News from Collard Hill

[Pete Eeles]

I've been corresponding with Rob Holden, warden of Collard Hill (the open access Large Blue site), who thought UKB members would like to know that 2009 has been another good year for the Large Blue. Adults were up over 20% in numbers, the 4th successive year of increases, the site now supporting one of the largest populations in the country.

Cheers,

- Pete

[KeynvorLogosenn]

Excellent,
Where is Collard Hill near too? Google isn't being very helpful
Thanks
Em

[Pete Eeles]

Street, in Somerset. See:

http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/distribu ... rge%20Blue

Cheers,

- Pete

[Zonda]

Interesting,,, well within my reach. Does one need special permission to visit? Oh sorry,,,open access to all eh?

[Lee Hurrell]

You can just walk on to the hill Zonda. Park opposite the Youth Centre, walk across the road and up the hill.

The national trust website has very good visitor instructions:

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w- ... d_hill.htm

and when I went there was a warden site helping and directing!

Overall, a really well managed site.

Cheers

Lee

[Rogerdodge]

Overall, a really well managed site.

I quite agree Lee.
It is a day out I really look forward to each year.
Lovely views from the hill.
I nearly always get my first Marbled White of the year on that day too.
The walk from the Youth Hostel car park to the crossroads is pretty good too with lots of Orchids.

[Zonda]

Thanks a lot you two. Strange, i used to drive by it twice a week, and never sussed it. I suppose June/July best time then.

[Rogerdodge]

Zonda
Weeks 2, 3 & 4 of June seem best.
I recall reading somewhere that the emergence seems to be getting earlier each year, possibly as a result of the warm dry early springs we are having at the moment.

[Vince Massimo]

Hi all,

Another point to bear in mind when visiting Collard Hill is to avoid the Glastonbury Fesival traffic. The dates for 2010 are Wednesday 23rd to Sunday 27th June. It is generally better to visit a bit earlier in June anyway because the butterflies will be in better condition. Try to avoid weekends and, as Pete has pointed out on earlier occasions, choose a cloudier day when the butterflies will be less flighty and can be better seen basking with wings open.

The National Trust website to which Lee refers has is a very good table showing dates of relevant stages in the flight period. It covers 2002-2008 and I think this is what Roger is referring to.

Cheers,

Vince

[Lee Hurrell]

I visited on 17th June 2008 and saw a quite a few Large Blues. It was a overcast day with patches of sun and saw the following

Large Blue
Common Blue
Meadow Brown
Marbled White
Small Heath
Small Tortoiseshell
Red Admiral

Sparrowhawk
Kestrel
Buzzard
Swift
Swallow

And I forgot about the orchids!

Bee Orchid
Pyramid Orchid
Common Spotted Orchid

Cheers

Lee

[Rogerdodge]

And I forgot about the orchids!

Bee Orchid
Pyramid Orchid
Common Spotted Orchid

Also (IIRC)
Greater Butterfly Orchid

[Piers]

That reminds me Pete,

on this page:

http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/reports_law.php

The status for the Large Blue needs to be adjusted to reflect the 2007 revision of the W&C Act where full protection for this species was amended to 9.4 (b,c) and 9.5 only.

Felix.

[Pete Eeles]

That sounds worrying. Do you have a web reference for this Piers? Can't seem to find a concise summary anywhere!

Cheers,

- Pete

[Piers]

There's this from NE published 09.12.09.

http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/Images ... -11356.pdf

It's difficult (nee impossible) to find an adequate code of guidence for the W&C Act on line, especially an up to date one. Goodness knows how planners, developers etc. manage.

Felix.

[Pete Eeles]

Thanks Piers.

For the life of me, I can't find a description of what section 9.4(c) is.

Only parts 4(a) and 4(b) of section 9 of schedule 5 seem to be defined in the 1981 act. Any thoughts?

Cheers,

- Pete

[Zonda]

So,,,,is Collards Hill open to the public or not? Tis a simple question.

[Piers]

Nor I...

I was prompted to look at the changes after receiving a some blurb from the Herpetological Conservation Trust on changes to legislative protection. This document also mentions 4(c)...

"European Protected Species (i.e. smooth snake, sand lizard, natterjack toad and great crested newt and marine turtles) are protected via a combination of Regulation 39 of the Habitats Regulations 1994 (as amended 2007), and via s. 9(4) b & c and s. 9(5) of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 (as amended)"

...but I can't find any reference anywhere to what 'c' actually is..!

Most annoying.

[Piers]

So,,,,is Collards Hill open to the public or not? Tis a simple question.

Yes. A simple answer.

Felix.

[Zonda]

A big 'thanks' to Felix.

[Padfield]

Thanks Piers.

For the life of me, I can't find a description of what section 9.4(c) is.

Only parts 4(a) and 4(b) of section 9 of schedule 5 seem to be defined in the 1981 act. Any thoughts?

Cheers,

- Pete

Is this what you want?

(4) Subject to the provisions of this Part, a person is guilty of an offence if intentionally or recklessly—
(a)he damages or destroys any structure or place which any wild animal specified in Schedule 5 uses for shelter or protection;
(b)he disturbs any such animal while it is occupying a structure or place which it uses for shelter or protection; or
(c)he obstructs access to any structure or place which any such animal uses for shelter or protection.]

Guy