Ashley Whitlock
Hampshire & IOW Butterflies and Moths
​One of the biggest Asian Hornet nests to be discovered
this year has been destroyed.
It was found in a tree in Southampton's Old Cemetery and removed by experts from the Government's National Bee Unit on Tuesday.
Asian Hornets pose no greater risk to human health than native hornets, but are a threat to honeybees and insect pollinators, according to the Bee Unit.
Alan Baxter, from the British Beekeepers' Association in Hampshire, said the 75cm-wide (2ft 4in) nest could hold about 3,000 hornets.
IMAGE SOURCE,NATIONAL BEE UNIT
A Southampton resident used the Asian Hornet Watch app to report an insect she found in Shirley
He said the hornet species was "an efficient apex predator" of insects.
Mr Baxter added they were bad for the country's biodiversity but also the economy and could impact on "people who derive their living from growing food" and rely on pollination.
Joe Murphy, a beekeeper from Southampton, who runs Holly Hill Honey, described the discovery as "worrying".
He said: "Our pollinators can’t live with them and will just be decimated.
"They will wipe everything out and just keep on spreading."
He said he was fortunate to have hives in Southampton, the New Forest and Locks Heath but knew some honey businesses might not be so lucky.
"They can clear out a hive in a day and can completely end beekeeping businesses," he said.
At this time of year, Asian Hornets may congregate on flowering plants such as ivy but can also be seen eating fruit within gardens, orchards and vineyards.
Sightings of the black bodied, yellow legged hornets can be reported via the Asian Hornet Watch App, external.
Users send pictures of suspect insects to experts at the National Bee Unit.
The nest in Southampton was found after a local resident used the app to report the discovery of a lone Asian hornet she saw in Shirley on 19 September.
Experts will now carry out tests on the nest to establish whether there could be more of them in the area.
The National Bee Unit found and destroyed 72 nests last year, the majority in south-east England.
Poor weather at the start of this year means 18 nests have been found and destroyed so far in 2024.
The nests are destroyed over a few days after they are injected with an insecticide from a safe distance.
BEAVERS ARE BACK IN HAMPSHIRE AFTER 400 YEARS!
Two beavers have been released at Ewhurst Park in Hampshire, marking the first time in 400 years that beavers have lived in the county. Environmentalist Mandy Lieu has been working to regenerate natural processes and produce food sustainably at Ewhurst Park near Basingstoke, since moving there in 2020.
Once settled in, the beavers will become a cornerstone of the wider conservation efforts at Ewhurst. Beavers are a ‘keystone species’ and their reintroduction is one of the most effective ways to restore biodiversity and protect native species. Their dams create natural wetlands and meadows, ecosystems that support all kinds of smaller wildlife such as butterflies, bats, water voles and birds.
In other areas of Britain, where beavers have already been successfully introduced, the impact has been quickly noticeable. Because of this, last year the UK Government recently made the landmark decision to give the Eurasian beaver legal protection in England.
Lieu worked with a team of experts to ready the land for the beavers and built a licensed enclosure to keep them in one area of the estate, in accordance with current licensing rules. She has involved the local community in this project, speaking with local farmers and residents about the beavers and the changes they may bring to the landscape.
Local children have also played an important role, with 22 Hampshire schools invited to take part in a competition run by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust to name the two beavers. With many brilliant submissions, the chosen winning names are Hazel for the female, submitted by Mount Pleasant Junior School in Southampton, and Chompy for the male, submitted by Whitchurch CE Primary School in Whitchurch. Ewhurst has a long history of growing hazel for coppicing, something beavers do very well naturally.
In addition to Mandy Lieu, the judging panel included: Rosemary Mayfield, whose family were the high-regarded stewards of Ewhurst Park from 1950-2008; Debbie Tan, CEO of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust; Rob Needham of the Beaver Trust; and Rob West, North Wessex Downs AONB.
The North Wessex Downs AONB contributed to the funding of this project through DEFRA’s Farming in Protected Landscapes programme.
