[Adastra] Park Wood, Batts Wood, Poynings Estate

2017-07-03 Thread D BANGS
 relevant. I 
heard a rumour that we were selling our site at Park Wood and wanted you to 
know that it has generated some interest in the Ecological fraternity (see 
below, message 2)

Just wanted you to be aware.

Regards

Damon


Damon Block
Fisheries and Biodiversity, South Downs
Solent And South Downs, Environment Agency South East Guildbourne House, 
Worthing
02030257057 (57057)

Help stop the spread of invasive non-native species: Check-Clean-Dry and Be 
Plant Wise


 

-Original Message-
From: Adastra [mailto:adastra-boun...@lists.sxbrc.org.uk] On Behalf Of 
adastra-requ...@lists.sxbrc.org.uk
Sent: 27 June 2017 15:39
To: adastra@lists.sxbrc.org.uk
Subject: Adastra Digest, Vol 130, Issue 7

Send Adastra mailing list submissions to
adastra@lists.sxbrc.org.uk

To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
http://lists.sxbrc.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/adastra_lists.sxbrc.org.uk
or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
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When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: 
Contents of Adastra digest..."


Today's Topics:

   1. Save the date | Sussex Biological Recorders' Seminar,
  Saturday 17 February 2018 (Blencowe, Clare)
   2. Re: Park Wood Hellingly for sale! (Daniel)


--

Message: 1
Date: Tue, 27 Jun 2017 11:15:38 +
From: "Blencowe, Clare" 
To: "adastra@lists.sxbrc.org.uk" 
Subject: [Adastra] Save the date | Sussex Biological Recorders'
Seminar, Saturday 17 February 2018
Message-ID:



Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Dear Adastrans,

The 29th Sussex Biological Recorders' Seminar will be held on Saturday 17 
February 2018.

We have booked Oathall Community College again, just outside Haywards Heath. I 
promise we'll get a quicker system for the teas & coffees this time.

We'll let you know when booking opens, in the Autumn.

Best wishes,

Clare


Clare Blencowe
BRC Manager
Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre
http://sxbrc.org.uk<http://sxbrc.org.uk/> | 01273 497521



Sussex Wildlife Trust is a company limited by guarantee under the Companies 
Act. Registered in England, Company No. 698851. Registered Charity No. 207005. 
VAT Registration No. 191 305969. Registered Office: Woods Mill, Henfield, West 
Sussex BN5 9SD. Telephone 01273 492630
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Message: 2
Date: Tue, 27 Jun 2017 14:37:33 +
From: Daniel 
To: Adastra discussion group 
Subject: Re: [Adastra] Park Wood Hellingly for sale!
Message-ID:
<16D65044C7559E42AF42E42B9B0614EA9DE95A@CTC-SBS.Crowtc.local>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1255"

Hi

Do we know if SWT and or the Woodland Trust have been notified? It would be 
terrible to lose more woodland into unknown private ownership!

Dan
Ranger
Crowborough Town Council

From: Adastra [mailto:adastra-boun...@lists.sxbrc.org.uk] On Behalf Of Jo 
Heading
Sent: 25 June 2017 13:44
To: Adastra discussion group
Subject: Re: [Adastra] Park Wood Hellingly for sale!

Hi Dave et al,

Just to let you know that ESCC had management responsibility for Park Wood 
until 2011.   In April 2011, the management was then handed back to its 
owners-the Environment Agency.

Regards,

Jo Heading

Senior Ranger, ESCC

From: D BANGS<mailto:bangs...@btinternet.com>
Sent: ?23/?06/?2017 22:33
To: Adastra discussion group<mailto:adastra@lists.sxbrc.org.uk>
Cc: conservation.n...@gmail.com<mailto:conservation.n...@gmail.com>
Subject: [Adastra] Park Wood Hellingly for sale!


I've just been alerted to this proposed sale of Park Wood, Hellingly:

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/commercial-property-for-sale/property-48900174.html
It is managed by East Sussex County Council, which will also be trying to shed 
its load of public high nature value land shortly too (see Cabinet agenda for 
27th June),

Dave Bangs





This message is intended for the use of the addressee only and may contain 
confidential or privileged information. If you have received it in error please 
notify the sender and destroy it. You may not use it or copy it to anyone else.

E-mail is not a secure communications medium. Please be aware of this when 
replying. All communications sent to or from the County Council may be subject 
to recording and/or monitoring in accordance with relevant legislation.

Although East Sussex County Council has taken steps to ensure that this e-mail 
and any attachments are virus

[Adastra] Fwd: Park Wood, Batts Wood, Poynings Estate

2017-06-28 Thread D BANGS
ot relevant. I 
heard a rumour that we were selling our site at Park Wood and wanted you to 
know that it has generated some interest in the Ecological fraternity (see 
below, message 2)

Just wanted you to be aware.

Regards

Damon


Damon Block
Fisheries and Biodiversity, South Downs
Solent And South Downs, Environment Agency South East Guildbourne House, 
Worthing
02030257057 (57057)

Help stop the spread of invasive non-native species: Check-Clean-Dry and Be 
Plant Wise


 

-Original Message-
From: Adastra [mailto:adastra-boun...@lists.sxbrc.org.uk] On Behalf Of 
adastra-requ...@lists.sxbrc.org.uk
Sent: 27 June 2017 15:39
To: adastra@lists.sxbrc.org.uk
Subject: Adastra Digest, Vol 130, Issue 7

Send Adastra mailing list submissions to
adastra@lists.sxbrc.org.uk

To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
http://lists.sxbrc.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/adastra_lists.sxbrc.org.uk
or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
adastra-requ...@lists.sxbrc.org.uk

You can reach the person managing the list at
adastra-ow...@lists.sxbrc.org.uk

When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: 
Contents of Adastra digest..."


Today's Topics:

   1. Save the date | Sussex Biological Recorders' Seminar,
  Saturday 17 February 2018 (Blencowe, Clare)
   2. Re: Park Wood Hellingly for sale! (Daniel)


--

Message: 1
Date: Tue, 27 Jun 2017 11:15:38 +
From: "Blencowe, Clare" 
To: "adastra@lists.sxbrc.org.uk" 
Subject: [Adastra] Save the date | Sussex Biological Recorders'
Seminar, Saturday 17 February 2018
Message-ID:



Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Dear Adastrans,

The 29th Sussex Biological Recorders' Seminar will be held on Saturday 17 
February 2018.

We have booked Oathall Community College again, just outside Haywards Heath. I 
promise we'll get a quicker system for the teas & coffees this time.

We'll let you know when booking opens, in the Autumn.

