Thursday 29 July 2010 Crundale Area,
Hothfield Common KWT Reserve
We left Thanet at 10-00hrs and arrived at Woods
just outside of Crundale to look for Violet Helleborine arriving around
11-00hrs the weather was light winds and cloudy , we located three
Violet Helleborine in the wood with two in bud and one in flower,
Photos were taken, we moved on heading for Hothfield Common KWT Reserve
just outside of Ashford, our target species was Keeled Skimmer
which were located, we found two Females and six Males looking from the
board-walk. other flowers were noted and recorded by Frances Solly who
will send the names on to me in time, our return journey took us to
Park-Gate KWT Reserve were we would fined Broad-leaved Helleborine,
Which was a tick for David not much else to see as the Musk Orchid's
had finished, back to Thanet where we had a B/Q and some beer which
ended the day nicely (Gadget)
Thursday 29th July 2010 Sandwich Bay SBBOT
I have recently
obtained a couple of pictures of Hummingbird Hawk Moths taken in
the gardens of the SBBOT, there have been 2 or 3 around for most of the
last week or two. (Steve Ray)
Tuesday 27th July 2010 Dumpton Thanet
Hover fly's and Insects around the garden today
included Episyrphus balteatus, Scaeva pyrastri and
Syrphus ribesii also an Oedemera nobilis with good
number of White tailed Bees, (Gadget)
Monday 26th July 2010 Dumpton Thanet
Good number of butterflies were in the garden this lunch time, 5 Red
Admirals, 3 Gatekeepers, 6 Meadow Browns, 14 Large
White, and 2 Comma, (Gadget)
Friday 23rd July 2010 River Stour
There were a total of 23 Common Seals on the River Stour banks at
low tide this afternoon (Gadget)
Friday 15th July 2010 Orchids and butterflies West
Kent Late News
A great day out on Sunday 11th July in West Kent
specifically looking for Green-flowered Helleborine, Epipactis
phyllanthes, resulted in about a dozen being seen and
photographed. They were however still in bud and mostly covered in an
ant of some sort. Also seen were three Dark Green Fritillaries,
about a dozen White Admirals including the colour variant "obliterae",
7 Silver-washed Fritillaries, 2 Purple Hairstreaks, many
Ringlets and many of the commoner butterflies. (John van der Dol)
Tuesday 13th July 2010 North Foreland Golf Crouse
Following Mr Solly’s reply dated 9th July, may I just express
the reason behind the herbicide usage on the site. The rough areas
contained a vast array of weed most noticeably the previously mentioned
ivy, but also large areas of both white & red clover along with
bramble. I know the importance that these play in the cycle of insects
etc., however from a golfers perspective, large clumps of clover in
flower make ball retrieval very difficult and make it “unnecessarily
penal” in my customers eyes. This obviously does not come into play on
the Botany & Foreland areas mentioned. It is refreshing to see the
website expressing both sides and that both parties are so passionate
about their roles. We will have to compromise on some issues but on the
whole I believe that we are working towards the same goals. Chalkland
grassland areas are in the decline and the ivy and scrub previously
occupying much of the site was endangering this from happening on the
course. As mentioned the program can now be relaxed over the coming
years and I do look forward to seeing you on the site. I hope that any
future concerns or questions into practises can be brought to me
directly when on the course as I am always approachable as you know.
Again I applaud your website and passion, but please be assured I am
just as passionate and driven in my field, but sometimes slightly
hindered by the demands of the customer and the demanding industry I am
within. Looking forward to working together. (Dan McGrath) Course
Manager
Tuesday 13th July 2010 Minster Thanet Late News
Garden Minster 7th and 9th July For second year running I have found a
specimen of our largest crane fly Tipula maxima in my green
house, compared to the common cranefly it is huge. My garden pond has
produced a new record of a damselfly for my garden, in that I have a
pair of Small Red Eyed Damsels which have been laying on
the pond weed. (Don Wilks)
Friday 9th July 2010 North Foreland Golf
Course
Not wanting to get into a slanging match but just to clarify, the
Lizard Orchid I referred to as having been sprayed was a specimen near
the 13th Green and it was very much sprayed along with the flowers in
the immediate vicinity. In addition, since the June posting I have seen
the other Lizards referred to. It is also correct that last year's
specimen has not reappeared - however that area of grassland was sprayed
in the latter part of May. Neither is it correct to state that the ivy
had smothered all other vegetation. The ivy was causing a problem and
indeed was in a number of areas significantly affecting the quality of
the grassland and steps to remove it are indeed positive; however
widespread spraying of herbicide in the managed area of the rough (which
is most of it) has been far from helpful for the flora and fauna. As
most of the spraying took place during early May, it is somewhat
difficult to comprehend what 'no Man Orchids were present at the time'
means - the flowering period being about mid-May to mid-June and leaves
present for much of the year - perhaps they were away on holiday at the
time? I do appreciate the efforts to improve the quality of the
grassland and that the ivy was a major problem, however the managed
rough is currently virtually devoid of flowering plants which has had a
significant impact on insects etc - more so with Thanet's isolation
(urbanisation and an intensive arable farming surround). Direct
comparison with the grassland at Botany Bay or North Foreland clearly
indicates that herbicides have unfortunately been over-used - a direct
comparison with those sites would not be fair as there was no ivy issue;
they are however mown annually and are an indication of what the rough
should after 5 years be beginning to look like.
