Headline news

As part of our HLF funded pond monitoring project PondNet, Freshwater Habitats Trust are seeking records of a number of declining wetland plant species including Tubular water-dropwort Oenanthe fistulosa from counties across England and Wales http://freshwaterhabitats.org.uk/projects/pondnet/twd-gwp-2017/ this is to update current records, and where possible set up (long term) structured monitoring at ponds in each county.

We have two different ways of recording the plant; either a very basic rapid assessment form which can be used on any habitat type: http://freshwaterhabitats.org.uk/projects/pondnet/twd-gwp-2017/recording-twd-gwp-other-habitats/ Or, a more detailed survey if the species is found at a pond (this is our priority): http://freshwaterhabitats.org.uk/projects/pondnet/twd-gwp-2017/recording-twd-gwp-in-ponds/

Have you or members of your organisation seen this species in Gloucestershire recently? If so, would you be willing to share the record with us? All data gathered will be made available to local and national records centres. GCER have kindly provided the records they hold, unsurprisingly most of which are from the floodplain of the Severn in wet meadows and ditches. We are particularly interested in finding ponds where tubular water-dropwort is still growing from anywhere in the county – any info you have would be appreciated.

If you are interested in helping to revisit a site where the species has been recorded in the past to complete a survey, please let me know and I will attempt to find you a local site.

Best wishes,
Pete Case
Regional Officer for Central England
People Ponds and Water
Email: pcase@freshwaterhabitats.org.uk
Mobile: 07703 808520
Twitter: @peterbcase
Web: www.freshwaterhabitats.org.uk

As noted in several recent issues of GNS NEWS, much attention has been devoted in recent years to Curlews in Gloucestershire, both wintering birds on the Severn Estuary, and breeding birds in the Severn and Avon Vales. This reflects a wider interest in Curlews and a growing realisation (throughout UK, and indeed internationally) that the Eurasian Curlew has undergone a sharp decrease in numbers in recent years. Much of the interest in the UK has been devoted to birds breeding in upland sites in northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland; but appreciable numbers continue to breed across lowland southern England too, and should not be neglected: a workshop devoted to this topic was held in Slimbridge in February 2017, and now a website on this topic (with much support from GNS) has been established at www.curlewcall.org. Do take a look and add your comments.

National Meadows Day

Celebration
Saturday July 1st 2017 from 10:30
at the
Angus Buchanan Recreation Ground
Victoria Rd, Coleford, GL16 8DS

National Meadows Day celebrates the wildflowers and wildlife in traditional meadows and grassland. Open from 10:30AM to 3:30PM there will be guided walks at 11:00 and 2:00 with specialists on hand to help identify flowers and insects. From 1:00 to 2:00PM you can get expert advice on how best to photograph wildflowers.

The walks are free and all are welcome, please wear sensible shoes or trainers. There is plenty of free parking.

Dean Meadows Group
www.deanmeadows.org.uk

The BTO conference is taking place on 18th March 2018, so put this in your diary.

The GNS Annual General Meeting will take place on Friday 7^th April at Watermoor Church Hall, Cirencester, 7.00 for 7.30pm, followed by a talk from David Simcox – the fascinating history of the Large Blue Butterfly in the Cotswolds and the story of its re-introduction.

GNS Outdoor Meeting Sunday 26^th March – A visit to Coombe Hill Canal and Reserve – General Interest to be led by Andrew Bluett (01452 610085 / 07584 689090) – 10.00 am until 12.30. Meet in the reserve car park; follow the narrow lane to the left of the Swan Inn at Coombe Hill traffic lights on the A38 to the car par at the end of the canal. SO 886 272. Please dress appropriately for the weather, you may get away with good boots but wellingtons will probably be necessary.

GNS Outdoor Meeting Sunday 9^th April – Darkham Wood, Redmarley – A new venue for GNS Meetings in a privately-owned wood; This is a recording meeting and a chance to find out what wildlife is present. Drive through the village of Redmarley from the A417 towards Durbridge Farm, meet at the entrance to the wood SO 740 301 and drive through to the hardstanding area. Leaders are Rick Benson-Bunch and Des Marshall – 01242 245143, 10.00am to 1.00pm. Please dress appropriately for the weather, good boots or wellingtons will be necessary.

In addition to learning about tassel stonewort and surveying for them, people may feel inspired to help survey the commons in future. Places are limited and booking essential – details on poster (PDF file): 20170328 Tassel Stonewort Inglestone Gloucs

Thanks for your help
Ann Harris
Hawkesbury & Inglestone Commons Officer
Environment and Community Services Team
South Gloucestershire Council

A Live Animal Event for February half-term week

Fourteen members gathered for a walk, following public footpaths through a variety of habitats in the Lower Lode and Forthampton Court area, on a bright, frosty, late January morning. Starting by the Severn, the first point of interest was the brick pits just behind the flood-bank, originally excavated in the nineteenth century to provide clay for bricks to build houses in Tewkesbury; though the pits were frozen over, at least 40 Cormorants were resting in the tops of tall trees surrounding the pits; this is a regular loafing spot for these birds which must be finding a lot of fish in the Severn. Walking inland we then went through meadows now converted to maize cultivation, and slightly uphill to the first river terrace, where gravel brought down in distant geological times was evident; en route two members were fortunate to hear the breeding call of a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, a species rapidly declining all over the country, and something of a speciality in the area; worth looking and listening again here as the season progresses! We flushed a Snipe from some maize left uncut as game cover in the maize field, and a Green Sandpiper flew over, clearly wintering along the stream, though not frequently recorded here.

On the higher ground is the Key Wildlife Site of Forthampton Oaks: (Key Wildlife Sites are areas not actually registered as Sites of Special Scientific Interest, but of interest for their wildlife, and recognised in the planning system). Forthampton Oaks is an impressive stand of oak trees on higher ground overlooking the Severn and looking across to the Severn Ham at Tewkesbury, some dying, some in rude health; their special interest is a series of unusual beetles, recorded by GNS member Keith Alexander. In the parkland around Forthampton Court there are a variety of large trees, including a Wellingtonia in which we found a Tree Creeper roost, with good numbers of wintering thrushes, Fieldfares and Redwings, feeding (on invertebrates) on grassy fields.

Then back down to the river, through ancient hay meadows, in their original state and not ploughed up for maize, where Curlews nest in summer, and with a summer Sand Martin colony in the mud banks of the river. From the river bank there are fine views back upstream of Tewkesbury Abbey, dominating that reach of the river. The historic Lower Lode Inn, just by the former ferry across the river to Tewkesbury, provided a good spot to reflect on the morning’s observations.

The next two scheduled GNS Field Meetings are –

GNS Outdoor Meeting Sunday 22^nd January – A visit to Forthampton & Lower Lode, General Interest to be led by Mike Smart (01452 421131) – meet at 10.00 am until 12.30. Meet in front of the Lower Lode Inn (SO 878 317) on the west bank of the Severn (opposite side from Tewkesbury), access past Forthampton Court on the unclassified road off the A438 west of Tewkesbury. Please dress appropriately for the weather, good boots or wellingtons will be necessary.

GNS Outdoor Meeting Saturday 4th February – Winter Wildfowl at Cotswold Water Park to be led by Ken Cservenka (01285 656480). Meet at Neigh Bridge Car Park, SU 017 946, 10.00am to 12.00 mid-day. Come along for a wander in the CWP in search of winter wildfowl, other winter birds and whatever else we can find – Please dress appropriately for the weather, good boots or wellingtons will be necessary.