Best wishes,

Clare


Clare Blencowe
BRC Manager
Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre
http://sxbrc.org.uk<http://sxbrc.org.uk/> | 01273 497521



Sussex Wildlife Trust is a company limited by guarantee under the Companies 
Act. Registered in England, Company No. 698851. Registered Charity No. 207005. 
VAT Registration No. 191 305969. Registered Office: Woods Mill, Henfield, West 
Sussex BN5 9SD. Telephone 01273 492630
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Message: 2
Date: Tue, 27 Jun 2017 14:37:33 +
From: Daniel 
To: Adastra discussion group 
Subject: Re: [Adastra] Park Wood Hellingly for sale!
Message-ID:
<16D65044C7559E42AF42E42B9B0614EA9DE95A@CTC-SBS.Crowtc.local>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1255"

Hi

Do we know if SWT and or the Woodland Trust have been notified? It would be 
terrible to lose more woodland into unknown private ownership!

Dan
Ranger
Crowborough Town Council

From: Adastra [mailto:adastra-boun...@lists.sxbrc.org.uk] On Behalf Of Jo 
Heading
Sent: 25 June 2017 13:44
To: Adastra discussion group
Subject: Re: [Adastra] Park Wood Hellingly for sale!

Hi Dave et al,

Just to let you know that ESCC had management responsibility for Park Wood 
until 2011.   In April 2011, the management was then handed back to its 
owners-the Environment Agency.

Regards,

Jo Heading

Senior Ranger, ESCC

From: D BANGS<mailto:bangs...@btinternet.com>
Sent: ?23/?06/?2017 22:33
To: Adastra discussion group<mailto:adastra@lists.sxbrc.org.uk>
Cc: conservation.n...@gmail.com<mailto:conservation.n...@gmail.com>
Subject: [Adastra] Park Wood Hellingly for sale!


I've just been alerted to this proposed sale of Park Wood, Hellingly:

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/commercial-property-for-sale/property-48900174.html
It is managed by East Sussex County Council, which will also be trying to shed 
its load of public high nature value land shortly too (see Cabinet agenda for 
27th June),

Dave Bangs





This message is intended for the use of the addressee only and may contain 
confidential or privileged information. If you have received it in error please 
notify the sender and destroy it. You may not use it or copy it to anyone else.

E-mail is not a secure communications medium. Please be aware of this when 
replying. All communications sent to or from the County Council may be subject 
to recording and/or monitoring in accordance with relevant legislation.

Although East Sussex County Council has taken steps to ensure that this e-mail 
and any attachments are virus

[Adastra] Park Wood Hellingly for sale!

2017-06-23 Thread D BANGS
I've just been alerted to this proposed sale of Park Wood, Hellingly:
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/commercial-property-for-sale/property-48900174.html 
It is managed by East Sussex County Council, which will also be trying to shed 
its load of public high nature value land shortly too (see Cabinet agenda for 
27th June),
Dave Bangs 


Re: [Adastra] Henfield Common

2017-05-31 Thread D BANGS
Here's a footnote on Henri's 2nd piece. 
It's not worth going over in detail what happened at the meeting of the parish 
council/SWT/myself on the common. Henri was not present. 
What is worth repeating, though, is that the Wildlife Trust did not defend my 
presence at the meeting, though it was a joint initiative between us, and 
though the chair of the parish council had himself earlier invited me by email.
Everyone knows the slogan of the labour movement and the Three 
Musketeers..."All for one and one for all...united we stand divided we fall".
It wouldn't fit as a motto for the Wildlife Trust(s)...
Dave Bangs
Original message
>From : henribrockleb...@sussexwt.org.uk
Date : 31/05/2017 - 11:47 (GMTST)
To : adastra@lists.sxbrc.org.uk
Subject : [Adastra] Henfield Common
Dear Adastrans,
 
I appreciate that Adastra is a forum that focusses on biological recording chat 
and from time to time veers into other conservation related topics.
 
In light of this I will keep this brief. 
 
·   
My email to Dave
(copied into his previous post) was not an ‘SWT position’, simply an informal 
email from me to Dave, to update him on the outcome of a meeting.  An SWT 
position statement is naturally a far more formal piece of text
with more context and justifications.
 
·   
The word ‘positive’ was used in reflection of the start of the meeting, which 
involved heated discussion between Dave and the Parish Council as he described 
in a previous email.  The fact that we could have
 some constructive discussion after that, I take as positive.
 
·   
The unfortunate situation with Henfield PC needed some realism and pragmatism 
as they were legally able to get on with the work without making any changes to 
their proposed plans.  They had been aggravated by
 the previous press work and more press work (either national or local) could 
have closed the door for dialogue entirely.  It is fair to say that SWT and 
Dave have a difference in opinion on this topic.
 
·   
SWT can’t be everywhere all the time and it is fantastic when local naturalists 
and communities can inform us of issues like this and we respond when we are 
able.  We may not always agree on what the approach
 is, but as we are all essentially wanting to do what is right for the wildlife 
of Sussex it is great when we can strengthen each other and work together.
 
Cheers
Henri
 
Strategy Lead – Conservation Policy
Sussex Wildlife Trust
 
 
 
 
Sussex Wildlife Trust is a 
company limited by guarantee under the Companies Act. Registered in England, 
Company No. 698851. Registered Charity No. 207005. VAT Registration No. 191 
305969. Registered Office: Woods Mill, Henfield, West Sussex BN5 9SD. Telephone 
01273 492630


