Category: Malpass

The following report has been produced after a recent visit: Malpass report

Pictures by Phil, Steve & Ken as indicated

Malpass

Green Lacewing (Chrysopa perla), 7-5-15, K. Monk

Malpass

Main Spoilbank Plateau from Section 'c' N showing opened corridor, P.Parr,

Malpass

Section 'e' Green Hairstreak, P.Parr

Malpass

Section 'e' Grizzled Skipper on Strawberry area, 7-6-15, P Parr

Malpass

Survey Walk, Section 'e', Brimstone eggs on Buckthorn, 17-5-15, P. Parr

Malpass

Survey Walk, Main Spoilbank Plateau, Small Heath found, 17-5-15, P. Parr

Malpass

Survey Walk, Main Spoilbank Plateau, Small Heath found, 17-5-15, S. Batt

Malpass

Survey Walk, Main Spoilbank Section d, splendid Bugle, 17-5-15, P. Parr

Malpass

Twayblade, 17-5-15, K. Monk

On the planned visit (17th) we will find a lot of changes on this site.

You can see by the photo’s the river meadows have been sprayed it to kill off everything and now ploughed. I believe it has now been seeded to be a wild flower meadow as is the one adjacent the Cement works (which it was for years until they leased it for crops) This will be great although I guess it will take a few years to be at its best.

As you can see from the pictures a lot of grassland habitats have been disturbed, some of the existing corridors have been widened which is brilliant but could do with more tidying up, but eventually if properly managed should be very good.

I have concerns whether we will be able to keep Marbled White and Small Heath on site with all this disturbance. At least the area of the chalk banks section ‘e ‘ has not changed, though the number of orchids have dropped a great deal.

Comments & Photos by Phil Parr.

Cemex kindly gave us permission to continue our work maintaining wildlife habitats on this old quarry site which is noted for its uncommon insects and plants.

As on Ashlawn the priority is to maintain grasslands, preventing them from reverting to scrub.

Seven of us spent a beautiful sunny morning hard at work, but enjoying it as Comma, Brimstone, Peacock, & Small Tortoiseshell butterflies flew around.

We hope to visit again for a survey walk in a few weeks time.

Malpass

David & Steve H clearing chalk bank.

Malpass

Margaret rakes, Steve cuts.

Malpass

David raking

Malpass

Cleared bank & below.

Malpass

Malcolm & Tony clearing orchid glade

Malpass

Below 'e' looking west, cleared

Malpass

Cyril clearing brash

Despite the snow,  six hardy volunteers (Cyril, Phil, Tony, Malcolm, Margaret and Steve) ventured out for a few hours to look after the habitats on Malpass.

This was a work party run by Butterfly Conservation to maintain these important grasslands and a rare habitat for Warwickshire of a chalk bank. Loads achieved and the orchids and twayblades should benefit as well as a host of wildlife species.