Reserve Update

The RSPB logo

a million

voices for

nature

Barn Owls

The RSPB Maidstone Local Group - Reserve Update

Summary
I may have been working on the reserve for nearly thirty years, but it is still full of surprises, and has an endless ability to amaze me. A recent example of this came last week while I was working in a rather out-of-the-way spot which doesn't get visited very frequently. While carrying out my work, I became aware that a holly tree in my peripheral vision seemed rather yellow, and as soon as I looked directly at the tree I realised that it was crammed with yellow berries. This was very definitely something new for me. I had seen yellow-berried hollies in gardens, along with the more familiar variegated foliage trees, but had never, until then, come across this variant in the wild. Most of the flowers, bushes and fruit trees that are now grown in gardens or cultivated in orchards originated in the wild, any aberrant specimens with more attractive flowers or more interestingly shaped leaves being seized upon by horticulturists. The prized plant would promptly be dug up or its seeds collected, thus starting a new line of that species. This choosing of plants with particular features is simply a variant of the Darwinian concept of natural selection, except that the direction of change is now being consciously dictated by man, rather than being driven by the whims of blind nature. Since these yellow-berried hollies are so scarce in the wild, the inference is that they are in some way less vigorous than their red-berried cousins. It could be something as simple as birds not being attracted to its berries, so reducing the likelihood of the variant being dispersed to new areas: or, it is equally possible that the yellow is merely the most obvious sign of that individual tree's distinctiveness, and that some underlying characteristic of its chemical makeup or physiology which is invisible to the naked eye may predispose it to be less successful in the battle with the well-entrenched red-berried cohorts.

The topsy-turvy season theme continued well into December, with caterpillars of the large white butterfly still enjoying the broccoli I had so thoughtfully planted for them in my vegetable patch. Fungi, so conspicuous by their absence in the September and October drought, have finally appeared with a flourish in recent weeks. They are certainly not the easiest group to identify, the matter not being helped by the wall of impenetrable Latin names with which they are surrounded. However, sometimes the most obscure of Latin names can in fact paint a picture. Thus the fungus that is generally detected by its blue-green staining of rotting wood rather than by the shy appearance of its fruiting body, rejoices in the name Chlorosplenium aeruginascens, which can be translated as "green-bandage-blue-green-becoming", which does at least hint at its features, while the fairy-tale white-spotted red cap of the fly agaric is officially termed Amanita muscaria due to the ancient practice of crushing the fungus in milk to kill flies (musca). The severe logic of this binomial system (or trinomial when sub-species are being named) is sometimes taken to rather absurd limits with, for example, the naming of the continental race of the common wren in Latin as Troglodytes troglodytes troglodytes (the British race is slightly different, but with an equally long name). Once again, the Latin name is of some interest as troglodyte is an old name for cave-dwelling people, so it was presumably the wren's habit of inspecting nooks and crannies that inspired Linnaeus to teasingly bestow this lengthy name on the our second smallest bird.

Events
Details of our usual programme of walks can also be found in local libraries and noticeboards, or check out the local RSPB Group's website at www.rspb.org.uk/groups/canterbury/events.

All walks start at the reserve car park, signposted off the Rough Common Road (opposite Lovell Road), and last around two hours.

Michael Walter
RSPB Site Manager
Blean Woods National Nature Reserve
Email: michael.walter@rspb.org.uk
Tel: 01227 455972

Summary
In mid-October a volunteers' bonfire got out of control and spread across 2 acres of grasses and young conifer. The fire brigade were called and quickly extinguished the flames but the fire continued to burn through the soil for a further 9 days.

This season's habitat works are continuing. More dense conifers areas have been removed and we are now scraping up the thick layer of pine needles and wood fragments. This will provide lots of open ground for heather seeds to germinate.

For our guided walk, 'Half-term, Heaths and Habitats', children and adults came to see the Heathland restoration work in progress. They also undertook some heather recording in the areas cleared last year. The children threw survey quadrats and recorded new heather growth in 63% of all squares.

The eastern part of the reserve remains closed to visitors but the majority of the reserve is available. We hope works will be completed in the next few weeks and the whole reserve can be opened up. Thank you to all our visitors for their cooperation and for respecting the cordons.

New fencing will be installed in November. This will circle the eastern part of the Broadwater reserve. Lots of gates will be provided to provide access for visitors to walk through and follow the usual paths. The fence lines have been carefully planned to follow old fence lines where possible and to minimise the feeling of being in an enclosure.

In the Spring 5 Exmoor Ponies will be introduced. Grazing is a superb method of controlling rough grasses and diversifying habitats, and the ponies look lovely in this kind of landscape. They are lovely placid animals and are used at other local reserves such as Sussex Wildlife Trust's Old Lodge Reserve.

Crossbills are appearing regularly at Broadwater. Look out for flocks of large finches feeding on cones in the tops of conifer trees and listen for their distinctive "jip jip" calls. A mixed flock of 50 Crossbills and Siskins was seen scattering as a Sparrowhawk flew through.

A new children's book has been published - 'Chestle Crumb and the Animals of Broadwater Warren' by local writer, Nick Carter. The book is about a dormouse named Chestle Crumb and other animals that live on the reserve. Our October dormouse survey recorded 26 dormice, including several families. Maybe Chestle was among them.

Events
Our 2011 events programme is complete and we are now planning new events for 2012, including Nightjar Walks, Dawn Chorus walks and fun activities for children.

Mobile: 07766 697785
Office: 01892 752431
RSPB Wealden Office,
Unit 10,
Sham Farm Business Units,
Eridge Green,
Tunbridge Wells,
TN3 9JA

Events
A full events programme is online at www.rspb.org.uk/events, or call the reserve for a free leaflet

Sarah Cooper
Cliffe Pools Project Manager
RSPB South East England Regional Office
2nd Floor, Frederick House
42 Frederick Place
Brighton
BN1 4EA
Mob: 07843 513298
Tel: 01273 775333
Fax: 01767 685540