Click here for a link to our Lewes Mosaic Allotment Autumn Newsletter
What food resources is your allotment providing for wildlife this autumn?
Photos by Helen Sida
Wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation has declared a national ‘Butterfly Emergency’ after the results of this summer’s Big Butterfly Count showed a marked decline in butterfly 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. Butterflies are a key indicator species and their absence suggests a general decline in biodiversity.
Butterfly Conservation point the finger at the use of agricultural chemicals, and particularly the insect killing neonicotinoids, and are calling on the Government for a complete ban on the use of these insecticides. You can sign their letter and call on the Government to act now.
The Lewes Mosaic Project’s Allotment Biodiversity Advisor, Helen Sida, and volunteers carried out two timed 15 minute Big Butterfly Counts on the 2nd August at Haredean allotments. The warm and sunny conditions were good for butterflies and during one of the counts they spotted 22 butterflies and 7 different species (18 butterflies and 6 species in the other).
In a related report from Brighton based Pesticide Action Network, researchers found that since leaving the EU, safety limits of pesticide residues in food in the UK have been weakened, giving an incentive to countries that export food to the UK to increase the use of harmful pesticides like neonicotinoids, increasing the damage these chemicals cause worldwide:
“The changes [in safety limits] also pose a risk to the environment in countries where our food is grown. Strict safety limits force foreign growers exporting to Britain to keep pesticide residues to a minimum, or risk their exports being rejected for not meeting GB legal requirements. Under these latest changes wheat and oats are allowed to contain far larger amounts of neonicotinoids, the pesticides notorious for driving global declines in pollinator populations. In contrast to the UK, neonicotinoids remain legal in most major oat producing countries (such as the US, Canada and Australia) and weakened UK safety limits risk driving an increase in their use and associated harms.”
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Surveying wildflowers at Haredean allotment site in July, new Mosaic project logo, dock bug at Landport allotment site in July taken by Peter Varnham
12 noon, sunny 23 degrees C, moderate breeze.
Helen Sida, Lesley Healey, Dave Harris, Emma + 2
True bugs (Heteroptera) have been included, mainly because we enjoyed finding them. These are not necessarily pollinators but may do some pollination accidently. Dragonflies included 5 large red and 1 southern hawker.
There were plenty of floral resources for pollinators and weather conditions were good, many more butterflies were spotted than previous surveys this year.
We caried out 2 timed 15 minute Big Butterfly Counts during the survey (included in the pollinator list)
Photos: Thick-Legged Flower Beetle, credit: Peter Varnham. Carrot Wasp, credit: Peter Varnham. Small White Butterfly (Pieris rapae), credit Adobe Stock. Large Red Damselfly, credit: Peter Varnham.
All sightings were recorded without entering people’s allotments, unless permission was given from owners
Highdown Allotment Nature Walk, 21 June 2024
We looked at wildlife friendly practices and recorded as much as we could
The most striking thing was how few insects there were. The wind must have been a factor but we felt even so there should have been more. Certainly there were resources (flowers etc) available for them.
Where possibly sightings were submitted on iNaturalist. Birds were ID'd with the help of the Merlin app. Where species could not be ID'd they were recorded by Genus
Plant survey, at Highdown Allotments, 22 June 2024
Flower Visiting Insects survey at Paddock Road Allotments
All sightings were recorded without entering people’s allotments
Bat Transect 4 June 2024
Haredean allotment site, Lewes, 8.00 to 10.00pm
The weather was cool, damp and windy which meant there were fewer insects about and so fewer bats out feeding.
Surveyor: Perry Hockin accompanied by Topsy, and allotment holders
Following a fascinating introduction by Perry on bats and bat surveying a bat transect was made. Bat detectors were used to locate and identify bats by their sound frequency.
The following species were identified. Numbers are difficult to pin down.
Species identified
Soprano pipistrelle
Common pipistrelle
Myotis species
Bat boxes
Bat boxes have an 80-90% occupation rate in the first year of installation. This is much higher than bird boxes. Ideally locate the box on a tree with a clear ‘flight path’ about 4.5m high, facing north or east.
Here is a reminder of the June surveys
Tuesday 4th 8.45pm BATS Haredean
Friday 14th 1.30pm AMPHIBIANS & REPTILES Landport
Saturday 15th 8.00am BIRDS Highdown (re-scheduled from last month)
Friday 21st 4.30pm NATURE WALK BIOBLITZ Highdown
Sunday 23rd 11.00am WILDFLOWERS & TREES Highdown
Monday 24th 1.00pm POLLINATORS Paddock Road
Plant Survey at Haredean Allotments 10-May-24 16.30-18.00
98 species, significant find: the Ivy-leaved Speedwell is not often found on wildflower sites in Lewes.