[Adastra] Henfield Common SxWT's position - and a response

2017-05-30 Thread D BANGS
 
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Henfield Common archaic grassland damage
Below is a statement
from the Sussex Wildlife Trust to me: 30/05/17.
BELOW THAT
is a short response from me.
-
Hi Dave, 
The meeting
last week with Henfield PC ended up positive. They acknowledged our concerns
and wanted to find a way forward.  Henfield PC made it clear that they
have restrictions in terms of funding and risks of breach of contract with
contractors and that the football pitches on the common are part of a chain of
activities happening through the Parish.   They were also were clear
that their priority is to restore the football pitches into a playable 
condition,
as per their lease with Horsham DC.  They also acknowledged that they
should have consulted with us earlier in the process and welcome SWT as a
consultee on any future management issues on the Common. 
In the
meeting Tony accepted that the work would happen including the draining of the
site, and options  to reduce the damage to the biodiversity interest were
investigated.  These covered 1. least disturbance, 2. a less aggressive
seed mix, 3, minimal fertilizer. 
This started
a conversations outside the meeting with contractors that has changed the shape
of the proposal (involving less application of fertilizer, different seedmix,
3m buffer).  It is still far from ideal and we acknowledge that lots of
botanical interest will be irreprably lost so SWT continue to express our
disappointment. 
At some
point in the near future there will be a joint statement from Henfield PC and
SWT that reflects the above. 
Longer term
SWT will have more input into decisions taken on Henfield Common and we still
plan to write to all the statutory agencies that we think failed to give
Henfield PC the right advice in this issue.  Additionally for me, it
shines a light on gaps in our own SWT resources for dealing with issues like
this.  We know that we are very under-resourced in the ‘Conservation
Policy’ area, but to me it is clear that being able to have a proactive
approach at a neighbourhood level could prevent situations like this happening,
if we had a relationship and dialogue with Parish groups and councils as a 
matter
of course.  
So I think
that is where we have got to for now with this. 
Best wishes 
Henri 
RESPONSE
FROM DAVE BANGS
The SWT say
their meeting with Henfield Parish Council “ended up positive”...but it is
difficult to see anything positive in it at all. The drainage and the 
destruction
of the sward all over the project site are underway with no opportunity for any
environmental impact assessment...and no last minute push that I know of to
mobilise their own recording effort before the destruction re-started.
Today the
tractors were disc harrowing the ground, which now looks like a ploughed field.
The majority of the Chamomile lawn is gone.
This is not
a surprise, because it was clear from my earlier short exchange with the Trust 
that
their goals were vanishingly modest...essentially re-establishing a relationship
with the Parish Council.
The football
pitch development is, I think, an intensification of what was there before,
with two pitches (one at each end of the Memorial Field) and a cricket club 
practice
area in the middle (which already has an astroturf wicket).
Yet an
obvious way forward would have been to place the two restored football pitches
in the centre of the field and allow the most species-rich east and west ends
of the field (the chamomile lawn and the peaty marshy ground) to continue under
their till-now management. 
The drainage
plans are very bad news with a ring drain and 3 metre spaced drains and 
additional
sub-surface drainage, yet the retention of the east and west ends for nature 
would
have enabled them to be excluded from the drainage scheme.
However, there
were no proper discussions (beyond a last-minute hurried telephone conference) 
between
myself and the SWT which could have briefed them with these and other options.
No big effort to
engage NE or Horsham District Council’s planning enforcement team with our case
was reported to me, and the SWT intend merely intend to give them a post-hoc
telling off...though the NE EIA team has not yet even given any indication of
whether they wish to call the development in. What will be the SWT's position 
if the NE EIA team do call it in ?
The SWT
entered the meeting with the parish council without having generated any
additional media publicity or developed their stance with me in any proper way.
Furthermore, they did not defend my presence in the meeting, thus cutting
themselves off from the information with which I could have resourced it.
In one
matter, the SWT’s statement is correct, and that is that their local knowledge
and engagement is frig

[Adastra] Fwd: Henfield Common LATEST NEWS

2017-05-28 Thread D BANGS
The latest news is not good. The SWT and I were to have a meeting with 
the parish council at the cricket club on Friday morning. When we 
arrived the chair of the PC, Malcolm Eastwood, histrionically banned me 
from the meeting, to which he had earlier invited me, and attempted to 
remove me from the common (not realising that as it was a registered 
common I had a statutory right of access!!). 
 
His justification 
was that he thought my BBC R Sussex radio interview (BBC Radio Sussex Neil 
Pringle 24th May 1hr 48 mins into prog) was 'unbalanced' and
 untruthful...for instance by saying there was a chamomile lawn. He said
 it did not exist!! 
 
I refused to 
leave and they were obliged to re-convene the meeting at the parish 
offices in Henfield ! 
 
We have also missed a major media 
opportunity, for BBC TV South Today wished to do a piece but would not 
proceed without the participation of the SxWT, who didn't want to engage. 
(Clearly South Today don't have much time for individual whistleblowers like 
myself). 
 
I haven't got any feedback yet from Tony/the SWT and I wasn't around to seek it 
later on Friday. 
 
I
 hope the SWT will have got something from the meeting...With the media moving 
our way and the parish council so 
defensive they refused to be interviewed by the media, we have them on 
the back foot,
Dave Bangs 


[Adastra] Henfuield Common breaches of NERC act biodiversity duty

2017-05-22 Thread D BANGS
Does anyone know who I can approach at Nat England about enforcement of the 
NERC Act 2006 in breaches of duty to consider biodiversity?
Dave Bangs


[Adastra] chamomile photos Henfield common

2017-05-19 Thread D BANGS
A journalist wants a picture of the chamomile lawn at Henfield Common in 
flower. They're considering doing a piece on the issue.
Does anyone have any pics I can use? 
I don't have any decent ones and he won't want my pics of it all withered up
Dave Bangs


[Adastra] Henfield Common planning enforcement submissions URGENT

2017-05-18 Thread D BANGS
 
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Henfield Common destruction of rich archaic grassland vegetation,
including iconic Chamomile lawn.
Can people please
submit a report to the Horsham District Council Planning Enforcement team 
through this online system: 
https://www.horsham.gov.uk/planning/planning-enforcement
Stress the urgency.
Destructive works – spraying, drainage, topsoil removal – may re-commence in
days. 
Contact your local Horsham
district councillor to ask for their support: 
http://horsham.moderngov.co.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?bcr=1
  
  
The key points here
are: 
- 
The proposed works
constitute a “material change of use” of the land and this requires planning
permission 
- 
A full ecological
surveys should be completed this year (spring/summer/autumn) as part of the
planning application process 
- Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) is
present in quantity. It is a Section 41 species, protected under Natural
Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006  
- 
The
legislation requires that the public authority (Parish Council and District
Council) must, in exercising its functions, have regard, so far as is
consistent with the proper exercise of those functions, to the purpose of
conserving biodiversity
(NERC Act 2006)
- 
There is a distinctive
diversity of other plant and fungi species, some of which may also be protected
species – yet to the untrained eye, this may just look like any grassy area. 
- 
The PC’s own proposed
NDP (not approved) identified the area as part of Henfield Common and a Local
Green Space. The NDP also had a policy on biodiversity. 
  
Other useful links: 
- 
NERC Act legislation: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/16/section/41
- 
Full list of section
41 species and other conservation designations (search on Chamomile): 
http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-3408
- 
Natural England table
of action on S41 species: 
http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/4958719460769792
Thanks,
Dave Bangs 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
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Re: [Adastra] Fwd: Henfield Common damage to archaic grassland by football pitch project

2017-05-16 Thread D BANGS
Tony - you're good !!!
big thanks
Dave Bangs
Original message
>From : tonywhitbr...@sussexwt.org.uk
Date : 16/05/2017 - 15:25 (GMTST)
To : adastra@lists.sxbrc.org.uk
Subject : Re: [Adastra] Fwd: Henfield Common damage to archaic grassland by 
football pitch project
Hi Dave
 
I picked up your emails (mostly remotely) and have passed this to Jess who is 
picking up the issue.  I’ve just got back to the office and drove past the 
common
 to see the damage for myself.  Depressing!  We’re getting on to the parish 
council.
 
