266 THE WILTSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND NATURAL HISTORY MAGAZINE 
such places including three that have been recorded 
on the reserve: Oplodontha viridula, Oxycera 
nigricornis and O. trilineata. 
The large logs produced by pollarding have 
been piled at the edges of these fields near the 
willows from which they came. Being out in the 
open in sunny places, they are warm and relatively 
dry — it is unusual for logs in such a situation to be 
left in place, so they form a comparatively rare 
habitat. The nationally notable longhorn beetle 
Leptura quadrifasciata was recorded on them in 1997 
and again last year, when four were seen, two of 
them mating. Leaf-cutter bees and solitary wasps 
have been seen using the beetle exit holes, but they 
have not been identified to species level. 
The Southern Fields: Big Forty 
The single large arable field to the south of the then 
reserve was bought by the Trust in October 1997 to 
protect the main part of the reserve. During the first 
year a maize crop was planted (without fertilizer or 
other dressing) and cut to reduce the fertility of the 
land. The field was then put down to grass. This is 
cut twice a year for silage, again in order to reduce 
fertility. Eighty-six species of native flowering 
plants and several mosses have been found here ina 
recent survey. Unfortunately, an agricultural strain 
of White Clover Titfolium repens has established 
itself, which is busily putting the nitrogen back. 
The one large field has been divided into three by a 
broad belt and triangle containing 3820 hedging 
plants, including 860 hazel, 1120 hawthorn, several 
blocks of gorse (which used to grow on this slope 
before it was converted to arable) and a few other 
species. This planting will, in due course, provide a 
valuable habitat for a wide range of wildlife 
including, it is hoped, dormice Muscardinus 
avellanarius which have been found in the 
woodland at the far end of the field. 
The main long-term aim for the fields is to 
create species-rich grass-heath. An additional 
proposal is to designate half a hectare or so for 
ploughing each year, to allow a weed crop to 
develop (Mobsby, 2001). This would be excellent 
for birds and would follow the recommendations of 
the Wiltshire Biodiversity Action Plan (2002, 7: 12 
action 41). 
FAUNA 
The groups considered below are some of those for 
which there are reasonably extensive records. 
Spiders 
by Martin Askins 
Fifty or so spiders have been recorded from the 
Reserve, none of which is particularly rare, 
although two are uncommon. These are Araneus 
marmoreus, a member of the orb-weaving family (in 
the same genus as the common, garden cross spider, 
A. diadematus), and Xysticus ulmi, a crab spider. 
Nationally A. marmoreus has a _ widespread 
distribution but is local, its habitats including 
damp woodland where it makes its web in trees, 
shrubs or even tall, rank vegetation. It has been 
recorded from only eight other sites in Wiltshire. X. 
ulmi is found in the field layer of damp habitats 
such as fens or marshes, and has been recorded 
from seven other sites in the county. 
Demoiselles, Damselflies and 
Dragonflies 
Eleven species have been recorded. The Banded 
Demoiselle Calopteryx splendens is not uncommon 
on the canal and has been recorded flying over the 
northern fields. One damselfly, the Emerald 
Damselfly Lestes sponsa, has been recorded only 
once, in 2001, but four others are common, usually 
seen around the Ida Gandy Pond or over the eastern 
fen: White-legged Damselfly Platycnemis pennipes, 
the Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella, the 
Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum, 
and the Blue-tailed Damselfly Jschnura elegans. 
Three Hawkers can be seen in most parts of the 
reserve: the Migrant Aeshna mixta, the Southern A. 
cyanea and the Brown A. grandis. The Four-spotted 
Chaser Libellula quadrimaculata is not usually found 
at base-rich sites, but has been recorded twice, once 
in 1987 and again in 2001. Finally, the Common 
Darter Sympetrum striolatum should be at home in 
many parts of the reserve, but has been recorded 
only by the pond. 
Butterflies 
The butterflies have not been monitored 
systematically, but nevertheless 24 species have 
been recorded in more than one year, most of them 
regularly. 
The first to be seen in large numbers almost 
every year are Orange-tip Anthocharis cardamines and 
Green-veined White Pieris napi: in good years, 
