4 December - Thames Basin Heaths, Special Protection Area 



Des Sussex 



The Thames Basin Heaths SPA, designated on 9 March 2005 is composed of heathland and forested 

 land covered by a number of local authority areas across Hampshire, Berkshire and Surrey. The 

 heathland is part of Natura 2000, a European-wide network of sites of international importance for 

 nature conservation established under the European Community Directives. The lowland heath 

 supports distinctive flora and fauna, some of which are under threat and in decline. The Ministry of 

 Defence (MOD) owns much of the land although the Forestry Commission, Crown Estates, local 

 authorities and private ownership also own parts. Much of the area is under Open Access. 



Des's talk covered the importance of these special areas, and information about species, and habitat 

 management. This area was formerly very vulnerable to development; the creation of SSSI's and SPA's 

 has helped to slow this. Natural England has been proactive in getting protection of and around sites 

 through planning and a three-pronged solution: habitat management, visitor management on the SPA's, 

 and providing alternative recreational access land (known as SANG's - suitable alternative 

 greenspaces). An agreement has been made that there will be no houses built within 400m of the SPA, 

 however this does not take into account community facilities such as schools, libraries and doctors' 

 surgeries. It does mean, however, that any plans for housing development must take account of the 

 SPA. 



Des gave information on the conservation of vulnerable bird populations, an important part of the 

 management of the heaths. Numbers of woodlark, a rare bird nationally and in Europe, are now 

 essentially stable within the Thames Basin Heath (TBH) area. Nightjars (nationally stable numbers but 

 with its range declining by 50% in the UK) and Dartford Warblers (whose numbers decrease 

 dramatically in cold winters) are also protected under this designation. Ground-nesting birds are 

 particularly vulnerable during the breeding season in Open Access areas from walkers and dogs as well 

 as in all areas from more usual predators. 



Other important fauna species that benefit from conservation practices are adders, emperor moths, 

 silver-studded blue and grayling butterflies, mottled grasshoppers, green tiger and heath tiger beetles 

 and sand digger wasps. Flora of import include lousewort, marsh orchids, cross-leaved heath and 

 cotton grass. Areas of bog within the heathland are not only important for mopping up carbon but also 

 for the conservation of the bog asphodel, sundews, sphagnum mosses and the bog bush cricket. 



The need for new ways of managing the heaths has become apparent: cattle grazing schemes, red deer 

 on 'no access' sites, as well as more familiar scrub management. Fires are an issue in some years, and 

 can have devastating effects in the spring and summer. The great damage caused by the Swinley 

 Forest fires had an unforeseen benefit in that it helped the Forestry Commission to realise that ponds 

 are a natural brake for fires while they also enable species of insects such as the small red keeled 

 skimmer dragonflies, raft spiders and newts, to breed. 



The members were left with an insight into the wildlife of the TBH area as well as having learned about 

 the realities of balancing this with conflicting human needs. 



18 December 2012 - Christmas Party 



The Christmas Party, held on the 18*'^ December, was thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended. 

 Mulled wine provided by Michael and Jose Keith-Lucas warmed us in body and mind for the usual 

 quizzes, talks and photographic competition while the tables were full of tasty treats brought by 

 members. 



David Cliffe read a poem that he had composed, "The Amateur Botanist" (see below) and Ian 

 Duddle gave a talk about honeybees and the plants that they use throughout the year. 



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