FCG Members and Beavers Group – Beach Walk June 2017

In June, 3 members of the Ferring Conservation Group met up with the Beavers associated with the 2nd Worthing Scouts on the beach at Sea Lane.

Beavers are the youngest members of the Scout movement, and are aged between 6 and 8 years.  They are given the chance to take part in a wide range of activities, including working on Badge and Challenge awards, to gain recognition of their achievements. Our meetings were intended to support them in this goal.

At our first meeting, on a very windy day, there were 14 Beavers. Working in pairs, they were set on a Treasure Hunt to find a variety of natural objects on the beach. This was taken on with great enthusiasm, and led to demonstrations of their knowledge of a shoreline environment. Each pair then turned their shells, seaweed, cuttlefish bones and egg cases into ‘portraits’ with some amusing results.

Our second meeting, with much better weather, saw the Beavers kitted out with hi-viz jackets, rubber gloves, litter pickers and sacks. They worked in teams of 2 and made their way along the beach picking up litter. They then sorted the litter into different materials. They talked about what they had found, the materials the litter was made up of, and the danger that this presented for our environment.

These events were good fun, enhanced by the keen interest shown by the Beavers, and the reassurance that young people know and care about their environment. Ferring Conservation Group were pleased to help out and enjoyed themselves as much as the Beavers!.

Visit to Warnham Nature Reserve July 2017

On 11th July, 10 members of Ferring Conservation Group met at Warnham Nature Reserve near Horsham. It was pouring with rain, but, undeterred, our guide Jacob Everitt, ecologist and reserve warden for Horsham D.C., netted a Common Blue Damselfly roosting by a pond and gave us a lively demonstration of its anatomy. He showed us how to handle damselflies and dragonflies, their differences and life cycles. We now know the difference between pterostigma and antehumeral stripes!

Fortunately the weather improved and we set out across the meadow to identify the many wild flowers and Jacob netted a Black-tailed Skimmer so we all had an in-hand view of a dragonfly. Few butterflies were about, but a perfect Small Copper was found. The star plant was a Broad-leaved Helleborine, a large member of the orchid family. Little was seen in and around the dipping ponds apart from an accommodating pike. We completed our visit with snacks in the cafe and a brief look for birds from the hides. A brand new hide is closed because a pair of Reed Warblers  built a nest right in front of the viewing area. When the babies have fledged the hide will be opened to the public.

Patricia Hall

Highdown Nature Walk July 2017

Around 15 members turned up on a rather hot day to look at birds, flowers and butterflies.We met at the Highdown car park and set off round the top of the gardens, with Tricia Hall in charge of identifying wildlife. 

The grass meadow was alive with grasshoppers and many meadow brown butterflies, plus a few burnet moths. Assorted wildflowers were present, and as we reached the western edge, the number of pyramidal orchids semi-hidden in the grass rose, with a good patch behind the commemorative bench at the western edge. We proceeded through a gap to the hill above the covered reservoir, which last year had been a magnificent sight due to thousands of pyramidal orchids, but this year, unfortunately, Southern Waters’ contractors have regularly mown it, and all have been cut. (Next year Graham plans to contact them in advance to remind them of their undertaking to leave the majority of it uncut between May and September).

There were still a number of the orchids around the outer edge of the reservoir, and also clovers, birds’ foot trefoil, eyebright and meadow vetchling within the grasses.

Around the lower edge of the reservoir the plants included agrimony, hemp agrimony, St John’s wort, selfheal, red campion and vervain. Some gatekeeper butterflies were seen as well as meadow browns, common blues and also more 6 spot burnet moths. Chiff chaffs and whitethroats could be heard.

The party split into 2 groups, one going down the track, the other through the rough meadow (the one which has been threatened with eco-yurts) in the hope of seeing some late bee orchids still in flower, but only seed heads could be found. Some pyramidal orchids were visible, and a few seed heads of marsh orchids. Several marbled white butterflies were seen, and some cinnabar moth caterpillars.

The party reunited to go through onto the public meadow above the sports field, and common mallow, meadow cranesbill and scabious were noted. A kestrel, sparrow hawk and red kite were spotted.

The trip was rounded off with a visit to Highdown cafe for refreshments.