Cheers
 
Tony
 
Dr A Whitbread.  Chief Executive
Direct line: 01273 497550
  

  
 

  


  

  
  

  

 

 

 www.sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk 
   

 
 
 
 
 
 
From: Adastra [mailto:adastra-boun...@lists.sxbrc.org.uk]
On Behalf Of D BANGS
Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2017 2:34 PM
To: Adastra discussion group
Subject: [Adastra] Fwd: Henfield Common damage to archaic grassland by football 
pitch project
 
Adastra folk, Can you back this up, please,
Dave Bangs
Original message
>From : bangs...@btinternet.com
Date : 16/05/2017 - 14:23 (GMTST)
To : stephen.wynn-dav...@jpress.co.uk
Subject : Henfield Common damage to archaic grassland by football pitch project
From: David Bangs
Field naturalist and author
bangs...@btinternet.com
T: 01273 620 815
15/05/17
To: Stephen Wynn-Davies
West Sussex County Times
Dear Stephen,
LETTER ref: article “Work underway to transform football pitches”
Damage to archaic species-rich grassland at Henfield Common
I re-visited Henfield Common after reading your excellent article and was 
appalled.
One of the main wildlife features of Henfield Common is the
‘Chamomile lawn’, which covers ground adjacent to the cricket pitch.
Wild Chamomile,
Chamaemelum nobile, is a rare and steeply declining species and the number of 
Sussex sites where it naturally occurs is now tiny. The presence of the old 
cricket ground has served to conserve it on this site up till now.
Now, about two thirds of its site has been sprayed with herbicide and is brown, 
withered, and dying.  The sprayed site also showed many rare, attractive and 
interesting plants,
 including Heath Spotted Orchis and Southern Marsh Orchis, Adder’s Tongue Fern, 
Marsh Pennywort, Common Yellow Sedge, Oval Sedge, Hairy Sedge, Devil’s Bit, 
Tormentil,
and Heath Speedwell. 
The ground round the cricket pitch is the richest site for old meadow fungi on 
the Common and is of regional value in nature conservation terms for this 
assemblage, with many
Fairy Clubs, Pinkgills and Waxcap fungi. 
- 
No Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was made of the football pitch project.
 
- 
The drainage works to be undertaken may harm the hydrology of the whole Common, 
given that the core nature conservation feature of the Common is its archaic 
acid marsh vegetation. 
 
- 
Furthermore, the highly acidic Folkestone Beds surface geology of the Common is 
what gives it its individual character. Semi-natural Low Wealden ‘moor’ 
vegetation is now very rare, and the loss of this surface geology to
new imported soils will damage the character and sense of place of the whole 
Common.
All further works to the football pitch project should cease until these issues 
of nature conservation have been addressed.
With best wishes
Dave Bangs
 
 
Sussex Wildlife Trust is a 
company limited by guarantee under the Companies Act. Registered in England, 
Company No. 698851. Registered Charity No. 207005. VAT Registration No. 191 
305969. Registered Office: Woods Mill, Henfield, West Sussex BN5 9SD. Telephone 
01273 492630


[Adastra] Fwd: Henfield Common damage to archaic grassland by football pitch project

2017-05-16 Thread D BANGS
Adastra folk, Can you back this up, please,
Dave Bangs
Original message
>From : bangs...@btinternet.com
Date : 16/05/2017 - 14:23 (GMTST)
To : stephen.wynn-dav...@jpress.co.uk
Subject : Henfield Common damage to archaic grassland by football pitch project
 
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From: David Bangs
Field naturalist and author
bangs...@btinternet.com
T: 01273 620 815
15/05/17
To: Stephen Wynn-Davies
West Sussex County Times
Dear Stephen,
LETTER ref: article “Work underway to transform football
pitches”
Damage to archaic species-rich
grassland at Henfield Common
I re-visited Henfield Common after reading your excellent article and was
appalled.
One of the main wildlife features of Henfield Common is the ‘Chamomile lawn’, 
which covers ground
adjacent to the cricket pitch.
Wild Chamomile, Chamaemelum nobile, is a rare and
steeply declining species and the number of Sussex sites where it naturally
occurs is now tiny. The presence of the old cricket ground has served to
conserve it on this site up till now. 
Now, about two thirds of its site has been sprayed with
herbicide and is brown, withered, and dying.  The sprayed site also showed many 
rare,
attractive and interesting plants, including Heath Spotted Orchis and Southern
Marsh Orchis, Adder’s Tongue Fern, Marsh Pennywort, Common Yellow Sedge, Oval
Sedge, Hairy Sedge, Devil’s Bit, Tormentil, and Heath Speedwell. 
The ground round the cricket pitch is the richest site for
old meadow fungi on the Common and is of regional value in nature conservation
terms for this assemblage, with many Fairy
Clubs, Pinkgills and Waxcap fungi.
- 
No Environmental
Impact Assessment (EIA) was made of the football pitch project.
- 
The drainage
works to be undertaken may harm the hydrology of the whole Common, given
that the core nature conservation feature of the Common is its archaic acid
marsh vegetation.  
 
- 
Furthermore, the highly acidic Folkestone Beds
surface geology of the Common is what gives it its individual character. 
Semi-natural
Low Wealden ‘moor’ vegetation is now very rare, and the loss of this surface
geology to new imported soils will
damage the character and sense of place of the whole Common. 
All further works to the football pitch project should cease
until these issues of nature conservation have been addressed.
With best wishes
Dave Bangs
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
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[Adastra] Henfield Common football pitch project: No Environmental Impact Assessment was done

2017-05-16 Thread D BANGS
Adastra readers see below.
Henfield Parish Council did no EIA.
They made no approach to the Sussex Wildlife Trust, despite them being just 
down the road.
Natural England were, as usual, toothless,
Dave Bangs
---
Original message
>From : henfiel...@btconnect.com
Date : 16/05/2017 - 12:55 (GMTST)
To : bangs...@btinternet.com
Cc : richardkendall...@icloud.com, garypetti...@hotmail.com, 
mikepmor...@btinternet.com, vassossianto...@gmail.com, 
malcolmeastwood...@btinternet.com, off...@henfield.gov.uk
Subject : Henfield Common football pitch project: damage to archaic grassland
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
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Dear Mr Bangs,
 
Further to your earlier email, I can confirm that there was no Environmental 
Impact Assessment carried out on the Henfield Memorial Field pitches.
 
For your information Henfield Parish Council did contact ‘Natural England,’ 
‘Historic England’ and ‘The Open Spaces Society,’ amongst others, to inform 
them of the proposals to carry out the work. Only The Open Spaces Society 
responded and gave no objections to the work being carried out.
 
I can confirm that the contract to carry out the renovation work has already 
been agreed between Henfield Parish Council and the contractor, and it is 
anticipated that the work will commence in the next couple of weeks, subject to 
weather conditions being favourable.
 
