Notes from the Editor

Editorial

by Richard Stewart

The season certainly started with a bang! read the article by our Chairman, James Mann to find out what five of us were fortunate to see back in March.

On the subject of early butterflies, this short poem:

'On the aubretia Again, two tortoiseshells And all Summer to come'.

is hopefully a taste of things to come and also introduces Suffolk BC member Jill Bence-Jones' latest poetry volume, 'Ostrich Creek'. This also features on the front cover a photo of the late Tom Baker, decoy Keeper at Nacton, where the areas surrounding the Decoy were kept as natural as possible and attracted many butterflies. Jill's book is available from local shops, including Waterstone's of Ipswich. Jill also featured in the rescue of a butterfly off the coast of Kenya, after it had landed on the water. It was released safely back on shore, being described as white with an iridescent sheen of purple on the wing tips. In the tradition of all dedicated lepidopterists Jill cau·ght her leg on something near the pier and ended up with four stitches. What we do for butterflies! In this edition there is also a comprehensive early/late list of species, not just during the Millennium Survey but from all records at any time in Suffolk. This has already been published in the SNS 'White Admiral' and amended so this will be the last opportunity to alter it. After chat it will stand as the official list and hopefully appear in the 'New Butterflies of Suffolk' book. On a more pessimistic note, the area many have come to know affectionately as 'The Secret Garden' at Bixley Open Space is no more-literally flattened and cleared for a new development of houses. Luckily a BC member living nearby contacted me and I ended up having to stand in front of a large excavator which was in the process of damaging the roots of a length of elm hedge known to have a colony of White-letter Hairstreak. The ensuing conversation between his boss and myself is best left as 'direct and animated'but there has subsequently been a site meeting of all parties involved and there will be a survey of the butterfly in this area during this year's flight period, to assess the situation. Before you read this there will also have been a site inspection of the hedge to determine which trees are healthy and to be protected, hopefully.

To end on a brighter note-read the Wall Brown appeal and help if you can.

Articles for the Suffolk Argus

If any members have articles for future editions of the Suffolk Argus could they please send them to Paul Gilson at 18, Cheltenham Avenue, Ipswich IP1 4LN. Myself and Richard Stewart will be overseeing the production of the newsletter until a new Editor is found.