BENHS Field Meetings Programme 2009
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the passing of the National Parks & Access to the Countryside Act, 1949. This hugely influential Act provides a framework and basis for environmental conservation in Britain including the establishment of a network of National Nature Reserves (NNRs) and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) (England, Scotland and Wales), as well as the National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, National Trails, Local Nature Reserves (LNRs), the Definitive Map of Public Rights of Way (England and Wales only), as well as other access provisions. The Act also provided the legal foundation for the Nature Conservancy, which had been set up earlier in 1949, and the Committee for National Parks, which became the fore-runners of the current government conservation agencies.
All the above are reasons for the BENHS to celebrate this anniversary. The field meetings programme is doing this by targeting more NNRs for field meetings in 2009 than usual. We hope that during the meetings members will take the opportunity to reflect on the achievements and progress of the last 60 years and also to feel an affinity with the places and people that inspired the brave new world of post-war Britain. We can also be thinking about conservation needs and targets for the next 60 years.
You will also see that the Field Meetings Secretary is celebrating several anniversaries during the year. Two of the meetings celebrate thirty years since he first operated light-traps at the selected sites.
As in 2008, this year the field meetings are mainly those as offered by the membership, with minimal persuasion or head-hunting for leaders by the Field Meetings Secretary. To economise on the time spent compiling this programme, the details are largely as supplied, without rearrangement into a standard format. Members are welcome to send offers of additional field meetings for 2010 to improve the geographical spread, as in previous years. Please submit details as close to the format used for the meetings led by John Badmin, or the Field Meetings Secretary (Paul Waring). Watch the BENHS web-site, where details of any additional meetings or further information will be posted. Note the field programmes of the British Plant Gall Society (BPGS), the London Natural History Society (LNHS) and the Dipterists' Forum, all of which are happy to have BENHS members join them in the field. The BPGS have a particularly impressive geographical spread of meetings. Check the relevant web-sites for details.
Meetings are held on Saturdays unless otherwise stated.
Full and complete details are in the BENHS Field Meetings Programme sent to all members. Refer to the hard copy of the meeting programme for details of event leaders.
(Meetings marked in blue have taken place but are included here for information.)
Saturday 23rd May - Ashclyst Forest, National Trust property, DEVON. MV. Leader's Tel : 01626 779543
Meet at 21.30 at 'Forest Gate' car park at SX999995 (Explorer 115 and Landranger 192). This is a large open area as you travel through the wood; the car park is just to the south of the point where the four 100km squares of SS, ST, SX and SY meet. Mixed woodland with a good holding of ancient oak together with a plantation of conifers nearby. Coming from the north on the M5, come off at junction 28 cross back over the motorway and take the B3181 through Cullompton signposted 'Killerton' travel along this road for 4 or 5 miles and turn left at Budlake Farm (SS985002) at the cross roads, then after you pass a minor road to your left and then go round a right-hand bend and then another minor road to your left; the car park is on your left. From the south turn off the M5 at junction 29 taking the first junction left (the old A30) travel around 1½ miles and take the turning left to Broadclyst; you have to do a left and then right to get onto the B3181. After you have gone through Broadclyst (about ½ mile the other side) watch out for and take a turning to your right (it looks like a farm track) straight over cross roads x 2, and wind your way into the wood passing the first car park and watching for the second larger one on your right. The main target species is the False Mocha moth Cyclophora porata. This is a joint meeting with Devon Wildlife Trust, Butterfly Conservation (Devon Branch), Devonshire Association (Entomology Section), Peninsula Invertebrate Forum, British Entomological & Natural History Society and Devon Moth Group. Please ring the leader around 18.00 to see if the meeting is still on.
Saturday 30-Sunday 31 May - Dipterists Forum Spring Field Meeting, Pickering, YORKSHIRE.
Visiting probably 3-4 sites per day to collect flies, venues decided on the day depending on weather. Accommodation in guest houses organised by the leader, eating out in local restaurants in the evenings. Please let the leader know as soon as possible if you would like to come along. See Dipterists Forum website for information updates
or email rogermorris.
