RXwildlife Projects

Recent reports indicate the following distribution in the RX area: covey of 9 on Rye Golf course at Camber, covey of 14 in Brede Valley near Udimore and 5 pairs breeding at Rye Harbour Farm.

Please let us know of more…

Ecclesbourne Meadow, part of the Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve, is under threat from a bramble and scrub invasion, which is set to strangle the wildflower-rich grassland.

To save the meadow Hastings Borough Council has joined forces with the Friends of Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve, Natural England and the High Weald Meadows Initiative.

Fund-raising by the Friends group and part funding by Natural England will help provide fencing around the meadow so animals can be brought in to graze the land and rid it naturally of brambles and scrub.
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An account of recent conservation effort has been published:

Parsons, M.S. & Clancy, S.P. 2008. Conservation of the Marsh Mallow Moth Hydraecia osseola hucherardi Mabille (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on Romney Marsh. British Journal of Entomology and Natural History, 21: 61-74.

Summary

A brief history of the Marsh Mallow Moth Hydraecia osseola hucherardi Mabille in Britain is presented, along with notes on its distribution in Europe. Recent survey and monitoring effort of the populations on Romney Marsh, Kent/East Sussex, are detailed with the historic and recent threats discussed. Conservation efforts, with examples of management issues, are given and the suggested minimum ecological requirements for the moth are identified. Suggested criteria for confirming the presence of a resident population at individual sites are also given.

On 19th August, 120 Marsh Mallow pot grown plants were planted out at Castle Water to bulk up the previous plantings there. This was done on a regular Rye Harbour Nature Reserve volunteer workparty (click here for more info). The weather has since been wet, so we are expecting good survival and hope that this colony will be large enough to support a population of the Marsh Mallow Moth.

Thanks to Ron Nash and  Dorothy Norman for providing these and previous plants.