A Dragonfly’s World -talk 15th March 2016

25 February 2016 froyle_wildlife_B Walks and Talks

We start this year’s programme of Froyle Wildlife events with Dr. Bill Wain’s illustrated talk on Tuesday 15th March which will introduce us to ‘A Dragonfly’s world’. Who hasn’t delighted in watching dragonflies patrolling purposely over a pond or delicate damselflies fluttering along streamside vegetation but did you know there are nearly 6,000 species worldwide? Around 40 species breed in Britain many of which have differing needs. Bill’s talk aims to shine a light on habitat and management requirements for these beautiful insects whose ancestry goes back over 300 million years. All welcome to come along at 7.30pm in the Village Hall.

Download the list of 2016 Walks and Talks

Dragonflies seen in Froyle in 2015

Walks and talks 2016 list

10 February 2016 froyle_wildlife Walks and Talks

Froyle Wildlife – Walks & Talks – 2016 DAIRY DATES

Tuesday 15th March – “A Dragonfly’s World”. A talk by Dr. Bill Wain – Village Hall – 7:30pm start.
Tuesday 12th April – “The River Wey”. A talk by Dr. June Chatfield – Village Hall – 7:30pm start.
Thursday 12th May – “ Keeping the Skies Alive – Helping Swifts & Swallows survive the 21st Century”. A talk by Edward Mayer – Village Hall – 7:00pm start.
Saturday 18th June “Dragonfly Walk”. Walk Leader – Dr Bill Wain; Meet at the Village Hall at 10:00 am.
Saturday 23rd July “The Magic of Bees” – Talk & Walk. Speaker/Leader: Mike Edwards; Meeting Point – TBC. Talk 9:30 – 10:30 am; Walk 10:45 – 1:00 pm.
Saturday in September – “Wildlife at Mill Farm”. Walk Leader Nick & Jenny Shaylor; Meeting Point & Date – TBC.
Thursday 20th October – “Return of the Red Kite” + AGM. A talk by Keith Betton – Village Hall – 7:30pm start. Wine and nibbles will be served before the AGM.
November (provisional) – “Wildlife & Hedgerows”. A talk by Jon Stokes – Village Hall – Date & time TBC.

It’s helpful for us to have an idea on numbers – If possible please email walksandtalks@www.froylewildlife.co.uk. However, you are very welcome just to turn up too!

Entrance fee: £2. (Children under 16 free).
Donations to the speaker’s charitable organisation and Froyle Wildlife Group.
Doors open 30 minutes before the start of the talks.
Light refreshments inc. wine available.
Occasional raffle and other fund raising activities.

(Additional details on the speaker or walk leader will be published in advance of each event. Details of our fete activities + ad hoc summer butterfly walks to follow.

Froyle Wildlife news Nov 2015

26 November 2015 froyle_wildlife_B Projects, Recording

Our first AGM followed by a Barn Owl talk was well attended by about 60 people on 30th October. Thanks to those that helped to organise the evening and provide the drinks and nibbles. Your generous contributions boosted our funds by £231 after £100 was donated to the Hawk and Owl Trust.

A new wildflower area on Froyle recreation ground was sown this autumn with the help of 14 individuals after over 100 hours of volunteer time. The meadow mixture of Spring/summer flowering perennials have germinated with cornfield annuals included to provide a display in 2016 and act as a nurse crop for the perennials that take longer to establish.

The plan for a wildlife pond near Gid Lane had to be changed to a single pond 300m2 area when the topographical survey revealed buried pipes on the site. Recently the required planning application has been submitted to EHDC ref 56422, comments by 15 Jan 2016. The owners of Froyle Park have been asked to permit access for local residents to the proposed pond area.

Our 2015 competition of photos taken in Froyle had a variety of interesting wildlife images. Congratulation to the winning entries; a Pale Tussock moth caterpillar by MB and a Peacock butterfly by WB in the junior category.

Species recording in Froyle this year noted a significant increase in the number of dragonflies and damselflies seen and demonstrates the benefit of new wildlife ponds. Bird recording for 11 target species has produced 134 records for 245 sightings. Red Kite and Skylark were the species most often reported.

Wildlife pond planning application Oct 2015

31 October 2015 froyle_wildlife_B Projects

After a slow start, the plan for two wildlife ponds near Gid Lane had to be changed to a single pond 300m2 area when the topographical survey revealed buried pipes. Recently the required planning application has been submitted to EHDC reference 56422 and here is a link to the documents:- supporting statement, site location plan, block plan and cross section. Froyle Park developers NJG say they are committed to completing this project to enhance biodiversity. An experienced contractor has been recommended to carry out the work and the soonest that pond digging could begin is Spring 2016.

AGM and Barn Owl talk 30th Oct 2015

2 October 2015 froyle_wildlife Walks and Talks

All are invited to our short AGM followed by a talk about Barn Owls on Friday 30th October 2015 at 7.30pm in the village hall. There will also be a display board showing some of the local wildlife seen and view an update of this year’s bird sightings in Froyle. Non-members are welcome and drinks and nibbles will be available during the evening. Donations invited.