(F Solly)
Friday 9th July 2010 Dumpton Gap clifftop
I Was walking my weekly Butterfly transect yesterday (Wed 7th
July,2010) and spotted a Marbled White!! Have also seen quite a
few Small Tortoiseshell butterflies this year as well as numerous
Holly Blues! (Sue Smith)
Wednesday 7th July 2010 North Foreland Golf
Course
May I firstly introduce myself as Dan McGrath, Golf
Course Manager at North Foreland. I am writing in reference to a post
made on your website on the 1st June which has been brought
to my attention. Firstly, may I please give you a background on my
career to date, as I feel that this is important. I have been at NFGC
for 5yrs now and within the first year implemented a Chalkland Grassland
Regeneration programme. The chalkland area on the site was covered with
ground ivy and excessive scrub which smothered all other vegetation. As
a corporate member of Kent Wildlife for over 10 yrs now and having a
very good working relationship with them which lead to me winning the
Land Biodiversity Management Award at a previous club – the only golf
club to have won this award, Kings Hill Golf Club. I was therefore very
disappointed to read F Solly’s post. The Lizard orchid recorded in 2009
has not re-emerged this year, but this is in no way related to spraying
herbicide. I can 100% confirm this as Mr Solly and myself located the
Lizard together and that square area was NOT treated spring 2010. As
for it being the only Lizard on site, this is not true. There have been
2 recorded sightings of Lizards on the course in the last 3 weeks. One
of these was recorded today as I walked the site with 2 Kent Wildlife
representatives during a survey. Pyramid orchids are doing well on the
Joss Bay boundary, as is the Long Leaf on the Convent Rd boundary – only
the second site in Kent with this specie. The man orchids have suffered
this year and the area was treated, although no man orchids were present
at the time. An effect has definitely occurred and a lesson learnt.
The main function of the site is of a golf course but the
environmental/flora and fauna aspects are very important to the company
and me. The erection of over 30 bird boxes, 2 owl boxes, log piles,
composting, recycling wash down area, harvesting rain water off the
maintenance complex roof, construction of a reservoir are a few of many
items implemented since I started. It has greatly disappointed me to
read Mr Solly’s post as my team have worked hard to combine both the
maintenance of a very busy golf course with also working with and around
nature. The course is a valuable corridor for many animals and species
and one that needs to be managed sensitively. This management needed to
be aggressive initially as the ivy was at such a destructive level.
Heavy scarification, annual mowing with clippings removed and yes
chemical applications were needed. Now 5yrs on, this programme can
start to be relaxed, as we are hopefully starting to win the battle. I
hope that you do not mind me contacting you, but as I mentioned, the
post has annoyed me and felt I needed to explain myself. Your website
will no doubt reach many locals and the post does not tell the full
story of the work we have done and how we have started to return the
site to grassland and not “Ivy Land”. The fact that there are 2 Lizards
on site and many Pyramids shows that the scarifying/mowing has allowed
light and air to enter the seedbed which was previously smothered by
ivy. The lizards may have also blown in from North Foreland estate, but
they are on site and I will be more than happy to share the report that
Kent Wildlife compose from today’s and the visit 3 weeks ago. We are
both working towards the same goals and I greatly admire the work and
website that you and your colleagues have done. Again, I needed to
reply to this post, as it has disappointed me and I do hope you and your
readers having a better understanding now. Kind regards, (Dan McGrath)
northforeland@btconnect.com