Kind regards,
Kevin Wright
Clerk – Henfield Parish Council
 
From: D BANGS [mailto:bangs...@btinternet.com] 
Sent: Monday, 15 May, 2017 8:17 PM
To: off...@henfield.gov.uk
Subject: Henfield Common football pitch project: damage to archaic grassland
 
From: David Bangs
Field naturalist and author
bangs...@btinternet.com
T: 01273 620 815
15/05/17
To: Mr Kevin Wright, Henfield Parish Clerk
Dear Mr Wright
Damage to archaic species-rich grassland at Henfield Common
Thank you for speaking to me on the phone today.
I re-visited the Common after our phone chat and was appalled.
The football pitch project area sprayed by herbicide/gramicide takes in well 
over half of the area in which Chamomile, Chamaemelum nobile, is present. This 
is a rare and steeply declining species and the number of Sussex sites where it 
naturally occurs is now very small. 
Its presence in quantity is one of the core nature conservation features of the 
Common.
The area sprayed displays (in my short visit today) a number of high nature 
value scarce plants, including Chamomile, Heath Spotted Orchis and Southern 
Marsh Orchis, Adder’s Tongue Fern, Marsh Pennywort, Common Yellow Sedge, Oval 
Sedge, Hairy Sedge, Devil’s Bit, Tormentil, and Heath Speedwell. 
In a single brief visit to the pitch project area in 2013 I recorded six 
significant old meadow fungi species: two Fairy Clubs, a Pinkgill and three 
Waxcap fungi. I suspect a properly conducted survey for this group would record 
many more.
As I said to you, Henfield Common is largely an SNCI (Site of Nature 
Conservation Interest). The area of the cricket pitch and the old ball pitches 
(which are the subject of HPC’s project) was anomalously excluded from the 
designated SNCI only because the appropriate surveys there had not then been 
carried out. Subsequently, a survey of the cricket pitch for old meadow fungi 
was conducted (about 15 years ago) and the cricket pitch proved to be the 
richest site for old meadow fungi on the Common and one of regional value in 
nature conservation terms for this assemblage. 
Can you please tell me whether any Environmental Impact Assessment was made of 
the football pitch project? If it was, would you be so kind as to forward it to 
me?
I understand that drainage works are to undertaken (and ditch ‘cleaning’ has 
recently taken place). Given that the core nature conservation feature of the 
Common is its archaic acid marsh vegetation, further drainage could be very 
detrimental.  
Furthermore, the highly acidic Folkestone Beds surface geology of the Common is 
what gives it its individual character. Semi-natural ‘moor’ vegetation on the 
local Wealden Folkestone Beds is now very rare, and the loss of this surface 
geology to new imported soils will thus damage the character and sense of place 
of the whole Common. 
I ask you, please, to secure the cessation of all further activity pertinent to 
the football pitch project until  these issues of nature conservation have been 
addressed. This is a matter of urgency, 
With best wishes
Dave Bangs
 
 
 
 
Virus-free. www.avg.com 
 


[Adastra] Fwd: Damage to Henfield Common archaic grassland: Football pitch project

2017-05-15 Thread D BANGS
Dear all,
Can you help please with some quick survey work? The site is horribly obvious 
when you get close...brown and dying...
I sent the letter BELOW to the Henfield Parish Council clerk today. I only 
heard of this football pitch project today in the WSx County Times. Apparently 
it has been planned for a while and the plans passed and part-funded by Horsham 
DC and other funders. 
 
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http://www.wscountytimes.co.uk/news/work-underway-to-transform-field-into-football-pitches-1-7959413
This is truly dreadful. The Parish Clerk had no memory, when I spoke to him, of 
any EIA or survey work.
We must try and get this work stopped. Full construction is due to start on May 
30th.
I think the site (TQ 221/2 155, just NW of the cricket pavilion and part-hidden 
by a wing of woodland) needs urgent survey by better botanists than me, and 
also by bryophyte and insect experts.
A gramicide seems to have been applied and the other herbs still seem to be 
clinging on.
Can you help?
Dave Bangs
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
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From: David Bangs
Field naturalist and author
bangs...@btinternet.com
T: 01273 620 815
15/05/17
To: Mr Kevin Wright, Henfield Parish Clerk
Dear Mr Wright
Damage to archaic species-rich grassland at Henfield Common
Thank you for speaking to me on the phone today.
I re-visited the Common after our phone chat and was appalled.
The football pitch project area sprayed by
herbicide/gramicide takes in well over half of the area in which Chamomile, 
Chamaemelum nobile, is present. This is a rare and steeply
declining species and the number of Sussex sites where it naturally occurs is
now very small. 
Its presence in quantity is one of the core nature conservation
features of the Common.
The area sprayed displays (in my short visit today) a number
of high nature value scarce plants, including Chamomile, Heath Spotted Orchis 
and Southern Marsh Orchis, Adder’s Tongue Fern, Marsh Pennywort, Common
Yellow Sedge, Oval Sedge, Hairy Sedge, Devil’s Bit, Tormentil, and Heath 
Speedwell. 
In a single brief visit to the pitch project area in 2013 I recorded
six significant old meadow fungi species: two Fairy Clubs, a Pinkgill and
three Waxcap fungi. I suspect a
properly conducted survey for this group would record many more.
As I said to you, Henfield Common is largely an SNCI (Site
of Nature Conservation Interest). The area of the cricket pitch and the old
ball pitches (which are the subject of HPC’s project) was anomalously excluded
from the designated SNCI only because the appropriate surveys there had not then
been carried out. Subsequently, a survey of the cricket pitch for old meadow
fungi was conducted (about 15 years ago) and the cricket pitch proved to be the
richest site for old meadow fungi on the Common and one of regional value in
nature conservation terms for this assemblage. 
Can you please tell me whether any Environmental Impact Assessment
was made of the football pitch project? If it was, would you be so kind as to
forward it to me?
I understand that drainage works are to undertaken (and
ditch ‘cleaning’ has recently taken place). Given that the core nature
conservation feature of the Common is its archaic acid marsh vegetation, further
drainage could be very detrimental.  
Furthermore, the highly acidic Folkestone Beds surface geology
of the Common is what gives it its 

[Adastra] dead trees, nightingales...dying nature

2017-05-04 Thread D BANGS
Walking in the Cowfold Stream valley east of Crateman's Farm and to the south 
to listen to the Nightingales last night we passed lines of oaks with  brown 
withered crowns. Often the whole foliage of fresh tender leaves and catkins was 
withered brown, but sometimes the top of the crown was still green. 
Amongst them the Ashes, which are co-dominant in this Wealden Clay landscape, 
had stayed as dead as winter...almost every one. 
It was not  a scene of coppery/golden spring leaf green as it had been a few 
weeks ago, but  a scene of death.
We have noticed how strong the hold of Ash Die Back is in this area since last 
year and this spring, but the sight of the oaks, now, was dreadful.
Is this just water stress from the drought ? The Stream was flowing and in 
reasonably good water. I did not notice that the Oaks in the shaws on our walk 
in to the Stream were affected.
It feels like the ending of the world
Dave Bangs