Saturday 6th June - Hogmoor Inclosure, Whitehill, Bordon. HAMPSHIRE. MV. Leader's Tel
: 01420 478845
Park and meet at 20.00hrs on the east side of Hogmoor Road, south of St Andrew's Road at SU786346. Heathland with deciduous and coniferous woodland and scrub, this site is a SINC. It is an Army tracked-vehicle training site threatened by both mineral extraction and building development. Permission has been obtained from the MOD for the use of generators and moth light traps, until 6am on Sunday 7th June if required. The main MV light trap site is 300m east of the meeting point, within a small area of open heathland. The objective is to obtain more site information for the Local Biodiversity Action Plan. Joint meeting with members of the Alton Natural History Society and Butterfly Conservation.
Saturday 20th June - Aston Rowant NNR, Oxfordshire. MV. Leader's email address : fieldmtgsec
This meeting is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the first light-trapping by the leader on this site, as well as marking the 60th anniversary of the 1949 Act. Target species include the Light Feathered Rustic moth Agrotis cinerea and the Pale Shining Brown Polia bombycina, both of which the leader recorded on this site in 1979. We will also be looking for dayflying Lepidoptera, including the Forester Moth Adscita statices, and using pheromone lures for clearwings, including the Six-belted, Orange-tailed and Yellow-legged. Contact leader at least a week in advance by e-mail for details because we may have an opportunity to visit some additional sites for clearwings during this weekend, and this will influence meeting-up times and places.
Meet at 14.30hrs and 20.30hrs at SU 727 976, by the reserve office buildings car park. Aston Rowant NNR is 15 km north west of High Wycombe and 22 km south east of Oxford. The reserve straddles the M40 between junctions 5 and 6. By car, access to the reserve is via minor roads from the A40. Sign-posted car parks can be accessed via the minor road from Kingston Blount to Christmas Common.
The nearest train stations are Saunderton (5 km to the north east) and High Wycombe, both served by Chiltern Railways.
From High Wycombe there are regular bus services to the town of Stockenchurch (2 km south east of the reserve). Red Rose Travel provides a bus service from Oxford to High Wycombe that passes through Stockenchurch and AstonRowant village.
Saturday 20th June - Escot Park, DEVON. MV. Leader's Tel : 01626 779543
This is a new site at a well known Ornamental Gardens in East Devon. Meet at the main car park in Escot Park, Map ref SY081979, (Explorer 115 and Landranger 192) at around 21.30; we will proceed from there. The area where we will run our lights is a wetland with several old oaks, birch, sallow, reed beds etc. To get to the site coming from Exeter, take the main A30 (the new dual carriageway) going past the Airport and the Ottery turn off's, then take the next slip road which should be marked (Escot Park on a brown sign), turn right under the A30 then right again coming back on yourself making sure you do not take the A30 slip road back to Exeter. Head for 'Fairmile' and in the centre of this village, turn right at the cross roads, back over the A30 and Escot Park entrance is on your right just after going over the A30. From the Honiton direction, take the first slip road on the A30, after you have past the A35 turn off; this will be signposted Fenny Bridges and is on the old A30. You will go under a railway and through Fenny Bridges and will follow alongside the new road until you get to Patteson's Cross, the junction detailed and underlined above, making sure you head for Fairmile after negotiating this junction. This is a joint meeting with Devon Wildlife Trust, Butterfly Conservation (Devon Branch), Devonshire Association (Entomology Section), Peninsula Invertebrate Forum and Devon Moth Group. Please ring the leader around 18.00 to see if the meeting is still on. This event will be added to the Escot Park diary of events.