Speaking about the release, Mandy Lieu of Ewhurst Park said: “I am thrilled to be able to bring beavers back to Hampshire after 400 years. It has been a very rewarding journey learning about what beavers need, how they will impact the environment around them and the benefits that they will bring to other animals and plants. I’m so grateful to my friends and neighbours who are on this journey with me. These beavers are not just for Ewhurst, but for the whole community and local area for generations to come.”
Rosemary Mayfield said: “It is wonderful to know that beavers will be coming to live at Ewhurst, which was my family’s home for many decades. The beavers will play a hugely important part in regenerating the environment and stewarding the landscape for generations to come.”
Dr. Roisin Campbell-Palmer, Head of Restoration at Beaver Trust, commented: “We’re really pleased to see another county providing a home for beavers as part of the species’ restoration efforts across Britain. We are working towards their continued return to the wild, with appropriate licensing and management frameworks, but in the meantime enclosures such as the one here at Ewhurst remain an important part of the restoration story. We’re delighted to be bringing beavers here today.”
Rob West, Farming in Protected Landscapes Officer at the North Wessex Downs AONB said: “The beavers being released at Ewhurst will be the first seen in the North Wessex Downs for hundreds of years. We are faced with incredible challenges for people and wildlife, and through Farming in Protected Landscapes the partnership is funding projects that attempt to tackle these issues, such as at Ewhurst. The North Wessex Downs AONB Partnership is delighted to be supporting the team at Ewhurst as they make a difference through proactive nature restoration and public engagement.”
Becky Fisher, Deputy Director of Engagement at Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, said: “It’s wonderful to see local communities, and schoolchildren especially, getting involved in this exciting beaver reintroduction project. Engaging young people is crucial if we want the next generation to develop an interest in nature and a passion for wanting to protect it as they grow up. We work with lots of schools across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and were so excited to invite those involved in our Wilder Schools programme to find a name for the two beavers being introduced at Ewhurst Park. What an inspiring way for them to learn more about this incredible species, while also connecting the action they’ve taken on their school grounds to what’s going on in their wider community.”
Big Butterfly Count 2024 results reveal lowest numbers on record
Wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation has today declared a national ‘Butterfly Emergency’, with results of this summer’s Big Butterfly Count showing a marked and hugely concerning decline in numbers.
Overall, participants spotted just seven butterflies on average per 15-minute Count, a reduction of almost 50% on last year’s average of 12, and the lowest in the 14-year history of the Big Butterfly Count.
It was the worst summer in the Count’s history for Common Blue, Holly Blue, Green-veined White, Small White, Small Tortoiseshell, Painted Lady and Scotch Argus. And the majority of species (81%) showed declines in the number seen this year compared with 2023.
In total, just over 935,000 butterflies and day-flying moths were recorded across the UK from 12 July - 4 August, down almost 600,000, equivalent to more than a third of 2023's total, and 9,000 Counts were logged as seeing zero butterflies, the highest in the citizen science programme’s history.
These figures have alarmed scientists and resulted in the charity declaring a nationwide ‘Butterfly Emergency’.
Dr Richard Fox, Head of Science at Butterfly Conservation, said: “The previous lowest average number of butterflies per Count was nine in 2022, this latest figure is 22% lower than that, which is very disturbing. Not just that, but a third of the species recorded in the Big Butterfly Count have had their worst year on record, and no species had their best. The results are in line with wider evidence that the summer of 2024 has been very poor for butterflies.
“Butterflies are a key indicator species; when they are in trouble, we know that the wider environment is in trouble too. Nature is sounding the alarm call. We must act now if we are to turn the tide on these rapid declines and protect species for future generations."
Butterfly Conservation is writing an open letter to Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs calling for the Government to act now for nature by declaring a ‘Nature Emergency’ and banning butterfly-killing neonicotinoid pesticides once and for all, with no exceptions, before it’s too late.
Dr Fox explains: “When used on farmland, these chemicals make their way into the wild plants growing at field edges, resulting in adult butterflies and moths drinking contaminated nectar and caterpillars feeding on contaminated plants. Many European countries have already banned these chemicals, it’s time for the UK to follow suit and put the natural world first. If we don’t act now to finally address the long-term drivers of butterfly decline, we will face extinction events never before seen in our lifetime.”