[Adastra] Fwd: PRESS RELEASE DOWNS SALES HALTED

2017-01-19 Thread D BANGS
 
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KEEP
OUR DOWNS PUBLIC (BRIGHTON)
 
DOWNS
SALES HALTED (AGAIN)
 
COUNCIL
OFFICERS’ ‘FLOG IT OFF’ ADVICE THROWN OUT
 
19th January 2017.
Contact: Dave 01273 620
815  Phil 01273 608 786 Chris 01273 553
044
 
 
City Councillors on BHCC’s Policy,
Resources & Growth Committee rejected a senior officers’ recommendation to
resume the sale of Plumpton Hill and
Poynings Field[i]
at their meeting tonight, 19th January. The sales had been suspended
at last December’s PR&G meeting as a result of widespread outrage at the
prospect of  flogging off these vital
parts of the City’s historic 12,500 acre Downland Estate.
 
They are the remaining unsold sites of a
tranche of mis-named ‘non-core’ Downland sites which earlier PR&G Committee
meetings had agreed to sell in 2014 and 2016[ii].
 
The sales were intended to part-fund the
controversial Stanmer Park Project and to contribute to the alleviation of the
Council’s debt.
 
Tonight’s composite motion was passed by
Conservative and Green councillors, with Labour abstaining. It requires that
the 2 vulnerable sites “be referred to a
new Policy Review Panel with the outcome referred back to the PR&G”[iii].
 
Councillor Theobald (Conservative)
commented that the language of the officer’s report made him fearful for the
future of the estate, because of the way it emphasised the commercial aspect of
the estate at the expense of its environmental value.
 
Councillors MacCafferty and Gibson (Green)
challenged the reports fiscal conclusions and supported the motion’s requirement
for “a separate report to be brought to
Committee outlining alternative options for meeting the match funding
requirement” of the Stanmer Park Project (which is part-funded by the
Heritage Lottery Fund). 
 
Councillor Les Hamilton (Labour)
passionately supported the officer’s recommendation to flog off the two sites
and supported the notion that the Downland Estate was made up of core and
non-core Downland (i.e. first class and second class Downland...or to-be-kept
Downland and disposable Downland).
 
All the Downland that has been sold or is
threatened with sale is within the South Downs National Park. 
 
Keep
Our Downs Public is a coalition of local people which was formed in 1994-5 to
successfully fight the proposed privatisation of the whole Downland Estate by 
the then
ruling Labour Party. A new KODP group has now been formed in Eastbourne to
fight similar Downs sell-off proposals by Eastbourne Council over 3,000 acres of
Downland behind Beachy Head.
[i] Poynings Field is a 25 acre site which lies between the base of the
Devil’s Dyke and the edge of Poynings village. It buffers and ‘frames’ the Dyke
and is partly vulnerable to built development, if sold. Plumpton Hill is an
SSSI (nationally important wildlife site) with Bronze Age burial barrows upon
it and views north across the Weald.
[ii] Councillors were poorly instructed in the nature of the for-sale
sites by senior council officers. One PR&G member comments that there was a
collective “failure of oversight” by themselves as a result of this advice. The
sold sites include part of a 50 year old nature reserve and a bat cave with 3
scarce species, which has been monitored by experts for many years.
[iii] Two new panels will now be set up: an Asset Management Panel and a
Policy Review Panel. The Policy Review Panel will ‘consider governance and
policy with respect to the city’s urban and rural estates’. It will work
alongside a ‘permanent cross party Asset Management Panel to be established to
enable greater member oversight of the delivery of the asset management plan’.
(Agenda item 110 PR&G Committee 19th January 2017).
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
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[Adastra] Fwd: STOP Downland sales

2016-12-01 Thread D BANGS



KodpLEAFLETDemo's.docx
Description: MS-Word 2007 document


[Adastra] Fwd: lobby councillors to stop Brighton Downland sales

2016-12-01 Thread D BANGS
 
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LOBBYING BRIGHTON COUNCILLORS
TO STOP THE DOWNLAND SALES
 
Please lobby
Brighton Councillors to stop these sales. The notes will help you write your
objection, which is best put in your own personal way. Below are the addresses
of the Brighton Council P&R Committee members who MUST be written to by 7th
December objecting to the sales. (The Committee meets on 8th
December to decide whether to make the STOP on sales permanent). Additionally,
please send your objections to your own ward councillors. 
 
warren.mor...@brighton-hove.gov.uk 
geoffrey.theob...@brighton-hove.gov.uk
leslie.hamil...@brighton-hove.gov.uk
tony.ja...@brighton-hove.gov.uk
phelim.maccaffe...@brighton-hove.gov.uk
tom.bew...@brighton-hove.gov.uk
gill.mitch...@brighton-hove.gov.uk
ann.nor...@brighton-hove.gov.uk
ollie.sy...@brighton-hove.gov.uk
andrew.wea...@brighton-hove.gov.uk
 
FINANCE
 
1. The area of
open land ALREADY SOLD is c. 20 acres, which with the sold cottages has accrued
c. 94% of the likely total ££
receipts, though it covers only 20% of
the for–sale area. 
 
The area of land
STILL TO BE SOLD is c. 100 acres, which may accrue a mere 6% of the total 
receipts, though it totals 80% of the for-sale area.
 
2. The Council has
already had its ‘pound of flesh’
from the covert sales of cottages and small land parcels. If they sold 20 
cottages and grounds (and we
do not know exactly how many) that could total some £4 million. The
sales of other land parcels has brought in
c. £390,000. So the receipts so
far total c. £4,390,000.
 
3. The remaining 2
sales (Plumpton Hill and Poynings Field) will bring in very little additional 
money: less
than £300,000, though they will incur real damage to their future
security as conservation assets.  Thus: -
- 
Both
properties are subject to secure agricultural tenancies and will therefore only 
fetch circa 50% of their value at
vacant possession.
- 
Plumpton
Hill (67.4 acres) has a guide price of the pathetic sum of c. £2,225 per acre
and Poynings Field (25 acres) will be unlikely to get more than £6000 per acre.
- 
Both properties, on those figures, together
will bring in only some £300,000, which is the price of a single modest 
suburban family home in
Brighton...for the loss of almost 100 acres of high quality Downscape. 
 
4. We do not NEED
to sell those remaining two important properties, because there are other
routes to acquire the funds for the Stanmer Park restoration plans. 
 