Apple Aquilia Arum Ash Bay laurel Berberis Bindweed hedge Blackthorn Bluebells spanish Bramble Bristly ox-tongue Bryony Buddleia Burdock Buttercup creeping Buttercup meadow Campion red Campion white Celendine greater Celendine lesser Cinquefoil Clevers Clover red Clover white Comfrey 4 colours Common mouse-ears Nettle common Cornflower perenniel Cow parsley Cut-leaved cranesbill Daisy Dandelion Dock broad leaved Dock curly leaved Dog rose Dogwoord Elder Fennel Fern ? Field madder Forget-me-not field Forget-me-not Foxglove Garlic mustard Green alkanet Ground Ivy Hawthorn Hazel Bedstraw hedge Hedge cransbill also white Hellebore Hemp agrimony Herb bennet Herb robert Hogweed lesser Hollyhock Honesty Honeysuckle Hop Ivy Keel fruited Cornsalad Majoram Mint Mullien greater Nipplewort Ox-eye daisy Pear Periwinkle Phlomis Pine ? Plaintain broad leaved Plaintain ribwort Primrose Privet Ragwort Rosemary Sorrel wood Sowthistle smooth Sowthistle prickly Speedwell germander Speedwell Ivy-leaved Speedwell slender Speedwell creeping Spurge Stinking iris Sweetpea perennial Sycamore Teasel Thistle creeping Verbascum Vetch common Violets sweet Walnut White jasmine Wild parsnip Willow Willowherb square-leaved Willowherb narrow-leaved Yarrow
Bat Survey
Landport allotment and Landport Community Garden
8.00pm Tuesday 7 May 2024
Surveyor: Perry Hockin accompanied by Helen Sida
Following a fascinating introduction by Perry on bats and bat surveying a bat transect was made. Bat detectors were used to locate and identify bats by their sound frequency.
The following species were identified. Numbers are difficult to pin down.
Species identified
Soprano pipistrelle
Common pipistrelle
Brown long-eared bat
Noctule
Myotis ‘water bat’ (Daubenton’s bat?)
Bat boxes
Bat boxes have an 80-90% occupation rate in the first year of installation. This is much higher than bird boxes. Recommended bat box is a Schwegler 2F type or those similar to the 1FF. Made of woodcrete which lasts for many years. Ideally locate 4.5m high, facing north or east. Not on houses – trees and telegraph poles are good.
To take part in bird, bat, amphibian, insect, tree and wildflower surveys at your allotment in Lewes contact Helen Sida
Local ecologist, Perry Hockin, of Arborweald, conducted a bird survey on the 10th April at the Haredean allotments in Lewes and identified 19 species of birds. These were:
To take part in bird, bat, amphibian, insect, tree and wildflower surveys at your allotment in Lewes contact Helen Sida
We are running some wildlife surveys and monitoring events at allotment sites in Lewes. If you would like to take part email Common Cause for more information
Bats Tuesday 7th 8.00pm Landport Allotments
Wildflowers & trees Friday 10th 4.30pm Haredean Allotments
Amphibians & Reptiles Friday 17th 1.30pm Paddock Road Allotments
Birds Saturday 18th 8.00am Highdown Allotments
Pollinators & wildflowers Monday 20th 11.00am Church Ln & Queens Rd Allotments
Bats Tuesday 4th 8.45pm Haredean Allotments
Amphibians & Reptiles Friday 14th 1.30pm Landport Allotments
Nature Walk Friday 21st 4.30pm Highdown Allotments
Wildflowers and trees Sunday 23rd 11.00am Highdown Allotments
Flower visiting insects Monday 24th 1.00pm Paddock Road Allotments
Free and all welcome, as numbers at some events are limited please email Helen if you are planning to attend.
Many thanks to all those you completed our survey. We received 90 replies from 14 allotment sites. The results of completed surveys can be viewed here.
In summary
· 97% of replies said growing fruit and veg was most important. Supporting and enjoying wildlife was next at 58%.
· Time (66%) and resources (17%) are the greatest constraints to doing more.
· Almost everyone is already doing something to support wildlife.
· Most respondents visit their plot more than once a week (66%), 19% visit weekly and 7% daily.
· The majority of respondents visit their plot for between 1 and 3 hours (78%) each visit.
· 83% visit their allotments on weekdays. Marginally more plot holders visit their plots on Sunday (45%) than Saturday (38%).· 90 replies from 14 allotment sites
· 97% of replies said growing fruit and veg was most important. Supporting and enjoying wildlife was next at 58%.
· Time (66%) and resources (17%) are the greatest constraints to doing more.
· Almost everyone is already doing something to support wildlife.
· Most respondents visit their plot more than once a week (66%), 19% visit weekly and 7% daily.
· The majority of respondents visit their plot for between 1 and 3 hours (78%) each visit.
· 83% visit their allotments on weekdays. Marginally more plot holders visit their plots on Sunday (45%) than Saturday (38%).
There is still time to take part in our allotment survey by clicking here or scan the QR code here.
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