More than 85,000 citizen scientists took part in Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count this year, submitting 143,241 Counts. This is equivalent to 35,810 hours, or four years’ worth of time spent counting, in gardens, parks, school grounds and the countryside
Dr Richard Fox concluded: “If every single person who helped with the Count this summer signs our letter to the Government, we could prevent the very real and pressing threat of species becoming extinct in our lifetime."
To sign Butterfly Conservation’s letter to the Government asking them to declare a ‘Nature Emergency’ and ban butterfly-killing neonicotinoid pesticides visit: https://butterfly-conservation.org/emergency
Next year’s Big Butterfly Count will take place from Friday 18th July – Sunday 10th August 2025.
First white-tailed eagle in 240 years born in south of England
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Published
19 July 2023
First white-tailed eagle in 240 years born in south of England
A white-tailed eagle has been born in the south of England for the first time in 240 years.
Conservationists said it was a "landmark" moment in the mission to return the lost species to the country.
It was the first successful breeding attempt released by Forestry England and the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation's project.
The location of the nest has not been disclosed for the birds' welfare, in case they return to breed there again.
White-tailed eagles are Britain's largest birds of prey with a wingspan of up to 2.5m (8.2ft) and were once widespread across England.
Human persecution caused their extinction, with the last pair breeding in southern England in 1780.
IMAGE SOURCE,FORESTRY ENGLAND/CROWN
The chick is the first to be born in southern England for 240 years
A re-introduction project launched by Natural England in 2019 involves bringing young birds from the wild in Scotland over to the Isle of Wight.
Two of the birds released by the project in 2020, originally from the Outer Hebrides and north-west Sutherland, reared the male chick earlier this summer.
Foundation founder Roy Dennis said: "This is a very special moment for everyone who has worked on, supported and followed this ground-breaking project.
"Restoring a breeding population in southern England, where the species was once widespread, has been our ultimate goal. Many thought it was impossible.
"We still have a long way to go, but the feeling of seeing the first pair reach this stage is truly incredible."
The chick has been ringed and fitted with a satellite tag by licensed ornithologists from the foundation so the team can track its daily progress.
Study shows New Forest pine martens successfully breeding
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Published
1 December 2022
The creatures sleep and make dens high up in the trees and usually only come out at night to hunt.
Rare pine martens are now believed to be well-established and successfully breeding in the New Forest.
The elusive cat-sized member of the weasel family was previously only thought to have survived largely in the north of England.
As part of a long-term study, hidden cameras showed young pine martens exploring and playing together.
Marcus Ward of the Wild New Forest conservation group said the footage was "incredible".
The study began after several sightings of the protected species in the Hampshire national park, with conservationists aiming to determine if and how pine martens were recolonising the area.
Trail cameras which trigger with movement, were used to video pine marten
More than 100 video clips were captured in 2022, with footage of young pine martens providing further evidence of successful breeding.
The new clips also confirm initial findings that pine martens prefer to use fallen trees and branches to navigate across the forest floor and to cross streams and wet areas.
The creatures sleep and make dens high up in the trees and usually only come out at night to hunt.
Marcus Ward of Wild New Forest has only glimpsed one pine marten
Mr Ward said it was "incredibly rare" to catch a glimpse of a pine marten.
"This video gives us a unique view into their hidden world and an opportunity to really advance the understanding of these special creatures and how best to support them."
The pine marten study is being carried out by Wild New Forest along with Forestry England, The New Forest Study Group, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.
Leanne Sargeant, senior ecologist for Forestry England, said: "The survey makes it clear that they are settling in a wide range of areas and successfully breeding.
"We hope that knowing more about their development will help us support these rare creatures and inform reintroduction projects elsewhere."
A member of the weasel family, pine marten prefer well-wooded areas with plenty of cover and largely feed on small rodents, birds, insects and fruit.
They were all but extinct from England by 1900 due to habitat loss and being hunted for their fur.
Only a small and fragmented population remains mostly in northern England, Scotland and parts of Wales.
Every pine marten is chestnut brown in colour but each has a uniquely shaped bib - a pale yellow section of fur on its chin and throat - which makes it possible to identify and record each individual.