The result of
BHCC’s £5m lottery bid will be known shortly – what matched-funding is being
levered in, other than from SD National Park and Plumpton College partners, to
achieve Stanmer Park’s proper restoration. With so much potential ready cash on
the table, it should be relatively easy to attract more funds to multiply
this sum. For example: 
To develop Stanmer as a more self-sufficient park
 the lottery has an attractive Heritage Enterprise grant; 
As a major visitor attraction with great an
 eco-tourism potential, the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership
 would be keen to support appropriate infrastructure and employment
 opportunities (and BHCC's role in the Greater Brighton Economic
 Partnership should help this); 
Stanmer provides the ideal outdoor (and indoor)
 classroom for the hundreds of schools and colleges in and around Brighton
 and the Downs – there are many educational trusts and funds that could be
 tapped to realise this desirable aim (and BHCC has an external funding
 expertise to source such monies); 
Government grants are available for a range of
 work and BHCC has already spent DfT money on more sustainable travel links
 to Stanmer along the Lewes Road … extend such projects into Stanmer; 
Interest rates are at an all-time low, a public
 loan could be secured, and with the popularity of a restored Stanmer Park
 the money paid back, with interest, in a very short space of time.
 
 
PUBLIC VALUES. 
 
These 2 remaining properties
have multiple public qualities/values. 
 
Plumpton Hill is mostly part of an SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest - 
a national measure of
wildlife value). This designation, under private ownership, will NOT protect it
from damage and inappropriate management. It also has a SAM (Scheduled Ancient 
Monument) upon it: Bronze Age burial mounds.
It is one of the prominent viewpoints
from the South Downs Way over the forested Weald. 
 
Poynings Field is a key part of the landscape setting – the framing – of the 
Devils Dyke heritage
landscape. It is also a vital part of
the setting of Poynings village, which will be vulnerable to pressure for
built development in private ownership. It is part of the landing grounds for 
hang gliders from the Dyke. It is an
excellent fossilling site for sea
creatures of the E

adastra@lists.sxbrc.org.uk

2016-10-27 Thread D BANGS
Dear Adastra folk
See below and attached UPDATE and ORIGINAL piece. This is extremely urgent, cos 
these sales are proceeding right now. 
Please email these council party leaders or your ward councillor: -
- warren.mor...@brighton-hove.gov.uk, gill.mitch...@brighton-hove.gov.uk, 
geoffrey.theob...@brighton-hove.gov.uk, andrew.wea...@brighton-hove.gov.uk, 
alex.phill...@brighton-hove.gov.uk, phelim.maccaffe...@brighton-hove.gov.uk, 
pete.w...@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Dave Bangs
-
 
  
  
 
 
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Brighton Council Downland
Sales
The situation is even worse
than we thought
UPDATE: 27/10/16 KEEP OUR
DOWNS PUBLIC Btn. 620815 or 07889302229
 
We now know that
several of the sales have gone ahead already and that several others are
advertised on the open market by Savilles, the Council’s land agents.  
   
Two of the sites are within SSSI’s (i.e. nationally
important nature conservation sites) and yet no word of this is mentioned in
the sales advertisements.
 
The Junipers, the old Sussex Wildlife Trust Saddlescombe Nature
Reserve, 3 acres, has been sold to a private buyer for the paltry sum of 
£35,000.
This is the bulk of the sole remaining site for Juniper (a rare and declining
native conifer) in East Sussex, and a well-known site for rare orchid species,
bats and much else. It is part of an SSSI.
 
The Devils Dyke Field has been sold for an unknown sum to
a private buyer, despite being bounded by National Trust land.
 
Park Wall Farm smallholding, Falmer, 10 acres, has been sold for
£175,000: less than the price of a modest flat in Brighton. This is a crucial
part of the open Downland setting of old Falmer village.
 
Additionally, two nearby parcels of land on the edge
of Poynings have been marketted and one of them sold with
some prospect of built development.
 
We
estimate that the total sum gained so far from these sales is around £290,000:
below the price of one suburban semi in many parts of Brighton. This is a
pathetic sum for such dreadful losses of land with multiple public values.
 
There’s more to come, if we
can’t stop this bleed immediately...
 
The Racecourse, the large, circa 55 acre Poynings arable field
embracing all the land below the Devil’s Dyke, is targetted for sale. This is a
wonderful fossil site – as good a Bridport Cliffs, Dorset, for fossils from the
tropical seas of the Early Cretaceous, and the landing ground for Dyke hang
gliders. This is the field which appears in all the Victorian postcards of the
Devils Dyke.
 
Plumpton Hill, 67.4 acres of ancient wildflower pastures on the
South Downs Way, mostly SSSI, is advertised for £150,000 – just the sort of
money that a City shooting syndicate could stump up. It is a hill top Sacred
Site of the Ancient People of the Bronze Age, and has five of their round
barrows overlooking and protecting their deserted villages. 
 
Please, councillors of all
parties...Get an immediate STOP ORDER on Savilles’ marketting of this land.
 
STOP THESE SALES NOW!
- 
 
  
  
 
 
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Re: [Adastra] some pics I need for a book

2016-05-06 Thread D BANGS
Dewar Words2 
Can I use your lovely Barn Owl @ Falmer Church picture for my book ?
If so, would you send it to me so's I can download it?
very many thanks
Dave
Original message
>From : wor...@permuted.org.uk
Date : 27/04/2016 - 18:58 (GMTST)
To : adastra@lists.sxbrc.org.uk
Subject : Re: [Adastra] some pics I need for a book
Dave
 
Barn owl at St Laurence Church Falmer….  
http://www.permuted.org.uk/photography/red-letter-day/ 
 
Any use?
 
Photography: www.permuted.org.uk/photography/ 
Blog: http://www.permuted.org.uk/photography/blog/  
Twitter: @permuted 
 
From: Adastra [mailto:adastra-boun...@lists.sxbrc.org.uk] On Behalf Of D BANGS
Sent: 27 April 2016 17:28
To: adastra@lists.sxbrc.org.uk
Subject: [Adastra] some pics I need for a book
 
Dear friends,
I'm in the edit stage of a book I'm doing on the middle Weald ('The Land of the 
Brighton Line') and my pictures are still incomplete.
Does anyone have nice pics of the following that they would be happy for me to 
use? (I would, of course, fully credit the makers).
Hazelnut Weevil
Tanner Longhorn Beetle (Re-discovered by me in Worth Forest Sept '09)
Black Grouse (I know, I know...its long gone)
Barn Owl
Nightingale
Woodcock
Water Violet
Marsh Gentian
My deadline for corrections to my draft is the end of June,
cheers
Dave Bangs


