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Blog - butterflies

Nature Reserves and Wildlife Trusts.

Nature Reserves and Wildlife Trusts.

by Lewis, 13 July, 2012, 0 comments

Some 100 years ago, the Society for the Promotion of Nature Reserves (SPNR) was established through the efforts of Charles Rothschild.  Its purpose was “To urge by means of the press, by personal effort, and by correspondence with local  societies and  individuals, the  desirability of preserving  in perpetuity  sites suitable f or nature reserves, which  sites are to be handed over to the National Trust under special conditions “  Charles was the son of the first baron Rothschild and a member of the banking dynasty. Read more...
Climatic debt

Climatic debt

by Chris, 28 February, 2012, 0 comments

Butterfly Conservation UK and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology have been involved in the monitoring the status of butterflies through various citizen science schemes*.   UK butterflies (and indeed, birds) are probably the best-studied wildlife groups thanks to the dedication of an enormous workforce of highly skilled and committed volunteer recorders. Butterflies and birds have been observed and recorded in detail for many, many years and these detailed records and counts yield an invaluable resource of information for the analysis of population change(s). A recent report indicates that some 70% or more of our butterfly species are in decline and that the geographical distribution of many has contracted. Read more...
sloes

Managing hedgerows.

by Chris, 2 January, 2012, 4 comments

The importance of hedgerows in the maintenance of biodiversity cannot be over-emphasised.   Hedgerows provide vital food, in the form of a variety of berries - sloes, haws, blackberries etc,  for small mammals and birds (redwings, blackbirds) and hedgerow flowers support pollinating insects - a  variety of bees and butterflies. However, the 'management' of hedgerows or trimming / flailing of a hedgerow can make a significant difference to its productivity - that is, the number of flowers and fruits produced. Read more...
Heathlands

Heathlands

by Chris, 22 September, 2011, 0 comments

Heathland is a threatened habitat.  Over the last two hundred years, the U.K. has lost some 150,000 hectares of heathland.  There is now only  58,000 ha of heathland left in the U.K; this represents one fifth of the world's total.  Areas of heathland can be found in the High Weald of Kent (Ashdown Forest) and the Breckland of East Anglia.  Breckland is a particular type of heathland, being a dry heath.  The average annual rainfall is only 600 mm or so and  it experiences hot summers and cold winters, together with frequent frosts. Read more...
Wildlife organisations

Wildlife organisations

by Lewis, 17 September, 2011, 2 comments

For those wanting to follow up on the different forms of wildlife in their woodland, the following organisations / societies might be of interest / use.  For each there is a link and a snippet from the organisation's website. Website of the British Arachnological Society (wiki.britishspiders.org.uk). "Here you can find information on those fascinating animals, arachnids. Our emphasis is on British spiders but we don't exclude other arachnids such as Harvestmen (opilionids), Pseudoscorpions and Scorpions". Read more...
Wildlife surveys

Wildlife surveys

by Lewis, 7 May, 2011, 3 comments

There is a considerable number of different surveys running throughout the country, some of which might hold a particular interest for you.  Many 'natural history' organisations / charities are dependent on the input from volunteers to monitor the status of plant and animal populations throughout the UK or specific local areas - especially in these financially difficult times. Read more...
Wildlife Photography and Field craft

Wildlife Photography and Field craft

by Susan Young, 21 October, 2010, 0 comments

Woods can be wildlife havens, especially if there are streams, ponds and wildflower areas, and taking photographs can add even more enjoyment to owning woodland.  Photography has become very popular with the advent of digital cameras and camera phones.  Taking good photographs is more difficult to achieve, and taking good photographs of wildlife is more difficult still.  The problem with wildlife is that it does not usually keep still! Read more...
Managing your Woodland for Wildlife

Managing your Woodland for Wildlife

by Margaret, 16 September, 2010, 1 comments

A new book on woodlands - Managing your Woodland for Wildlife by David Blakesley and Peter Buckley After 20 years of selling woodlands to people “for enjoyment and conservation” we realised that although the purchasers wanted to do their best for conservation, encouraging biodiversity, protecting endangered species, and just having more birds, bluebells and butterflies, they were sometimes unsure of how best to set about it.  Read more...

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