Saturday 27th June - Warburg BBOWT reserve, OXFORDSHIRE. MV. Leader's email address : fieldmtgsec
This meeting is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the first light-trapping by the Leader on this site. Target species include the Pale Shining Brown moth Polia bombycina, Brown Scallop Philereme vetulata, Great Oak Beauty Hypomecis roboraria, Maple Prominent Ptilodon cucullina, Satin Beauty Deileptenia ribeata, Scallop Shell Rheumaptera undulata and Striped Lychnis Shargacucullia lychnitis. Larvae of the Plumed Prominent Ptilophora plumigera will be searched for on Field Maple Acer campestris and pheromone lures for clearwing moths will be used on this site for the first time. Contact the Leader at least a week in advance by e-mail for details because we may have an opportunity to visit some additional sites for clearwing moths and other species during this weekend, and this will influence meeting-up times and places. At 09.30hrs on the Sunday morning a local Watch group of children will arrive to see the moths in the light-traps and try some beating for caterpillars.
Meet at 14.00hrs and 20.30hrs at the visitors car park, SU 720 879. Leaving Henley-on-Thames north-westwards on the A4130 and fork right at the end of the Fair Mile onto the B480. Turn second left just north of Middle Assendon and follow the twisty lane for two miles through a quiet valley. Shortly after the lane becomes a track, you reach the reserve. The car park is on the right. Please close the gate after you have entered the car park.
Saturday 27th June - Chulmleigh, DEVON. MV. Leaders' Tel : 01626 364080 or 01837 810416
Meet at West Week Farm, Map ref: SS733169 (Explorer 127 and Landranger 180) at 21.00. There is a range of habitats on this farm and there is no particular target species. To get there, from both directions, coming along the A377 from Exeter in the south or Barnstaple from the north, look out for the B3096 signposted Chulmleigh at Leigh Cross (this is a cross road at Map ref: SS668139). From the north it is to the left. Carry along this road through the town and look for the third major turning to your left; this is an unclassified road and is straight after the second turning with the Post Office on the corner. This road is very twisty and goes up a steep hill after going round a sharp right-hand bend; as go up this hill look for a turning going left and take this; you will still be going up hill, but now carry on along this road and take the fifth turning on your left (one of these is a track with two leading to farms), but the one you need is around 2½ miles from the last left turn. Wend your way for around a mile and then turn left at the next cross road (Week Cross) and West Week Farm is on your right after negotiating a double bend. AND THE BEST OF LUCK! If you get lost then ring 01769 580361 Mike Moser. This is a joint meeting with Devon Wildlife Trust, Butterfly Conservation (Devon Branch), Devonshire Association (Entomology Section), Peninsula Invertebrate Forum and Devon Moth Group. Please ring the leader around 18.00 to see if the meeting is still on.
Saturday 4th July to Saturday 11th July - Dipterists Forum Summer Field Meeting, SWANSEA. SOUTH WALES.
This is an excellent opportunity to visit a wide range of habitats on the Gower Peninsular and the South Wales coast. 25 places in the halls or residence at Swansea University have been booked. Hopefully we will fill all of the places. Collectors of other Orders than Diptera are welcome to join us! Costs will depend upon the type of room - we have rooms in a new block close to our workroom, canteen and the bar. The costs will be in the region of£46.50 per day inclusive of the workroom, but this is based on filling all 25 places. Bookings payable to the Leader, for £40.00. This is a non-returnable deposit that will be forwarded to the college with a booking of a room. A further payment of £ 100 will be sought six weeks in advance, with the balance payable at the meeting. Attendance for part of the week only is also possible - contact the Leader. See Dipterists Forum website for information updates or email rogermorris.
Saturday 4th July - Dawlish Warren, DEVON. MV. Leader's Tel : 01626 779543
This meeting will be a second try, after the cancellation last year, for an event that should be ideal for those relatively new to moths and moth recording. Meet at 21.30 at the far end of the car park to the left after you have gone under the bridge; go through the gate which is always unlocked and wait there, Map Ref: SX 980787 (Explorer 110 and Landranger 192). We will go on from this point with vehicles with equipment only; these will be taking passengers on to the Visitor Centre. To get to this venue, follow the A379 through Dawlish going toward Exeter and after you pass a petrol station on the right, immediately after is the road to Dawlish Warren, follow this road until it goes down hill, and on a sharp left bend at the bottom be prepared to turn right which goes over a roundabout and under the railway bridge; the car park is immediately to your left after the Golf Course Road. The area is sand dune system with established ponds and sallow/willow along with other deciduous trees, bramble and a host of sand loving plants. This is a joint meeting with Devon Wildlife Trust, Butterfly Conservation (Devon Branch), Devonshire Association (Entomology Section), Peninsula Invertebrate Forum and Devon Moth Group. Please ring the leader around 18.00 to see if the meeting is still on.