Re: [Adastra] some pics I need for a book

2016-04-28 Thread D BANGS
Thanks to all of you who sent such lovely pics. I now have superb pics of Marsh 
Gentian, Tanner Longhorn Beetle, and Barn Owl.
I will acknowledge youse in the text, of course,
Dave Bangs
Original message
>From : phar...@btinternet.com
Date : 27/04/2016 - 17:36 (GMTST)
To : adastra@lists.sxbrc.org.uk
Subject : Re: [Adastra] some pics I need for a book
Hi Dave,
Just off to Tuscany.
Are these any good for Marsh Gentian?
Paul
From: D BANGS 
Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2016 5:27 PM
To: adastra@lists.sxbrc.org.uk 
Subject: [Adastra] some pics I need for a book
Dear 
friends,
I'm in the edit stage of a book I'm doing on the middle Weald 
('The Land of the Brighton Line') and my pictures are still 
incomplete.
Does anyone have nice pics of the following that they would 
be happy for me to use? (I would, of course, fully credit the 
makers).
Hazelnut Weevil
Tanner Longhorn Beetle (Re-discovered by me 
in Worth Forest Sept '09)
Black Grouse (I know, I know...its long 
gone)
Barn Owl
Nightingale
Woodcock
Water Violet
Marsh 
Gentian
My deadline for corrections to my draft is the end of 
June,
cheers
Dave Bangs


[Adastra] some pics I need for a book

2016-04-27 Thread D BANGS
Dear friends,
I'm in the edit stage of a book I'm doing on the middle Weald ('The Land of the 
Brighton Line') and my pictures are still incomplete.
Does anyone have nice pics of the following that they would be happy for me to 
use? (I would, of course, fully credit the makers).
Hazelnut Weevil
Tanner Longhorn Beetle (Re-discovered by me in Worth Forest Sept '09)
Black Grouse (I know, I know...its long gone)
Barn Owl
Nightingale
Woodcock
Water Violet
Marsh Gentian
My deadline for corrections to my draft is the end of June,
cheers
Dave Bangs


Re: [Adastra] Adastra 2015

2016-02-10 Thread D BANGS
And me, too, please. I paid my £8 but was unable to attend in the end,
best wishes
Dave Bangs 
Original message
>From : patr...@prassociates.co.uk
Date : 10/02/2016 - 14:59 (GMTST)
To : adastra@lists.sxbrc.org.uk
Subject : Re: [Adastra] Adastra 2015
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
Hi Bob,
 
Would it be possible to send me a hard copy?
 
All the best and thanks,
 
Patrick
 
From: Adastra [mailto:adastra-boun...@lists.sxbrc.org.uk] On Behalf Of 
bobfore...@sussexwt.org.uk
Sent: 10 February 2016 14:45
To: adastra@lists.sxbrc.org.uk
Subject: [Adastra] Adastra 2015
 
Dear all,
 
For those of you who missed the Sussex Biological Recorders’ Seminar -  Adastra 
2016 - on Saturday and consequently do not have a copy of “Adastra 2015”, the 
review of the biological recording year in Sussex, it is available to read 
online (in glorious technicolor) at: 
http://sxbrc.org.uk/biodiversity/publications/Adastra2015/
 
Happy reading!
 
Bob
Bob Foreman
Biodiversity Data Lead
Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre
http://sxbrc.org.uk | 01273 497570
 
Sussex Wildlife Trust is a company limited by guarantee under the Companies 
Act. Registered in England, Company No. 698851. Registered Charity No. 207005. 
VAT Registration No. 191 305969. Registered Office: Woods Mill, Henfield, West 
Sussex BN5 9SD. Telephone 01273 492630 


Re: [Adastra] Gatwick River wildlife recording day

2014-08-01 Thread D BANGS
Surveying the misnamed 'Gatwick River' (actually the manipulated and 
re-directed River Mole and Mans Brook...and there is a separate Gatwick Stream) 
NOW is like putting fresh paint on 'The Portrait of Dorian Gray' (actually the 
sweet painted face of a corrupted and vile man, as those who have read the 
Oscar Wilde book will know).
Such volunteering will only help to paint Gatwick Airport as a sensitive and 
caring environmental manager, when it is intent on the destruction of a huge 
swathe of ancient, much loved and used and wildlife-rich countryside for a 
second runway.
What we need people to do is make records of...and get them to me...the 
wildlife of the landscape which Gatwick Airport has targetted for destruction. 
THAT is the task we should be advertising. 
Get to it, you un-corrupted environmental recorders !! 
Contact me,
Dave Bangs
bangs...@btinternet.com
Tel 01273 620 815
Original message
>From : pennygr...@sussexwt.org.uk
Date : 28/07/2014 - 16:26 (GMTST)
To : 
Subject : [Adastra] Gatwick River wildlife recording day
Dear All,
 
Please find attached an advert for the Gatwick River wildlife day coming up at 
the end of August. 
 
I hope you can make it along! For more details, or to book onto any (or all) of 
the free sessions, please call the Gatwick Greenspace Partnership on 01293 
550730 or email: gatwickgreensp...@sussexwt.org.uk 
 
All best wishes, Penny
 
 
Penny Green
BRC Manager
Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre
http://sxbrc.org.uk | 
01273 497521
Sussex Wildlife Trust is a company limited by guarantee under the Companies 
Act.  Registered in England, Company No. 698851.   Registered Charity No. 
207005.  VAT Registration No. 191 305969.   Registered Office: Woods Mill, 
Henfield, West Sussex BN5 9SD.  Telephone 01273 492630


Re: [Adastra] Southern Marsh Orchis pic

2014-07-12 Thread D BANGS
Thanks Crystal, yes could youi send me the one with the big very sharply foto'd 
flower head, please,
best Dave
Original message
>From : mehere...@gmail.com
Date : 11/07/2014 - 16:08 (GMTST)
To : adastra@lists.sxbrc.org.uk
Subject : Re: [Adastra] Southern Marsh Orchis pic
Hi Dave,
I have a few, not sure if they would be of any use to you or not, you can find 
them here
http://www.ipernity.com/doc/c.rayz/18600287
Let me know if you want to use them and I'll directly email you the larger 
sizes of what ever you like.
Regards
Crystal
On 11 July 2014 14:14, D BANGS  wrote:
  Dear friends,
Does anyone have good photos of Southern March Orchis I could use for a note 
I'm doing on the landscape and wildlife of the area of Gatwick countryside that 
will be destroyed if the second runway is given the go-ahead.
I found two spikes of Southern Marsh Orchis there this year but didn't have my 
camera with me...and when I returned the next week they were gone. (Rabbits or 
deer, no doubt).
Obviously I will credit any pic I use in the note,
best 
Dave Bangs
  


[Adastra] Southern Marsh Orchis pic

2014-07-11 Thread D BANGS



Dear friends,

Does anyone have good photos of Southern March Orchis I could use for a note 
I'm doing on the landscape and wildlife of the area of Gatwick countryside that 
will be destroyed if the second runway is given the go-ahead.

I found two spikes of Southern Marsh Orchis there this year but didn't have my 
camera with me...and when I returned the next week they were gone. (Rabbits or 
deer, no doubt).

Obviously I will credit any pic I use in the note,

best 

Dave Bangs