Small mammal identification 18th Oct 2015

1 October 2015 froyle_wildlife Walks and Talks

Do you want to find out what runs about in our hedgerows especially at night? Come and join us on Sunday morning October 18th when John Buckley will lead us in identifying what small mammals have been temporarily caught in humane traps that were set earlier by kind permission of Mill Farm, Isington.

Children especially find it exciting, firstly to find out if anything has gone into the trap to find food and shelter, then to find out and identify the species, will it be a type of mouse or a vole? So children, get your parents to come along! For an ID guide click on link to download pdf.

There are a limited number of spaces available so if you are interested in joining us, we will meet at 8.45am on Sunday 18th October at the Village Hall to travel to the location. It is vital that you contact us by Tuesday October 13th so we know what resources will be needed.

Update 18th Oct: A count of 50 small mammals (bank vole, field vole, wood mouse, common shrew and water shrew) were seen at four locations. Adults and children all enjoyed close up views before they were released again.

Stoat dances in Froyle September 2015

6 September 2015 froyle_wildlife Sightings

Lower Froyle resident Anne W. emailed us about a wonderful wildlife experience on 3rd September 2015.

“Looking out of my window at the back of the garden I saw a stoat performing the most amazing “dance”. It cavorted all over the grass, twisting and turning, leaping high in the air, somersaulting, tearing up and down the garden. A few months ago on a nature programme I saw a film of a stoat doing exactly what I was privileged to be watching. I did not know that we had one in the garden. Because I was so fascinated by it, I am not sure how long it lasted – perhaps 1/2 hour.”

For a BBC video clip of this dancing behaviour of stoats see http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0074tkf

Dragonfly sightings 2015

19 August 2015 froyle_wildlife Recording, Sightings

A significant increase in the number of dragonfly and damselfly species recorded in Lower Froyle demonstrates the benefit of new wildlife ponds that were dug locally since 2012. On sunny days in August, the vivid blue coloured Emperor Dragonfly could be seen performing aerial acrobatics over the old pond on the corner of Husseys Lane. A mating pair of Common Darters were noted and will lay their eggs in aquatic vegetation. Although this pond is unsuitable for breeding because the ducks and fish will eat the developing nymphs other nearby garden ponds are suitable. From a small garden pond, it was amazing to witness an Azure Damselfly nymph climb out of the water and emerge as a flying adult once it’s wings had expanded and dried.

Other species recorded include Broad-bodied Chaser, Black-tailed Skimmer, Four-spotted Chaser, Southern Hawker, Brown Hawker, Common Blue Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Large Red Damselfly and Banded Demoiselle.

See British Dragonfly Society for more information.

Wildflower area July-Sept 2015

19 July 2015 froyle_wildlife_B Projects

Work has started with the help of volunteers to create a wildflower area on Froyle recreation ground. A turf cutter was hired as part of removing the top layer to leave bare soil. Thanks to the 10 helpers who rolled and lifted the 3 tons of turves then stacked them into two habitat piles layered with wooden pallets. These potential ‘homes for wildlife’ can benefit lacewings, solitary bees, beetles, toads and other species –so lets us know what you see there.

Next we will hoe weeds every 3 weeks on Sundays 9th and 30th August and 20th September at 9am and again assistance would be appreciated. The Wildflower seed should be sown in late September depending on weather.

Updates- On 9th August we removed deep rooted weeds such as dandelions and started to hoe. The ground was too dry and hard to easily break up the soil. By 30th August, rain had softened the ground and 5 volunteers lightly forked over part of the area and weeded. The loan of a vintage ‘Merry Tiller’ the following week proved invaluable to cultivate the whole area. On 20th September we raked and levelled the soil to produce a good tilth, then broadcast sowed the seed before it rained the next day.

Prepare ground wildflower area July 2015

19 June 2015 froyle_wildlife Projects

An area 5x20m on the northern edge of Froyle recreation ground is going to be sown with native wildflower seed this autumn. A meadow mixture of Spring/summer flowering perennials is planned with cornfield annuals included to provide a display in 2016 and act as a nurse crop for the perennials that take longer to establish. Thanks to Froyle Parish Council for purchasing the seed from Emorsgate Seeds, EM5 Meadow mixture and EC1 Cornfield annuals (link to a list of the 27 species Wildflower seed list).

Now all we need are volunteers to make it happen! Can you help on Sunday 19th July 9-12am to remove and stack turves into habitat piles? (The turf will have already have been cut by machine). If so please bring a garden spade and gloves, refreshments will be available. We will then hoe weeds every 3 weeks on Sundays 9th and 30th August and 20th September at 9am and again assistance would be appreciated. The wildflower seed should be sown in late September depending on weather. An idea of numbers would be appreciated so please contact us if you can help.