Spring is almost here. Daylight hours are noticeably longer. Elder leaf buds have burst early. Time to get out and do things. This edition contains details of a range of natural history activities – hopefully, something for everyone. You can choose from the SNS field trips programme, the geology group’s meetings, flora recording with the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists (with special arrangements for beginners), recording common but under-recorded spring flowers, and requests from the Peoples’ Trust for Endangered Species to participate in two mammal surveys. It’s worth noting that some of these are co-operative ventures with like-minded groups from our county neighbours, Essex and Norfolk. Enjoy!

Some readers may have followed correspondence in the East Anglian Daily Times after its Editorial on 9th December took issue with the SNS about a comment made aboutsomefarmers by the 2002 Suffolk Bird Report editor. There are three points arising from this that I too should like to comment upon.

First, the views expressed in any of the SNS regular publications do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Suffolk Naturalists’ Society.

Second, the final letter was from Paul Lee, our Chairman. In it he pointed out quite  rightly  that  the  SNS  is  a  scientific  organisation,  not  a  campaigning  or conservation group. Conservationists work to preserve, protect or restore wildlife

and the natural environment, sometimes to the extent of actually creating habitats. Natural historians study plants and animals scientifically, but tend to be concerned with observation rather than experiment, and generally present their work in a popular, but still academic, form. To my mind these two activities are not mutually exclusive;  on  the  contrary,  they  are  complementary.  Neither  side  should  feel threatened, intimidated or undervalued. Indeed, there is much to be gained by becoming more interdependent.

Journalists are known sometimes to take items out of context to make a story. Could that be the case here? I invite members make up their own minds. A good place to check the facts is the recently published DEFRA biodiversity strategy paper, “Working with the grain of nature”.  A careful study of chapter 2, including the graphs and pie charts will give a good grasp of what is known about the impact of farming on the current status of birds. The report is available free from DEFRA publications, telephone 08459 556000. In addition, the Biodiversity Group’s annual stock take (2002-3) is available on the DEFRA website; see Newslines in this issue for details.

Reading the strategy gives a clear picture of the immensity of the task facing us. Of course it is written in typical ‘government-speak’, laced with acronyms and contains many vague action plans and imprecise targets. Nevertheless, its vision is absolutely right. Let us all work to keep the government to its intentions.

Needless to say – these are only my personal views!

© 2004   Suffolk Naturalists' Society