Saturday 4th July - The Warren, Slab [Common] and Southlands, Oakhanger. HAMPSHIRE. Daytime only. Leader's Tel: 01420 478845
10.00 to 16.00hrs. Meet and park in northernmost part of the car park of Springfields Nursery on the Oakhanger to Blackmoor Road at SU770347 at 10.00. Parking courtesy of the proprietor. MOD heathland including a vehicle recovery site. Dry heathland, scrub, coniferous and deciduous woodland, and wet heathland and carr. Plants present include, Annual Knawel, Marsh Clubmoss and Cranberry. One part of the site is a SINC and much of the area adjoins the northern boundary of the Blackmoor Golf Club. Gum-boots/waterproof walking boots needed in some areas. Those who wish to may move the cars later to go to a Pub lunch and parking at the Red Lion, Oakhanger at SU768358. This small public house would prefer visitors to pre-book their meals (Telephone 01420 472232) as they may have difficulties catering for large numbers (i.e. more than 10) of casual visitors. Those not taking a pub lunch can remain parked in the garden centre to have their packed lunches. General natural history recording walk to obtain more site information for the Local Biodiversity Action Plan. Joint meeting with members of the Alton Natural History Society and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. No dogs please.
Saturday 11th July - Braunton Burrows, DEVON, MV. Moth trapping for beginners. Leaders' Tel: 01626 356463 and 01626 779543
This event will be advertised in the Braunton Burrows calendar of events. This is a Moths Count event that is specifically aimed at beginners/those with relatively little moth experience, but having said that, the event is open to anyone who would like to participate. We will be concentrating on recording the Reddish Light Arches moth Apamea sublustris, which was discovered by Ivan Lakin a couple of years ago, and subsequently trapped again in 2007. Time: 21.15 - c.00.00. Place: Sandy Lane car park, Braunton Burrows, grid ref: SS463350 (Maps Explorer 139 and Landranger 180). This is a joint meeting with Devon Wildlife Trust, Butterfly Conservation (Devon Branch), Devonshire Association (Entomology Section), Peninsula Invertebrate Forum and Devon Moth Group. Please ring the leader around 18.00 to see if the meeting is still on.
Sunday 12th July - Stodmarsh NNR, KENT. MV. Leader's Tel : 01227 752291
Meet at 10.30am in the car parking area by the Reserve entrance by Grove Ferry public house, Upstreet (TR235632). The Reserve is about 10 minutes drive along the A28 Margate road north-east from Canterbury. A joint meeting with the Kent Field Club. This riverine wetland comprises the largest area of Phragmites-dominated communities in Kent. There is the opportunity to use light-traps and the local hostelry in the evening.
Saturday 18th July - Cothill Fen NNR, Oxfordshire. MV. Leader's email address : fieldmtgsec
This meeting is celebrating the 22nd anniversary of the first light-trapping by the Leader on this site, as well as marking the 60th anniversary of the 1949 Act. The NNR is a small fen with adjacent woodland. The main target species are the Scarlet Tiger moth Callimorpha dominula and the Scarce Burnished Brass moth Diachrysia chryson, both of which the Leader recorded on similar dates in 1987, plus a number of other wetland species. This is one of the famous
Scarlet Tiger populations studied by Professor E.B. Ford and colleagues, and we will record numbers seen and look for any varieties, which we will hope to photograph. Contact the Leader at least a week in advance by e-mail for details of meeting point and times. A day-time session may be arranged, dependent on demand.
