Council Land survey

Introduction

The Council land is an elongated area of land (originally part of the field known as Coles ground) running west to east, covering approx 0.5 acres to the north of the Langton Matravers allotments and bordering the southern side of the St George’s school playing field. This is now an area of scrubland containing an assemblage of plants, shrubs and small trees supporting a variety of wildlife.

The purpose of this initial survey is to provide information on the plants and wildlife in this area so that any management of this area can be undertaken in a sensitive and informed manner with regard to the wildlife.

Survey

Observations on fauna and flora of the area were made between January and July 2010 and species observed and recorded are listed in Tables 1 – 6. Species will vary from year to year depending on weather conditions prevailing through the winter and summer. Systematic recording of night time creatures (e.g. bats and moths) was not undertaken but could be worthwhile in the future as numbers of bats (pipistrelles and others) were patrolling over the land during late evening in the spring and summer.

Vegetation

The attached plan and key of the Council Land gives an indication of the extent and nature of the various vegetation types on the land. There is extensive coverage of the western end by cultivated Blackberry interspersed with a variety of other native (Privet, Ivy, Hemp Agrimony, Nettles, Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Dog Rose) and non-native (Buddleia, Himalayan Honeysuckle) species (max height 4 – 8 ft). The central area is dominated by mature Elder trees (15 – 18 ft max) covered with ivy and interspersed with a few Blackthorn and Buddleia bushes. There is little undergrowth vegetation here. To the western side of the central area there is a single large Willow tree (20 – 25ft, possibly Goat willow) close to the Council land/allotment boundary. To the eastern side of the allotment shed area there are extensive areas of Blackthorn bushes. Amongst these there are small Ash (12 – 15 ft); Sycamore (approx 15 ft); Hawthorn, regenerating Elm and a few Elder trees. At the far eastern end there are two large Sycamore trees (25 – 30ft).

Along the school playing field/Council land boundary there are the remains of an old stone wall and this supports extensive Ivy growth.

Undergrowth, where it occurs includes Hogweed, Burdock, Spear Thistle, Sowthistle, Hoary Willowherb, Goosegrass, Charlock, Herb Robert, Pendulous Sedge, and Cocksfoot.

Birds

Birds frequenting and using the Council land area during the period Jan – July 2010 for foraging or nesting are shown in Table 1.

Many of the smaller migrating birds (e.g. a variety of warblers) use the shrubs and trees for feeding and resting whilst on their way south (autumn) or north (spring). These are not included in the survey as the individuals may only be there for a very transitory period. Tawny owls have been observed to use the taller trees as a perch from which to call or survey the area, possibly on the outlook for voles on the allotment and field areas.

Table 1

Birds (* indicates nesting)

Blackbird * Thrush * Blackcap * Chiffchaff Willow Warbler Whitethroat Blue Tit Great Tit Long-tailed Tit * Robin * Wren * Greenfinch * Goldfinch Bullfinch Dunnock *

House Sparrow Collared Dove Wood Pigeon Magpie Jackdaw Carrion Crow Field Fare Redwing Pheasant Greater Spotted Woodpecker Green Woodpecker Kestrel Sparrowhawk Tawny owl

Several of the birds e.g. Blackcap and Blackbird feed on the Ivy berries during the winter, whilst others e.g. Field Fares, Redwing, also Blackbirds feed on the Hawthorn berries.

Invertebrates

Blackthorn, Hawthorn, Ivy, Buddleia, and Bramble flowers provide a rich nectar source for a variety of insects. Butterflies (Table 2), hoverflies, amongst others, Table 3) are attracted to such nectar sources and have been observed this year. Some butterflies such as the Peacock, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell and Comma use the nettles for their larval foodplant (the Commas are probably also attracted to the currant bushes on the allotments) and the Holly Blue breeds on the Ivy.

The above plants, especially Bramble, also attract the important pollinators, bees, bumblebees and flies. Early flowers of the Blackthorn provide nectar for a variety of flies and early bees that are effective pollinators of fruit trees.

Table 2 Butterflies

Small Tortoiseshell Comma Red Admiral Peacock Meadow Brown Gatekeeper Small White/Large White Green Veined White

Speckled Wood Holly Blue Common Blue Orange Tip Brimstone Small Copper

Table 3 Flies

Hoverflies Meredon equestris (Large Bulb fly, bumble bee mimic) Volucella bombylans (bumble bee mimic) Cheilosia illustrata (bumble bee mimic) Syrphus ribesii Episyrphus balteatus (Marmalade fly) Scaeva pyrastri Picture winged flies Tephritis bardanae on Burdock Urophora stylata on Spear thistle Palloptera umbellatarum

Soldier flies Michrocrysa polita Chloromya Formosa Horseflies Tabanus brominus

Other invertebrates include spiders (Table 4), crickets and bees (Tables 5). Lists of flies, spiders and other invertebrates are fairly small for this year (especially those of spiders) probably due to the long cold winter and extremely dry conditions existing for most of the spring and summer. I would have expected many more records in a ‘normal year’.

Table 4 Spiders

Enoplognatha ovata

Araniella cucurbitina

Aranaeus diadematus (Garden Cross spider)

Linyphia triangularis

Dicranopalpus ramosus (Harvestman)

Leiobunum rotundum (Harvestman)

Many spiders live in the leaf litter, which I have not examined yet.

Of interest is the record of the harvestman, Dicranopalpus ramosus. This has spread across southern England since its first discovery in Bournemouth in 1957.

Table 5 Other Invertebrates

Crickets Speckled Bush Cricket Bumble Bees Bombus terrestris (Buff-tailed bumblebee) Bombus pascorum (Common Carder bee) Bombus lapidarius (Red-tailed Bumblebee)

Bees Apis mellefera (Honey Bee) Anthophora plumipes (Hairy Footed Flower Bee) Colletes hedera (Oct species on ivy flowers)

Colletes hedera is a species of bee that was only recorded a few years ago and at that time was confined to the south coast. It nests in exposed dirt banks but its unique feature is that it builds and stocks its nest in October, a period when no other bee is nesting. To provision its nest it uses nectar and pollen from Ivy flowers exclusively and there are a number of nesting colonies around Langton.

Other Animals

Other animals (Table 6) use the Council land as a place to hide or hunt. Badgers may use the land (evidence of destroyed wasp nests) but do not have any setts there.

I have observed Fox and Stoat using the area for hunting purposes, possibly for young rabbits.

Table 6 Other Animals

Common Lizard

Fox

Stoat

Rabbit

The Common Lizard frequents the edge of the Council land and I have observed them basking on the stones at the edge of the fence between the allotments and Council land. Others have observed Slow Worms and there are probably Grass Snakes as well although I have only seen these in the gardens around.

Short tailed voles abound on the allotment site so will also occur on the Council land as well as wood mice. No rats or grey squirrels have been observed on the land.

Conclusion

The Council land exhibits a typical mix of scrubland plants with a few non-native species (Himalayan Honeysuckle and Buddleia) scattered around. The range of nesting birds is varied and typical of such an area with the added attraction of Long-tailed tits observed nesting this year.

Because of environmental factors this year pollinating insects and other invertebrates have been in short supply so the flowering shrubs on the Council land have been beneficial to their welfare.

If the Council is agreeable I will continue to monitor the site for additional species of wildlife.

Dr Chris Spilling

(Vice President of the British Arachnological Society)

(Council Member of Dipterists Forum)

(National Trust Volunteer Ecological Surveyor)