JULY NEWSLETTER 2019

The fete, ecological surveys, and more!

​Rewilding Datchet Village Fete!
 
Last Saturday 6 July we made our first public appearance as Wild About Datchet. It was fantastic to meet so many new people. We spoke to quite a few parents who were keen to get involved with volunteering opportunities for local children. 
 
Thank you to the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) for lending us the gazebo etc, and to BBOWT volunteers Trish and Francesca for helping on the day. We would also like to thank the Barker Bridge House Trust for their support which enabled us to put together our 'wild' stall!

Butterfly and Dragonfly Survey Results
 
On Monday 1 July, Brian and Liz Crathorne returned to Datchet to help us with a butterfly survey at the Willowfields and the Land at Mill Place. The results of the survey can be found below. Overall, it seems that we have a good mix of species!
 
Surveyors' notes:
The weather was fine and sunny with a light wind and a temperature of 21 degC.
 
Various factors influence the number of butterflies and dragonflies on the wing on any given day and it is necessary to carry out multiple surveys over the Spring/Summer period to get an accurate picture of the species diversity. For example, some species are present during the Spring only and others in late Summer.
 
The number of species recorded is therefore an underestimate but it does provide a useful snapshot of the diversity present.
 
The 11 butterfly and 7 dragonfly species recorded is a good number for a relatively small site. The predominance of meadow brown at this time of the year given the areas of open grassland on the site is not surprising.
 
The habitat of largely dense shrubland with broad sunny open areas is good for a wide range of species. The number of dragonfly and damselfly species recorded may appear surprising for a site without any open water but some species do hunt insects well away from their breeding areas.
 
As suggested in the bird survey, in the longer term, introducing water to the site i.e. a pond, would increase biodiversity and attract more wildlife.
 
It would be useful to carry out another butterfly survey later in the Summer (August) and then again next Spring (mid-late May).