Cothill is 8 km south west of Oxford between the A338 and A34; 2 km south west of the B4017 and 0.5 km west of the village of Cothill. The nearest car park is on Honeybottom Lane at the entrance to the Dry Sandford Nature Reserve, 0.5 km to the east. Meet there at 20.00hrs
The nearest train station is in Radley, 6 km to the east, served by First Great Western.
The Oxford Bus Company runs a service from Radley along the B4017 to Oxford via Abingdon. Other local bus services are provided by Stagecoach Oxford.
Saturday 18th July - Pattiland Farm, DEVON. MV. Leader's Tel : 01626 779543
Meet in the farm yard of Pattiland Farm, Map Ref: SS630055 (Maps Explorer 113 or Landranger 191) at 21.30; we will go on from there by Land Rover taking the equipment. The site is an old deciduous tree lined stream with boggy ground near the water; the owners are members of the Environmental Stewardship Scheme and are interested what is on the site and they also organise public events. To get there, from the A30 at Whiddon Down take the A3124 toward North Tawton and turn left at the 'de Bath Cross' cross roads, then right again just after crossing the River Taw and right again at 'Greenhill Cross', then a sharp left-hand bend. After just over 3 miles without any turns, turn left signposted Broadwoodkelly (forth turning to your left), then left again soon afterwards leading to the Farm. If you get to Winkleigh, you have gone too far. From the north, take the A3124 from Great Torrington, pass Winkleigh and look for the second turning on the right to Broadwoodkelly and follow the underlined instruction above. This is a joint meeting with Devon Wildlife Trust, Butterfly Conservation (Devon Branch), Devonshire Association (Entomology Section), Peninsula Invertebrate Forum and Devon Moth Group. Please ring the leader around 18.00 to see if the meeting is still on. This event will be advertised in the local area calendar of events.
Friday 25th July - Dungeness NNR (SSSI), KENT. (MV?) Leader's Tel : 01227 752291
Meet at 10.30am in the RSPB car park (TR061188). A joint meeting with the Kent Field Club. The aim will be to record invertebrates, especially aculeate Hymenoptera on the exposed shingle and lakeside habitats normally inaccessible to visitors. The reserve manager is happy for light-traps in the evening at the RSPB reserve. The leader may stay on for an evening session depending on numbers of members interested, so contact him in advance to let him know if you wish to participate.
Friday 31st July to Sunday 2nd August. Contact email : droitwich
The Scottish Entomologists' Gathering for 2009 will be held on the 31st July to 2nd August. It will be based at the Scottish Agricultural College at Auchincruive, Ayrshire. The weekend is fairly informal, typically starting at around 18:30 on the Friday with an introduction to the area and then organisation for the next day. Light traps will be run in several locations on the Friday evening. Saturday will be self-organised collecting/recording trips to sites in the area. We usually organise a pub meal in the evening for anyone who is interested, followed by light traps at different sites. Sunday is again self-organised visits to sites. If anyone is interested in coming along they should contact the Leader so that we know to expect them!
Saturday 1st August - Walton Downs, SURREY.
Meet at Tattenham Corner railway station (TQ226581) at 10.37hrs precisely(!). The meeting time is chosen to coincide with the arrival of a train. This is a 45 minute train journey from London Bridge. A joint meeting with the London Natural History Society.
Saturday 15th August - Colne Point NNR, ESSEX. Leader's Tel : 01206 241389
A joint field meeting with Essex Moth Group and Essex Wildlife Trust at Colne Point NNR (Grid ref. TM108125) Meet at 10.30 am. Shingle ridge and saltmarsh at mouth of Colne Estuary. Take care on approach road to reserve from Lee Wick Farm, because it is badly rutted. Liaise with the Leader in advance regarding any possibilities for light-trapping.
