Stratford Park Biodiversity Newsletter April 2014 Pentaglottis sempervirens Stratford Park April 2014 Hi All, Spring is here! Everything is coming into life, bursting into bud and flowering everywhere. Never before was a spring so eagerly anticipated following so much rain and wind. The park enters a colourful stage of its annual metamorphosis during April, and this month also marks the resumption of Lepidoptera recording. The park’s moth trap will be operating on mild nights during the spring, summer and autumn, and this year’s recording will be augmented through our moth events held with the Museum in the Park. The last few seasons have not been productive for moth recording due to the extremes of weather we have experienced but with a hot summer forecast (again), 2014 will hopefully be a good season for butterflies and moths. The first Chiffchaffs were heard in the woodland on March 14 th , rather earlier than previous years but as I write this at the end of March, there is no sign of our Little owls and I admit to having my doubts about their survival and return following the loss of the walnut tree in February. Despite this, there is so much more to see and discover in the park this month and a morning walk through the woodland and Arboretum will yield many species of birds. With the spring flower beds well established now, April is one of the most beautiful months to visit. On the ground, a continuing cycle of grass cutting, weeding and planting will see us all very busy over the coming months as we gear up for Britain in Bloom. Enjoy the park this month. Mike
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Stratford Park Biodiversity Newsletter
April 2014
Pentaglottis sempervirens
Stratford Park April 2014
Hi All,
Spring is here! Everything is coming into life, bursting into bud and flowering everywhere.
Never before was a spring so eagerly anticipated following so much rain and wind. The park
enters a colourful stage of its annual metamorphosis during April, and this month also marks the
resumption of Lepidoptera recording. The park’s moth trap will be operating on mild nights
during the spring, summer and autumn, and this year’s recording will be augmented through our
moth events held with the Museum in the Park. The last few seasons have not been productive
for moth recording due to the extremes of weather we have experienced but with a hot summer
forecast (again), 2014 will hopefully be a good season for butterflies and moths.
The first Chiffchaffs were heard in the woodland on March 14th, rather earlier than previous
years but as I write this at the end of March, there is no sign of our Little owls and I admit to
having my doubts about their survival and return following the loss of the walnut tree in
February. Despite this, there is so much more to see and discover in the park this month and a
morning walk through the woodland and Arboretum will yield many species of birds. With the
spring flower beds well established now, April is one of the most beautiful months to visit. On
the ground, a continuing cycle of grass cutting, weeding and planting will see us all very busy
over the coming months as we gear up for Britain in Bloom. Enjoy the park this month.
Mike
News from the Supervisor’s Trap
Reintroducing the Pearl-bordered fritillary to Stratford Park
In Britain, the Pearl-bordered fritillary is one of our most rapidly declining species with a 50% decline
estimate for the last 25 years in both abundance and range. It is one of the earliest fritillaries to emerge
and can be found as early as April in suitable habitats. Current factors affecting its decline are changes in
woodland management, changes in bracken management and more importantly with Stratford Park –
fragmentation of existing habitat. In writing this article and knowing the circulation of this newsletter
reaches several butterfly enthusiasts associated with the park, it will come as a surprise to learn now,
that a small, stable colony of Pearl-bordered fritillary butterflies once existed in Stratford Park but has
remained undisclosed until the present time. This colony had a tenuous hold in the area of woodland
that we are currently managing and existed there until 1983.
In Gloucestershire the species has all but disappeared from its previous strongholds. Within a radius of 5
miles of Stratford Park, the species was recorded in small numbers at Standish wood (1976 -1980), Hawk
wood (1978), Randwick wood (1975 -1982) and Edge Common (1976-77) (MM records), as well as a few
protected sites known to members of Butterfly Conservation and The Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust.
During the 1960s the area of woodland in Stratford Park opposite Salmon Springs was planted with
beech trees. Other trees existing there at that time were all at an intermediate growth stage with the
exception of more established conifers. A rich and diverse under-storey and ground flora existed,
balanced by adequate light levels. It was only during the 1970s that I first found the butterfly here and
recall clearly the adult butterflies taking nectar from Bugle Ajuga reptans and Lesser celandine
Ranunculus ficar in the woodland and along the outer fringe. At this time, the species although not
common was frequent at the aforementioned sites. The larval food plant is Dog violet Viola riviniana,
which grows sparsely throughout the park. The Stratford Park site was not monitored much during the
1980s, but several visits there during early May 1983 produced 12 butterflies. By this time the beech
had advanced considerably and secondary scrub was encroaching throughout and around the
woodland. Much of the existing flora was being choked by Ramsons (wild garlic) Allium ursinum. Only
small pockets of bugle remained. Subsequent visits during 1984-5 produced no butterflies. The species
has not been seen at the site since. In later years it appeared obvious that the species had disappeared
due to a change in habitat with no woodland management evident. The Pearl-bordered fritillary is now
very rare in this part of Gloucestershire.
It was only looking back retrospectively whilst carrying out the recent woodland management at this site
that I considered the past status of this butterfly here, and of a possible reintroduction in the future.
Having now completed a third year of restoration and management at the Salmon Springs area of
woodland, by 2015 / 16 the site will be suitable for reintroducing the Pearl-bordered fritillary. This could
be achieved through the releasing of sustainably captive bred stock in the adult or caterpillar stage, and
at a time when sufficient ground flora is re-established. A program of planting is scheduled this summer
and primrose Primula vulgaris is being planted throughout the woodland this June. The Pearl-bordered
fritillary is currently listed on Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and is a UKBAP Priority
Species so any reintroduction would have to be from European stock as with recent introductions of the
large blue Maculinea arion. A feasibility study would need to be considered and perhaps consultations
with the Gloucestershire branch of Butterfly Conservation. This would be a project that would not only
restore this beautiful butterfly to the park but could engage the community and others associated with
the park and its biodiversity. To see the Pearl-bordered fritillary flying again in Stratford Park woodland
would be a crowning achievement to present efforts in the development of the woodland, and with
sympathetic management by Landscape Group staff already in place for at least the next 5 years, any
reintroduction would receive the support that the species would require during the first few years of
colonisation.
ACTION PLAN (PEARL-BORDERED FRITILLARY)
Achieve favourable management and habitat for the Pearl-bordered fritillary
Carry out a reintroduction into the former site if the initial habitat assessment is positive
Undertake a monitoring programme
Continue future management regime in this section of woodland