Earlswood Wildlife Partnership
Contact us at: ewp2010@btinternet.com or on 07528 595444
Newsletter 15
I know it is a bit late but Happy New Year anyway!
Dormouse Survey
Is this a dormouse nest?.......Well the answer is probably yes! Although the nest contained a wood mouse when we found it, Andy Bucklitch thinks it may have been made by a dormouse. It was found in one of the survey tubes along the fence of the railway line and may be the first evidence we have of dormice present in Clowes Wood. The survey tubes have now been collected and cleaned for storage over the winter months but will be put out again in March, this time on the south side of the wood. Specific areas have already been identified and we will put a number of the survey tubes in each area to maximise our chances of detecting dormice. If you would like to help with putting out the survey tubes please let us know and we will keep you informed as to the survey date.
Bird and bat boxes
The generous donation we received from the Earlswood Fete Committee has been put towards the purchase of specialist nest boxes to be installed around the lakes and in Clowes Wood. We have also bought wood to make several bat boxes which need to be made up and installed. (See events diary below)
Bat Survey (21st September 2013)
Of the 78 boxes checked, 9 were occupied (24 bats in total- 13 Pipistrelle and 11 Brown Long-Eared) and a further 27 boxes showed evidence of bats.
Butterfly Survey Forms 2013
Thanks to those that have returned their forms and if anyone still has a form to return please leave at 122 Malthouse Lane or send results to ewp2010@btinternet.com
In 2013 16 species of butterfly were recorded in Earlswood gardens which is fewer than in 2012 when 20 species were recorded, but the numbers recorded were greatly increased. Again the most common was the Large White but this year the numbers recorded rose from 54 in 2012 to 312 in 2013, second most common was the Small White 202 increased from 29, followed by the Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell. The numbers reported seem to show 2013 was a very good year for Butterflies; let’s hope 2014 is just as good.
Every garden has different habitats so the more people that take part in the Earlswood Butterfly Survey the more information we will be able to gather, and you don’t even have to leave your garden!
This year we will be e-mailing the recording forms to everyone on our list so if you have not received this newsletter by e-mail and would like to receive a form please get in touch.
Events Diary 2014
Sat 8th February - Building bat boxes – please contact us if you could help.
Sat 15th February 10.30am– Installing Bird and Bat Boxes, meet at Malthouse Lane car park
Fri 18th April 8.00pm – Amphibian Survey, meet at Engine House car park (near Red Lion)
Sat 3rd May 7pm – Evening Chorus Walk, meet at Clowes Woods car park (Wood Lane) Donation £2
Sat 17th May 10.30am – Wildflower Walk, meet at Clowes Woods car park (Wood Lane)
Donation £2
We hope there will be other dates for you to come along and join us, including the Dormouse and Reptile Surveys as well as the ever popular Bat Walks and Moth Night. These dates will be announced later.
Bob Roberts
Membership Secretary (contact : ewp2010@btinternet.com)