Saturday 15th August - Colaton Raleigh (Yonder Hill), DEVON. MV. Leader's Tel : 01626 779543
This is the home of a Devon Moth Group Member who would like to know what moths occur on her site. Meet at Yonder Hill, Map Ref: SY082879 (Explorer 115 and Landranger 192), at the end of the tarmac track and into a gated field which is the car park, at around 20.30. The area where we will be running our lights is a mixture of old oaks and other deciduous trees with new birch and some ornamental trees. There is also a small clump of aspens. To get there, take the A376 (Sandy Gate roundabout, Exeter Services) from the M5 going toward Exmouth after negotiating the next roundabout take the A3052 (first exit), carry on this road until you get to Newton Poppleford and just before you enter the town, there is a small roundabout where you take the B3178, signposted Colaton Raleigh along with other places (second exit, right). After around a mile you will come to a junction on the left with two roads leading off, take the right one of these which leads to a sharp right turn and the entrance gate is soon after this on the right. This is a joint meeting with Devon Wildlife Trust, Butterfly Conservation (Devon Branch), Devonshire Association (Entomology Section), Peninsula Invertebrate Forum and Devon Moth Group. This event will be advertised in the site calendar of events for this National Garden Scheme locality. Please ring the leader around 18.00 to see if the meeting is still on.
Saturday 15th August - Woolmer Forest, Bordon and Linchborough Wood, Conford. HAMPSHIRE. MV. Leader's Tel : 01420 478845
Meet at the entrance barrier, just north of the remains of the old Whitehill social club on the eastern side of the A325 at SU791337 at 19.00hrs.
Moth Trapping site/area 1 - Woolmer Forest. Dry heathland and grassland with coniferous woodland and wet areas. An Army shooting range training site. Parking will be along the tarmac of the No. 1 range road inside of the entrance barrier and range area. Permission has been obtained from the MOD for the use of generators and moth light traps, until 6am on Sunday August 16th if required. The objective is to obtain more site information for the Local Biodiversity Action Plan and for the MOD Conservation Group. Joint meeting with members of the Alton Natural History Society and Butterfly Conservation. If the Nightjars are still calling by this time in August it may be possible to visit sites of their occurrence nearby on the range here in the early part of the evening.
Moth Trapping site/area 2 - Linchborough Wood, Conford, approximately 1 mile west of site 1. High Forest - oak woodland standards and hazel coppice with nearby streamside sallows and alders. Clearing where the old Linchborough Lodge stood. Parking along the edge of the hard surfaced perimeter track at Linchborough. Due to the possibility of short notice changes due to military training requirements, alternative trapping sites outside the range boundary are available at both sites.
Saturday 22nd August - Chudleigh Knighton Heath, DEVON. MV. Leader's Tel : 01626 779543
Meet at Dunley Cross where the road going across Chudleigh Knighton Heath crosses the B3344 at Map ref: SX838775 (Explorer 110 or Landranger 191) at 20.30; there are spaces either side of this road for car parking. To get there from the south, follow the A38 passing 'Trago Mills' turrets and going under 'Drum Bridges' roundabout, go past the turning to Heathfield but take the next slip road and when you get to the cross road at the top of the hill, turn left; the next cross road is the site. From the north, on the A38 again, pass the slip road to Chudleigh and after a long bend to the left, take the next slip road B3344, turn right across the A38 and follow the road past 'Finlake' to Chudleigh Knighton making sure you take the right fork through the town. In the middle of town, take the right fork and the next cross road is the site. The area is mixed deciduous trees with heathland and understory. This is a joint meeting with Devon Wildlife Trust, Butterfly Conservation (Devon Branch), Devonshire Association (Entomology Section), Peninsula Invertebrate Forum and Devon Moth Group. This event will be advertised in the Devon Wildlife Trust Newsletter. Please ring the leader around 18.00 to see if the meeting is still on.
