Willow Emerald Watch

Just 25 years ago, the Willow Emerald Damselfly had only been reliably recorded in the UK on 2 occasions, in 1979 and 1992. A single individual was then recorded in southeast Suffolk during 2007, followed in 2009 by a sudden boom of 400 records of the species from this same general area (SE Suffolk/NE Essex). Since this time, the Willow Emerald has spread rapidly across the south-east of England, gaining footholds in new counties on a yearly basis.

The natural colonisation and spread of this damselfly in the UK is incredible. It is important we track the species in order to understand how it is spreading so rapidly and what might limit the species in the future. For this reason, the British Dragonfly Society (BDS) have developed the ‘Willow Emerald Watch’ project.

What's eating the willow?

One of our customers planted a lovely, living arbour in the garden for the kids to play in.  However, it was not only the two-legged critters enjoying the willow.

We think these are the sawfly larvae having a good old munch on the leaves - they practically stripped the plant bare.

According to the BBC website, sawfly larvae skeletonise (good word!) leaves or eat them to transparency, leaving just the veins remaining.  If disturbed, they curl up into an 'S' shape (just as they are doing here).

They are probably under-recorded as a species and come in different groups, often defined by their menu of choice: the gooseberry sawfly, the turnip sawfly; the rose slug sawfly.

Great crested newt habitat creation

Filey Leisure Park

This is a caravan leisure park on the north east coast with a nationally significant population of great crested newts.

JPR Environmental were engaged for Bourne Leisure by Tyler Grange Environmental Planning Consultancy to enhance the mitigation area; an area of fenced off, natural land.

Invasive species continue to plague development sites

January kicked off as a busy month on the invasive species front with a requirement for some extensive Japanese Knotweed management with one of our long-standing clients. The next phase of development is already in full swing opening up the perfect opportunity to excavate and deep bury the remaining stands of Knotweed. Our prime objective is to form a current and specific Species and Soil Management Plan to ensure efficient use of time and resources to eradicate the knotweed on site once and for all.