NEWSLINES & SNIPPETS

    RECENT RECORDS

SBRC reports some exciting recent records. These include man orchid Aceras anthropophorum at Sizewell; rough marsh-mallow Althaea hirsuta at Lakenheath and hummingbird hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum in Ipswich and Woodbridge. Rough marsh-mallow is very scarce. Originally a cultivated plant in Tudor times it has grown wild in Kent since 1792 and is considered by some to be native although officially it is classed as a neophyte.

    NEW RED DATA LIST

In May the new Vascular Plant Red Data List for Great Britain was launched. Two years in the making, this new list is the result of an analysis of the whole of the British flora. It is the first time this has been attempted and there are many species included that have never appeared on any ‘threat lists’ before, but nevertheless are in rapid decline. The report shows that out of 1,756 taxa, 345 (19.6%) are currently threatened.

    Examples of relatively widespread species now known to be in serious decline, especially those indicative of particular habitats, include corn spurrey (arable), purple milk-vetch (calcicolous grassland, nutrient-poor soil derived from calcareous materials), prickly saltwort (sandy foreshores), lesser butterfly and frog orchids (grassland), and tubular water dropwort (wet grassland and ditches).

    The Vascular Plant Red Data List for Great Britain(2005) Cheffings, C. and Farrell, L. (Editors) downloadable from http://www.jncc.gov.uk/page-3354

    CLIMATE CHANGE CASUALTIES

Beech trees in parts of East Anglia and southern England are predicted to be the first casualties of climate change. They have already experienced limited dieback during recent droughts (Royal Horticultural Society).

    RED SQUIRREL VIRUS

Squirrel poxvirus is placing Scotland's dwindling red squirrel population under threat, conservationists have warned.  Grey squirrels are said to have carried the virus over the border when migrating north from Cumbria.

    SAND EEL FISHING BAN

A ban on fishing sand-eels in the North Sea is welcome but comes too late for this year's seabirds, says the RSPB.

    In June fishing fleets will be banned from fishing for sand-eels in the North Sea, to save depleted sand-eel stocks. But the decision by Brussels to close the sand-eel fishery for the rest of 2005 could be too late for this year's seabirds, which suffered their worst breeding season on record in 2004.

    Many seabirds feed on the sand-eel and its decline was blamed for the worst breeding season on record in 2004.

    The RSPB says seabirds are breeding late again this year, and some are not even bothering to nest at all.

"Seabirds have delayed their breeding this year, so what sand-eel peak there is this summer will have passed when many seabirds and their chicks most need the food," said Dr Euan Dunn, head of marine policy at the RSPB.

    NEW ORCHID GUIDE

A comprehensive new guide to British and Irish wild orchids was launched recently by English Nature and WILDGuides.  

51 species of orchid are photographed in the guide.  Each species features on a double page spread with information on how to identify them, and distribution maps. The colour pictures show the whole plant and close-up view, and the text includes notes on identification, habitat, pollination, and conservation.

Britain’s Orchids is published in partnership with English Nature and priced £15. Copies are available through the English Nature mail-order service 0870 1214 177

    ENVIRONMENTAL BODIES MERGE

In 2007 English Nature, the environment activities of the Rural Development Service and the Countryside Agency’s Landscape, Access and Recreation division will be united in a single body with responsibility for enhancing biodiversity and our landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas; promoting access, recreation and public well-being, and contributing to the way natural resources are managed.

    Margaret Beckett, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has announced that the new agency will be called Natural England.

    Professional naturalists are fearful that the interests of nature will be downgraded in the new body.

    ADDER CENSUS

This spring the Herpetological Conservation Trust co-ordinated an adder census. This was a pilot project for what they hope will become an annual count, providing information on the status of populations of the snake nationally. The adder has become of particular conservation concern. Although it is Britain's most widespread snake, there is strong evidence pointing to long-term national decline. Although the pilot ended in May, records of adder sightings are still welcome. 

    Records should be sent to Rosie Norton,  01728 660369, email: Click here to send e-mail
 

    FINDING STAG BEETLE LARVAE ?

Colin Hawes, the lead partner for the Stag Beetle Biodiversity Action Plan in Suffolk, has been awarded an English Nature grant to identify non-invasive methodology for the detection of larval stag beetles within decaying timber, and to research the dispersal ability of the beetle.

    HAREBELL CENSUS

Plantlife International is asking for help with its harebell census this summer. The harebell is one of our most attractive and delicate wildflowers. There are four other flowers that are closely related to the harebell, all of which are members of the bellflower family. These are the clustered, giant, spreading and nettle-leaved bellflowers. Threats to these species include habitat loss (e.g. ploughing up of grassland up or house building); decline of grazing; decline in coppicing; increased use of herbicides and removal of hedgerows.

    Harebells and bellflowers are useful natural barometers in assessing environmental impacts and indicate where conservation action is needed. You can assist Plantlife in recording their locations.

    Full details including a downloadable identification guide and grid reference help are available on www.plantlife.org.uk. Alternatively you can phone the Plantlife helpline 01722 342756 or email harebell@plantlife.org.uk for further guidance.

    FOX & BADGERS TOGETHER

Recent research on the interactions between foxes and badgers using remote video surveillance showed that the two species having met seemed deliberately to remain in each other’s company whether or not food was present. Badgers were clearly dominant.

    BIRD SURVEYS FOR 2006

The Dartford warbler and the woodlark are both subjects of a special survey planned for 2006. Both have increased in range and abundance in the last 10 years. Casual records this year are welcome at www.birdtrack.net or 01842 750050.

    PENDULINE TIT RE-TRAPPED

A juvenile male penduline tit ringed on Orfordness in November 2003 was re-trapped by ringers near the Camargue in France in November 2004.

    DNA & TAXONOMY

DNA analysis of taxonomically complex groups is clarifying relationships and leading to re-naming in some families. The orchids are a good example – with some genera likely to be combined into single groupings.

    WHITE ADMIRAL 60 .. PRIZE

The prize for the most original contribution in White Admiral 60 was awarded to Sara Low for Great Crested Newts – Alive and Well!