Saturday 22nd August - Oxney Training Area and Oxney Farm, Bordon, HAMPSHIRE. MV. Leader's Tel : 01420 478845
Park and meet at 18.45hrs outside the barrier on the hard surfaced track on the north side of Oakhanger Road, Bordon, at SU788361. Grassland with small areas of heathland, deciduous and coniferous woodland and scrub, part of this site is a SINC. It is an Army dry training site threatened by building development on its southern edge. Permission has been obtained from the MOD for the use of generators and moth light traps, until 6am if required on Sunday 23rd August. The main MV light trap at Oxney Farm may have main's electricity power available to us on the night. A variety of other sites will be usable for trapping for those with generators or actinic lights. Only one moth has been recorded for this tetrad area previously! The objective is to obtain more site information for the Local Biodiversity Action Plan. Joint meeting with members of the Alton Natural History Society and Butterfly Conservation.
Sunday 30th August - Folkestone Warren SSSI, KENT. Contact 01304 241806
10.30 am start, meeting at the East Cliff Pavilion car park, Wear Bay Road, Folkestone (TR 239 364).
This south east facing site is an area of undercliff with a variety of habitats including chalk grassland, scrub, ponds and spray line communities. The warm micro climate helps to make this an important invertebrate site. Large scale works are planned for the site over the next two years and records gathered in this meeting will help to inform the works and identify priority areas.
September, dates to be arranged - Dipterists Forum Autumn Field Meeting - SOUTHERN SCOTLAND. Contact email : rogermorris
This meeting has yet to be fully organised. The intention is to run a two-centre meeting over a full week. The Organiser has yet to determine which would be the best week but this will be advertised on the Dipterists' Forum website. Expressions of interest at an early stage would be helpful to make planning the meeting more straightforward.
Friday 18th September or Saturday 19th September (dependent on weather forecast - Berry Head, DEVON. MV. NATIONAL MOTH NIGHT. Leader's Tel : 01626 779543
The Berry Head rangers will be inviting interested people to this event. As this event is listed with two possible dates, it is essential that you contact the leader to find out which date will be chosen. Meet at the visitor centre car park Map ref: SX941561 (Explorer OL20 or Landranger 202) at 19.30 and we will go on from there. To get there, approach the area on the A3022 from Torbay, the road takes you through Brixham and after you have past a church with a tower on your left the road goes on a right bend before you come to a cross road with a museum on the left corner. Turn right here and you should see signs to Berry Head when you come to the next major cross road where you turn left. Follow this road following the signs right onto Berry Head. The area where we will be running is limestone cliff in an old quarry with bushes and other vegetation. This is a joint meeting with Devon Wildlife Trust, Butterfly Conservation (Devon Branch), Devonshire Association (Entomology Section), Peninsula Invertebrate Forum and Devon Moth Group. Please ring the leader around 18.00 to see if the meeting is still on.
Advance notices for 2010
Trips to Parc Natural de s'Albufera in northern Mallorca
Ex BENHS President Peter Hodge has established a link with the Parc Natural de s'Albufera in northern Mallorca and in May 2008 led a group of seven members and friends for a week long survey of the reserve. We were asked to concentrate on Coleoptera, Hemiptera and Hymenoptera because these groups were poorly recorded. Although this partnership was an experiment, it is hoped it will pave the way for more visits in the future. However, these trips are complicated to arrange and more volunteer leaders are needed if they are to continue. Interested parties should e-mail peter_hodge.
National Insect Week 2010
National Insect Week 2010 will be held during the week of 21-27 June 2010. The new contact address for the event is niw2010
Health and safety notice for moth-trapping at night.
Moth trapping events take place in the dark and there are a few things that you will need to bring so that you have a safe and comfortable evening.
- a torch (don't forget to check the batteries are not running low)
- warm clothing (even if it is a hot day, it can get chilly after dark)
- suitable footwear (please ask if you are unsure what is suitable for a particular event)
- something to drink and perhaps a snack to eat
- insect repellent (may be useful as mosquitoes can be a pest sometimes)
- dark glasses (you may wish to bring these as the light from the moth traps is very bright and includes ultra violet light)
Please try to arrive at the advertised time, take care of your own personal safety and listen to the short introductory briefing by the event organiser, about any hazards in the area such as electric cables, slippery paths etc. Children are most welcome but must be accompanied by a parent or guardian if under 16. Normally it will be possible to sleep overnight on site in your car. Sometimes indoor arrangements are available - this is usually stated in the notice for that field meeting. If you have any queries before the event please contact the leader.
