admiral 42 : 37 are also required. All records should be sent to the SBRC (see p.40). Please include as much detail as possible, e.g. male/female, live/road casualty, behaviour, time, etc. Data will be collated and forwarded to PTES.
The SBRC and PTES thank all SNS members and other recorders who have already submitted records for 1999.
A copy of the National Stag Beetle Survey Update has been sent to all those who submitted records and requested feedback.
A fact/practical advice sheet has also been produced for those who are interested in helping to conserve stag beetles. Copies may be obtained from the People's Trust for Endangered Species, 15 Cloisters House, 8 Battersea Park Road, London, SW8 4BG. Telephone: 0171 498 4533 Fax: 0171 498 4459.
Excellent advice and drawings showing how to create a good habitat for stag beetles can also be found on a fact sheet produced by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust. Contact SWT at Brooke House, The Green, Ashbocking, IP6 9JY if you would like a copy.
Saturday 23 October
Sponsored by The Robert Stebbings Consultancy Limited, the 10th SNS Annual Conference celebrates the millennium with a look at how we can learn more about our wildlife by studying the past. Dr. Oliver Rackham, an acknowledged authority on the British countryside and how it has developed over the centuries, leads a list of distinguished speakers in an outstanding programme which explores the history of our countryside and its climate, vegetation and faunal changes through the ages. '1000 Years of Natural History - learning from the past' promises to be a fascinating conference - make sure you do not miss it. If you have not already done so, book now to avoid disappointment.
As is the custom, the meeting opened with the annual reports given by the Society's Chairman, Hon. Secretary and Hon. Treasurer. Full accounts of these reports will be published in Suffolk Natural History 1999.
After refreshments, Council member Rob Parker took us on a 'walk around the Suffolk countryside', illustrating his talk about insect habitats and diversity with slides of a variety of invertebrates. Passing in turn through heathland, meadow, woodland and the water's edge, we were treated to views of (in Rob's words) 'some pretty ones and some pretty disgusting ones'. Each species was described in relation to its habitat and Rob explained some of the reasons for the decline in certain insect populations
A major project has recently been launched (24 May 1999) to try and halt the decline of the Black Poplar (Populus nigra L.). Suffolk and Essex comprise one of the last strongholds for this scarce native tree and conservationists from the two counties are setting up a collection of cuttings which will be used in a replanting programme. Additionally, leaf samples from the cuttings will be sent to researchers at Nottingham University for DNA profiling to try to establish whether the remaining population which survives locally shows genetic variety. If there is only one genetic type the tree is at serious risk - a single problem, for example a fungal attack, could wipe them all out. The Black Poplar "cutting bank" is located at Daws Hall, Lamarsh, in the Stour Valley. The project is supported and financed by a partnership of organisations: the Daws Hall Trust, Dedham Vale and Stour Valley Countryside Project, Environment Agency, English Nature, Essex Wildlife Trust and Essex and Suffolk local councils. (The late Edgar Milne-Redhead, who over many years did so much to further the cause of the Black Poplar, would have taken great pleasure from this latest development.
Alan Stubbs, regular Diptera columnist for British Wildlife, reports that Dipterists Digest (5, part 2) includes papers which note recent discoveries and observations on the ecology and behaviour of three fly species found in Suffolk.
The horsefly Haematopota grandis is reported to breed in a saltmarsh and males of the species have been observed in loose territorial swarms.
The bee-fly Villa modesta has been seen at Sizewell beach. Male territorial and mating behaviour is described and also the oviposition of females.
The rare soldierfly Oxycera leonina has been discovered in east Suffolk.
A short note on Lesser Earwig in the Huntingdonshire Fauna and Flora Society's 50th Anniversary Review (p.9) refers to 'Earwigs on Camera' (White Admiral 38 : 8).
Regular information on progress with biodiversity action may be found on the UK biodiversity Group's Internet site at www.jncc.gov.uk/ukbg. Those without internet access can request to receive Biodiversity News by faxing or telephoning a request (Fax: 0117 987 8182/Tel: 0117 987 6276).
A recent study (Wilkinson, 1999) illustrates the importance of regional Floras as biodiversity data sets. Twenty such British Isles Floras, including Simpson's Flora of Suffolk, were used to count the numbers of species, genera and families of flowering plants and the data used to examine the relationships between species richness and higher taxa richness.
Those of you interested in the results of the study are referred to:
Wilkinson, D.M. (1999). Correlations between higher taxon richness and species richness in the British Isles flora. Watsonia 22 : 269-273.
SNS again shared a tent with Forest Enterprise opposite the Light Horse Ring. The tent was larger this year and gave us the opportunity to arrange the display into four bays covering different areas of natural history. Rosemary and Tony Milner manned the book stall- in spite of the difficulties due to Rosemary's road accident injuries and we were very grateful that she was able to manage both days. Book sales increased to just under £150 and we gained four new members. Jon Nichols bravely volunteered for two days and fascinated people with the results of his moth trapping the previous evenings. Colin Hawes' enormous stag beetle larvae aroused interest and consternation in equal measure but illustrated the importance of apparently useless dead wood. Anna Cordon, Geoff Heathcote, Neil Mahler, Rob Parker and Chris Langlois enthused about a selection of bones and other delights to anyone who would pay attention. The tent was positioned some way from the avenue containing the other wildlife-orientated organisations and this location is under review in the light of the fact that while there was a continuous stream of visitors into the tent we gained fewer members this year. We also get no mention in the official show programme as we do not have our own tent. Many thanks to all those who made this a successful event.