Butterflies in Churchyards ................................................. 2 Newsletter Details & General Information ....................... 23

Contents

Editorial ........................................................................... 3-4 Early & Late Dates ............................................................... 4 Field Trips 2000 .............................................................. 5-6 Why the T in Buddleja ....................................................... 6 One of my favourite places in France .............................. 7-8 A rarely seen event - observations of the White-Letter Hai rstreak ................................................. 9 Some insect associations ............................................... 1 0-11 Clouded Yellow 2000 T etrad Map ............................. 12-13 Small Skipper or Essex Skipper .................................... 14-18 The Clouded Yellow in Suff~lk: 2000 ......................... 19-21 Butterflies in Churchyards ................................................. 2 2 Newsletter Details & General Information ....................... 23 Suffolk Branch Contacts ........................................ Back Cover

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Editorial

by Richard Stewart

Although foot and mouth restrictions have severely limited our Branch activities, we have been active in other ways. On Saturday 31 ". March rwenty members of BC and the Ipswich Organic Gardeners' Group planted buddleias, other nectar sources and native planes in two long strips behind the water cower at Bixley, courresy of Anglia Water who own the site. This will hopefully balance the destruction of nearby nectar sources in the old 'secret garden' which has now been cleared for building development. The hedge supporting the White-letter Hairstreak colony is nearby. This was a joint venture with James Baker and che Greenways project and a sign acknowledging che venture between che three organisations and Suffolk Coastal DC will hopefully be erected soon. The sum of £50 came from BC to assist the first batch of planting, which we hope you will agree is good use of our money. We have also been active in writing to oppose potentially damaging developments in Suffolk. The alignment of the next batch of homes which will meet the White-letter Hairscreak hedges at Bixley has been challenged by me on behalf of the Branch, with a request for a greater depth of protection to the hedges and to allow necessary maintenance. Others in the Branch wrote individual letters and thanks to prompt action the builder's decision to proceed without the matter having been resolved was challenged by BC and work haired, pending a site meeting. Steve Goddard has written in response co proposed development of che Suffolk Water Park, which will have limited access in future. You may recollect ir has previously been the venue for BC field meetings. Steve's seven page submission included lists of butterflies (one practical use of the Millennium Survey), moths, dragonflies and birds, with the comment chat 'The lake and its margins are a wonderful haven for birds and the banks of bramble swarm with burcerflies, dragonflies, bees, hoverflies and myriads of other insects'. He has particularly requested access, hopefully via a yearly permit, co accredited recorders. Rob Parker and Stella Wolfe also sent letters. The proposed scheme in the Piper's Vale area has already attracted much adverse publicity, particularly from the SWf. Our Branch has already sent in an official objection, referring to the damage it will cause to existing designated Local Nature Reserves and che ensuing fragmentation of remaining habitats. The plan, if approved, would mean declassification of designated LNR's and undermine che Council's future credibility in rhe eyes of conservationists. Our Chairman Rob Parker has submitted a very detailed objection to rhe possible route of che Thetford Southern Link road, which would have a devastating impact on rare moth and butterfly colonies. Again derailed lists were produced for butterflies and moths. The rime involved is perhaps best calculated by Rob's pencilled comment on my copy: This kept me busy for two days'. It is always difficult to muster our limited resources and make a convincing, well-presented case against the arsenals of those with vested interests that give little regard to the environment, bur we do have our successes. Wilfrid George and I visited a site on the edge of Aldeburgh, which had an extensive series of habitats