Note to Leaders of Field Meetings:
A briefing to the assembled group before the meeting is always helpful. Please take the time to ensure everyone is introduced. Make sure you exchange names and addresses so those attending can send you records and you can chase them if they do not! If you can, please say a few words about the ownership, management and history of the site and its biological interest. Please consider individual risks at meetings and inform attendees accordingly, if the site is likely to present any unusual safety risks which can reasonably be foreseen e.g. precipitous cliffs! Everyone attending does so of their own volition and at their own risk. All under-16 year olds must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Members are expected to ensure that their equipment is in good order and operated according to accepted safety standards. In all field-work it is advisable to carry a basic first aid kit, or at least have one in a nearby vehicle. A functioning mobile phone within the group is recommended. Please write a brief report of the meeting for publication in the Society's Journal as soon after the meeting as possible and at least by the end of the winter following the meeting. It does not have to include every awaited identification. Inclusion of an on-site photograph is welcomed and can be most valuable, especially in years to come. Off-prints of the report can be supplied for sending to the land-owner and other interested parties. See Br.J.Ent.Nat.Hist. 9: 21-43 for further information on the organisation and reporting of field meetings. Please send reports direct to the Editor of the Journal, not to the Field Meetings Secretary, and preferably by e-mail or on disc. Current Editor's email is: e-mail editor.
General Notes on BENHS Field Meetings:
Meetings labelled MV include light-trapping. It is advisable to contact the leader before the meeting to confirm details and helpful to register your interest. It may also be possible to arrange collection of members arriving by public transport. Bring packed lunches. Hot meals can normally be obtained in local pubs before the evening sessions and it is often possible to catch some sleep on site in one's car during light-trapping sessions if you face a long return journey, but check this and other accommodation possibilities with the leader in advance.
Field meetings are a good way of learning skills from other members. The information gathered by members during BENHS field meetings is increasingly valued by other organisations and can help to defend sites from damage or inappropriate management. Once again this year we have a varied programme of field meetings. Please make every effort to attend at least one meeting and to forward your results to the leader for inclusion in the report of the meeting in the BENHS Journal.
Members are expected to behave competently in the field, observing basic countryside codes, such as shutting gates, and are responsible for operating their equipment according to accepted safety standards. It is sensible for both leaders and members to carry first aid kits in their cars and for one or more to be taken into the field if working any distance from the cars. Mobile phones are also an advantage for keeping in touch or use in emergencies. Check they are working before relying on them and remember that reception is often impaired in woodland and poor in remote sites.
I would like to thank all leaders of this year's field meetings and all who supported the 2008 programme. Members are also advised to consult the BENHS web-site, where details of field meetings have been posted in advance of publication of this paper version and where details of extra meetings may be added later in the year. If you have suggestions for 2010, especially of threatened or poorly recorded sites, please could you send details to me. By e-mail is strongly preferred, or to the postal address below. The society would like to continue to extend the geographical spread of its meetings and to hold joint meetings with locally based groups. Wishing everyone good luck and exciting discoveries in 2009. Field Meetings Secretary (e-mail fieldmtgsec).
NOTICE: LIGHT-WEIGHT PORTABLE GENERATOR & MOTH TRAP AVAILABLE TO BENHS MEMBERS FOR USE IN THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS. COLLECTION FROM INSH.
To help encourage the recording of moths in the Scottish Highlands, the BENHS has grant-aided purchase by the RSPB of a light-weight generator and Robinson MV trap for use by BENHS members on the Insh Marshes and in the Cairngorm area generally. This can be booked for use by contacting the RSPB Insh Marshes (01540 661518). It is housed and collected at the RSPB Ivy Cottage in the small village of Insh. Contact RSPB for further details and conditions of use, two of which are that land-owners permission must always be obtained before the trap is operated and a copy of all records be submitted to RSPB.