Those who have read White Admiral 27 (Spring 1994) will perhaps remember that I was persuaded to take up the editors' chair after Eric Parsons stepped down following the production of the Winter newsletter in 1993. Now, 25 newsletters on, it is my turn to say goodbye.
Editing the newsletter has been a rewarding experience and a worthwhile duty that I can recommend to any member. I have learned a great deal about publishing and benefited enormously from the assistance given by numerous individuals.
In particular I would like to thank Council members for their encouragement and support, and The Robert Stebbings Consultancy for its secretarial backing. I am indebted also to Martin Sanford of the Suffolk Biological Records Centre for help that has been so freely given, and to Anne Beaufoy for the artwork that enhances each issue. Thanks, too, go to Michael Hawes who, until recently, provided valuable photographic expertise. At Simplith Printing Service I have been sustained throughout by the committed support of John Kemmett and his team : my thanks to them. Last, but not least, I am deeply grateful to the numerous contributors who have produced copy over the last eight years; without you there would have been no newsletter.
The success of any publication is dependent on its contributors. White Admiral is fortunate to have Society members who produce regular copy but, as I have suggested in earlier editorials, the newsletter would benefit if more members put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboards) with their natural history news, field observations, letters and queries. Any natural history item relating to Suffolk will be gratefully received, as will drawings and photographs.
Letters and other material for White Admiral 52 should be sent to David Walker, 3 Five Acres, Holbrook, Ipswich, IP9 2QE, quercus121@aol.com. to arrive no later than 1st June 2002.
Contributors are reminded that, wherever possible, material should be submitted on computer disk accompanied by printed copy. Files should be sent in Word or Wordperfect (please indicate the programme used). Alternatively, files may be sent in ASCII or Rich Text (RTF).
Urgent help is needed in East Anglia to help build a national database for the world's largest phenological survey.Read on if you would like to take part.
October 2001 was the warmest since records began. Trees remained in leaf well into November, making the countryside look unnaturally green for the time of year.
The exceptional warmth early this year lasted from January 13 to February 12. During that period mean temperature exceeded the long-term average by 4-6 degrees C over most of England and Wales, and was widely above the average for April. This is unprecedented for a 31 day period in mid-winter in 342 years of records, according to meteorologist Philip Eden.
Plants and animals have emerged from dormancy in the earliest spring since records began. Celandines and hazel were in bloom almost a month earlier than ususal.
Natures spring calendar was in similar disarray last year and in 1998 and 1999.
Over the last three decades scientists have produced clear evidence that spring has been beginning earlier and earlier, indicated by the date of trees coming into leaf, the appearance of the first flowers, butterflies and frogspawn, and the arrival of migrant birds.
Arguments persist about the reasons why the seasonal pattern seems to be changing. The recent history of mild winters and early springs is considered by most to be evidence of global warming; others think it is nothing more than a quirk of a long-term weather cycle. Whatever the reason, there is no disputing the data collected by phenologists.
In case you are not familiar with the terminology, a phenologist is someone who takes the trouble to record the dates of recurring natural phenomena, for example, when the first snowdrops flower, the first red admiral is seen, when the first cuckoo is heard, the blackthorn begins to bloom, or the arrival and departure of swallows.
Phenology is not new. Robert Marsham, Britain's first phenologist started recording his 'Indications of Spring' on his family estate near Norwich as early as 1736 and continued to note down significant dates for the next 62 years, recording some 27 natural events for more than 20 animals and plants.
A phenological record was also kept by Gilbert White at Selbourne. He was particularly interested in birds, noting the arrival of summer migrants and autumn passage.
Marsham's records did not stop with his death in 1798. Successive generations of his family kept up this information gathering until 1958.
However, British phenology took a major leap forward in 1875 when the Royal Meteorological Society established a national recorder network to establish the relationship between meteorological events and the natural world. In 1899 there were 155 phenological observers contributing records. They were asked to record the first flowering of 13 plants, and the appearance of birds and insects. Annual reports were published until 1948.
Phenology then suffered a decline until 1998 when the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) recruited volunteers to revive a phenology network in the UK that would be both compatible with historic records and current international schemes.
In autumn 2000, the Woodland Trust joined forces with CEH, and the number of people participating in the UK phenology network has grown to over 12,000 - the largest scheme of its kind in the world monitoring and evaluating changes to natures' cycle of events.
Observing natures' calendar is easy, great fun and anyone can do it. You can record as much or as little as you feel able to. Records can be entered online at www.phenology.org.uk or on a recording form obtainable from:
Woodland Trust, Autumn Park, Dysart Road, Grantham, Lincs, NG31 6LL
(Tel: 01476 581111 or 0800 0837497).
Until recently the phenology network has concentrated on recording spring events but now autumn records are required as well, for example, the dates for leaf fall, the departure of swifts and the arrival of fieldfares.
Your records will provide valuable information for Suffolk. They will be used to demonstrate how climate change is affecting our wildlife habitats. Undoubtedly higher temperatures will have serious implications for vulnerable cold-weather species, such as those confined to mountain tops, but others more familiar to us will also be affected. Beech, for example, is expected to decline in East Anglia and southern England as soils become drier. Not that it is all bad news, a slightly warmer Britain would help southern species such as the nuthatch or the stag beetle to extend their range northwards.
Editor
The Editor thanks the Woodland Trust for permission to quote from their website material and recording form.
The Woodland Trust welcomes feedback on their website. E mail them or alternatively write to: Nick Collision, Conservation Policy Advisor at the Woodland Trust address. (Nick Collison was formerly Reserves Manager with Suffolk Wildlife Trust).
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