Biological Recorders' Seminar 2019 - Sussex Biodiversity

As the media fill with news of massive insect declines and the children's climate strike, I attended this year's biological recorders seminar.

Biological recording is simply noting down which plants and creatures that I see. Often I do this casually, while I go about my business and sometimes I take part in public project such as the New Year Flower Hunt.  The tool that I use most often is iRecord, which is available both as a website and an phone app. The latter is really easy to use because it figures out the location for you. Once they are in the system, they can be searched and used.

Some of my Uckfield iRecord results.

Before the seminars had even started, I found a great poster about Gill Valleys created by the University of Sussex River Ouse Project. Apparently there are some of these very near Uckfield but they are on private land, so it is difficult to get access to them.  Sussex Gills are steep-sided valleys in sandstone and mudstone areas. The habitat is usually undisturbed and has a rich variety of flora.

Frog in my Uckfield garden

It was with great pleasure that I found myself sitting next to "Agent Amphibian" who brings great style and imagination to the serious subject of amphibian conservation. A few years ago, in Brighton, I saw her TED talk on the subject. Later in the day, by the Sussex Amphibian and Reptile Group's stand, we and another had quite a chat about frogs and toads and when I mentioned that I was from Uckfield, talk turned to the Harland toads - it seems that they are famous! If you want to know more, visit the Harland's Pond Toad Rescue Facebook group.

30 Years of the Sussex Biological Recorders' Seminar

Tony Whitbread outlined some of the thrills and spills of the seminar over the 30 years in which it was running. We can't know what questions we will be asking in 20 years time, so we must collect data ready for when it is needed.

The Seals of Chichester Harbour

John Arnott gave a talk about the Common and Grey Seals of Chichester Harbour. The first record was in 1993 and their main haulout (rookery) is at Oar Rithe. The name Selsey comes from Seals-ey, which means isle of the seals.

Fungi of Lullington Heath

Martin Allison gave a great talk about Lullington Heath. It is unusual because it is chalk heathland, which has got both acid-loving healthland plants (heathers) and chalk-loving vegetation (Roundheaded Rampion). When grazing was stopped, this important habitat started being overtaken by scrub. Grazing has now been resumed. He explained that Waxcaps are often found on downland grassland.

Oily waxcap in Uckfield's Holy Cross Churchyard

Waxcaps are indicators of high quality, nutrient-poor grasslands, which are precious for various types of insects as well as fungi and plants. I found out, when doing a Churchyard survey, that these can preserve this type of habitat.

Some fungii such as Clouded Funnels make fairy rings. One lovely story is that shepherds would not allow their sheep to graze within fairy rings for fear that they would become enchanted.

Also, pony poo fungus was common in Victorian times but is rare now due to modern ponies being given treatments of various sorts. However, because conservation ponies are living in a more wild way, it is making a small comeback.

UK Seed Conservation at the Millennium Seed Bank

Stephanie Miles and Jenny Peach outlined projects at the Millennium Seed Bank (MSB) at Wakehurst. MSB has now conserved 98% of UK species. As well as collecting the seeds, they use them for conservation, restoration and educational projects - for example Marsh Gentian seeds have been used at Chailey. One of their projects is preserving the Spiked Rampion flower, which is present at 8 sites in Sussex - it is found on roadside verges and in coppiced woodlands.

Bryophyte Recording in Sussex

Wall screw moss (Tortula muralis) - Uckfield High Street, Feb 2019

Brad Scott talked about Bryophyte (mosses, hornworts and liverworts) recording in Sussex. Bryophytes are important because they are pioneers - they get the vegetation going. Records go back to the 1600s. In 1840s, it was already being noted that some habitats were drying out. To my surprise, one of the slides listed me as a contributor to the records - I haven't recorded that many and only easy species such as the Wall Screw Moss (Tortula muralis) suggested by the Sussex Biodiversity species of the month page. 

Here at last! Otters in Sussex

Otter print (left) from Mammal Society tea towel.

The big 'aww' moment came when Fran Southgate showed photos and videos of otters, including youngsters, in Sussex.  Fran described the types of "field signs" (prints and poo) to look out for:

• prints show five toes and cannot (unlike mink's) be covered with a £2 coin
• poo has a fishy-jasmine smell and is crumbly with no curl at the end.

A couple of years back there was a lot of excitement when someone thought that they had seen an otter family on the Uck but cooler heads realised that they were mink.

The Sussex Local Wildlife Sites Initiative

At last year's seminar, Clare Blencowe, outlined the Sussex Local Wildlife Sites initiative. This year, Daniel Watkins  and Henri Brocklebank outlined how this has become a reality. Daniel is the Local Wild Sites officer and both collects evidence  and provides advice to landowners about managing these sites - 637 in Sussex. Henri emphasised the importance of a network for protecting these and other sites:

• When new planning policies threatened to leave these sites unprotected, a petition was organised, which succeeded in gaining protection for them
• For the public to be the Wildlife Trust's eyes and ears and passing on information about threats to these and other sites.

Collection and analysis of grasshopper and cricket records in Britain

Bjorn Beckmann and Ralph Hobbs talked about recording grasshoppers and crickets. Sussex has 26 of the 31 UK species:

• 8 (of 11 UK) grasshoppers
• 3 groundhoppers
• 12 bush crickets
• 3 (of 5 UK) crickets

Lesser Marsh Grasshopper - Uckfield Garden

Again, this appears to be an area where a little effort on recorders' part can make an impact because I only record grasshoppers and crickets casually but my name was mentioned as a contributor. 

Earthworms: the state of the nation and more

Emma Sherlock gave a very lively talk about Earthworms and the National Earthworm Recording Scheme. There are 29 UK species and their roles include:

• Edeniac - composter
• Epigeic - on the surface - e.g. the red ones you find under pots
• Endogeic - soil worms - pale
• Anecic - deep burrowing worms - up to 40cm

Takeaways

As I looked through the newspaper on the bus home with news of the children's strike, I found myself reflecting on Tony Whitbread's opening words about the power of uniting rebellious youth with cantankerous old gits! I am, of course, firmly in the latter category. He had pointed out that the apparently simple, pleasant act of recording wildlife provides evidence for action. Recording is a political act.

Over the next year, I intend to:

• Go on with my rather haphazard, semi-casual recording - as it is making a genuine contribution to some of the less recorded groups such as grasshoppers and mosses.
• See if I can get reports on the flora and fauna in the Uckfield area.
• Find out more about local wildlife sites in and around Uckfield.
• Do another playing field plant survey. I am tempted by Victoria Park although the size of it is rather daunting.
• Find a Gill Valley.