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Tuesday 14th November is our next task day where we will meet up again at Shutes Farmhouse, far end of Underhill Lane for 9:30. We are excited because this year we have already found one Brown Hairstreak egg, unlike the last two years. There will be an egg hunt, weather permitting, shortly, when we hope we might find more of these eggs. The task for the day is to cutdown an old Blackthorn tree which is tangled in bramble. Not an easy task, but with snips here and there it will yield. This butterfly, which we want to encourage, prefers young new blackthorn shoots for its eggs. So this work is important. We hope to burn whatever is cut down.
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Join us on Tuesday 10th October and help us to keep a small but important area open. Working mainly with loppers, or some slashers/scythe, we will be clearing the ground cover of bramble and birch regrowths. It is a hazel coppice area so protecting the stools with twig pyramids will be welcome, using your own secateurs.
We meet inside Shute Farmhouse for 9:30 where we will be there to greet you and talk about the tools and task for the day. Shame, 2 last minute cancellations plus one other for tomorrows task day (12th Sept). Can anyone help out last minute?
The easiest task day of the year, knocking over 2nd growth bracken. Meet us at the Mount Fancy Farm for 9:30, we'll be at the very top of that track. After prolonged negotiations and discussions between the landholders and Butterfly Conservation, which much misgiving on my behalf, Butterfly Conservation has decided to not renew its lease with Wessex Water and no longer practically support the management of this Wessex Water land. The reserve now reduces to 13Ha and is now only formed of the two remaining linked compartments, Shutes and MtFancy. The previous compartment of Wessex Land will now be leased by and is under the management of Forestry England to meet the SSSi requirements.
Our next Task Day is Tuesday 12th September. This time we will meet up at Mount Fancy Farm, I will be there to show you where to park. From Taunton direction, go past the Staple Fitzpaine crossroad and turn right at the very next crossroad, easily missed. Follow Parsonage Lane to the very end, not taking the left hand fork.
The task is more bracken management but as we will be cutting second growth it will be an easy(!) day. Come along and give it a try. Hope to see you there. There have been a couple, and another one to come, volunteer work days where we have managed to complete the bracken cutting and raking in 'the Bowl' together with more done in adjoining small former fields. 'The Bowl' has been cut and raked for the last 3 years, it is very rewarding to see the ground cover flora is flourishing. This year even the devil's bit scabious is starting to put on a good show, that augers well.
There has been a massive display of Gatekeepers this year and the Marbled Whites were also numerous. It is concerning that the common blue that used to be seen in good numbers have only been spotted as the odd individual. Due to adverse weather or unfavourable at best Sunday 30th July Guided Walk has been cancelled.
Phone 01823 421423 if you have any queries Fancy Volunteers next practical conservation task day is Tuesday 8th August. Meeting as before, Shutes Farmhouse, Underhill Lane, Staple Fitzpaine (W3W: lower.lighters.origin) for 9:30.
We will be again cutting and raking the bracken. Unless we keep on top of it, it is so invasive and will spread and grow ever more vigorous, blocking out all the other vegetation. It has been encouraging to see where we have cut and raked in previous years, the bracken is more stunted and there is a rich flora underneath just waiting for access to sunlight! The flower meadows have been a treat this year but are now past their flowering prime. So cutting and raking the bracken is an important, worthwhile and rewarding job that does need to be done. Last week there were so many gatekeepers, marbled whites, silver washed fritillaries to be seen, they seem to be coming towards the end of their generation. Do come along and help, just few more hands would make so much difference. As Wardens we having hosting a guided walk for Butterfly Conservation members on Sunday 30th July. In preparation we (with the help of Neroche Conservation Volunteers) have cleared the transect paths of the worst hazards. Weather is currently not too promising, the butterflies are being reluctant to show and the meadow flowers heads have died back.
As our first guided walk we wait in anticipation as to whether anyone attends of not. It would be a great way to get an introduction to what the reserve has to offer across all wildlife forms. Despite no turn out Anna and I managed to cut a third of what desperately needs cutting in the best flower meadow within the Reserve. Some of which we did manage to rake into windrows, the new management technique. Though the forecast was passing showers, it was a very pleasant dry day with a light breeze, perfect for scything! |
AuthorHon Warden of the Butterfly Reserve Archives
May 2024
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