NEWSLETTER

Central Borders Group Issue No 18 July 2016

Message from our Chair, Lawrence Robertson

I hope you are all enjoying summer. In June I spent two weeks in endless daylight travelling alone around Iceland, in awe of the primordial power moving under the rocks and through the rivers and glaciers, sliding into a hot stream in a freezing remote valley, whale and puffin watching from a silent sailing schooner near the Arctic Circle, sunburnt, and moving through the places of my beloved Icelandic sagas, some unchanged for a thousand years.

But I was surprised by a dark side. My favorite species of wildlife, man, has let me down again. Land degradation and soil erosion have drastically changed the ecosystems since the country was first settled in the 9th century.

Once extensive birch woodlands now cover only 1% of the country and much of the remaining land is severely degraded due in part to over grazing. Now up to 45% of the country is classed as desert. Go there today and you can see the latest moves in an evolving attempt to recover and stabilize the soil that has been going on since 1907. The last few years have seen large scale seeding of exotic species of grass and of lupins, Lupinus nootkatensis , a lovely flush of blue on the hillsides, but invasive and controversial. The issues in Iceland are visible and obvious, here they are more nuanced and sensed but just as relevant. We can learn a lot from Iceland.

My favourite species was very sparse, many of them absent in Europe ecstatically supporting their football team.

Please support SWT with similar enthusiasm. Arm yourselves with copies of the Eildon Hills booklet. Get out and about on an expedition. And turn up flushed and refreshed in September at the start our famous monthly talks.

Newt Surveys

Members of the Central Borders Group SWT were delighted to

be at Midlem Village Hall in May when Peter Minting from the

Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (ARC) Trust gave a short

talk on newts and in particular on the Great Crested Newt.

ARC's most recent project is to undertake a survey using state

of the art DNA water sampling kits which can identify Great

Crested Newt DNA in water where they have been swimming.

Control samples are taken from ponds where Great Crested

Newts are known to occur and those where it is thought likely

they should/could occur. The water samples are then sent for

laboratory analysis to search for the special marker section of

the Great Crested Newt DNA.

Around 8 years ago, some new

ponds were dug in the Borders

as part of a project on locations

that were deemed suitable for

Great Crested Newts. When

darkness fell we had the

opportunity to try the old

fashioned method of newt

searching by torchlight in one of those ponds near Midlem.

Both Palmate and Smooth Newts were found as , to everyone’s

delight, were a male and female Great Crested Newt (below left

and right) .

Following this demonstration we have undertaken water

sampling for newt DNA at two of our local reserves. Results are

awaited with baited breath. For more information look up the

Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (ARC) Trust website

www.arc-trust.org

(Note that a license is needed to capture Great Crested Newts)

IInternet image

Melrose School Wildlife Walk

The Primary 7 teachers of Melrose School recently

contacted us for help with their John Muir Award

programme. So three of our members found

themselves taking 60 children for an afternoon walk

in the park and on the riverside at Melrose where the

identification of trees and insects was the main focus.

And what an enthusiastic and observant group they

were! Their tricky and pertinent questions stretched

us at times but it was an afternoon very well spent.

We are delighted to report that our new and extensively revised edition of the “The Eildon Hills” booklet is now available for

sale. This is the 4th edition and the first since 1996. The 32 pages are packed with information about the Eildons and full of

colour photographs, almost all supplied by our own members (see attachment).

It will be available for purchase at our future meetings and outings with a sale price of £4 per copy. We hope that most of

our members will want to buy a copy for their own use and may also wish to purchase it for friends and family (an ideal

stocking-size Christmas present).

We will be asking our members to help by selling the booklet opportunistically at local events in which they are involved, eg

clubs, guilds, sales, fetes etc

The booklet will be available from several local outlets - it’s already available in Melrose at Masons bookshop and at the Spar

shop (details of other Borders outlets later).

You can also obtain it directly from the Group by emailing malcandles46@talktalk.net to indicate your interest.

The Spindle Ermine moth

Johnny & Nancy Marshall were

dismayed to find their garden

Spindleberry bush Euonymus

europaeus almost completely defoliated by ugly masses of

caterpillars feeding inside silk tents. The culprits were larvae of the

Spindle Ermine moth Yponomeuta cagnagella (above), one of a

small family of micro–moths which in some years can undergo a

population explosion. Other species found in the Borders with

similar explosive tendencies are the Bird-cherry Ermine Y

evonymella and the Orchard Ermine Y padella.

Although defoliation of the foodplant can be almost total the plant

usually survives the onslaught. The Marshalls are delighted to

report that their bush has survived to produce healthy new

foliage.

The Eildon Hills booklet

The defoliated bush and the Spindle Ermine caterpillars.

A Very Good News Story

told by Rosie Shields

Everyone will recall the series of storms last winter and the

devastation caused in the countryside as well as the towns.

One result of those storms was the destruction of an osprey

nest I have watched for several years. I emailed Malcolm

Lindsay for assistance in tracking down someone who might

be prepared to build an artificial nest and he was able to find

me a name. The landowner agreed for the work to be done

and also for a camera to be positioned looking into the nest.

At the same time, Scottish Power were contacted and were

happy to do work on some of the power lines and poles in

the area to minimise the threat of electrocution or collision

by the ospreys, particularly the juveniles. The timescale we had was tight but, by 24 March, we had a pristine nest, a working

camera, lots of anti-collision discs along power lines, two new perches and a T bar extension to a power pole.

All that was missing now was the birds and, on 2 April, both the male and the female returned from migration within a few

hours of each other and took to the nest immediately. The next day, the female was seen sitting on the T bar extension

eating a large trout, so success all round! Eggs were laid a couple of weeks later and, as I write this (end-June), we have 3

rapidly growing 5 week old chicks in the nest.

The nest is close to Born in the Borders near Jedburgh and there is a large screen in the cafe showing live pictures from the

camera. If you've not been down there, the family are worth going to see....and the cakes are delicious too!

The EU vote – what now for wildlife and the environment?

SWT Chief Executive, Johnny Hughes, writes on the SWT website:

“One major area of concern following the leave vote is the uncertain future facing the

EU environmental directives. The EU’s Nature Directives, Water Framework

Directive and Marine Strategy Framework Directive are perhaps the most important

tools we have for safeguarding Scotland’s natural capital against degradation and loss.

If these Directives are repealed or diluted, the health of our freshwater, our wildlife and our seas will be severely compromised. The Trust, along with many other environmental organisations has fought for decades to help bring this body of law into being. It would be a tragedy for our environment if we now began the painful process of dismantling what we have built. We are calling on the Scottish Government to retain all those acts of the Scottish Parliament that have transposed EU environmental directives and to implement them fully, just as if we were a member of the EU.

Another uncertainly is around what happens after we exit the Common Fisheries Policy which, despite the illogicality of the failed discards policy, had recently started to make progress in recovering over-fished cod, haddock and other stocks. Post CFP, both the UK and Scottish Governments must set fishing quotas based on sound science rather than pressure from powerful fisheries lobby groups. If fisheries policy is deregulated there is little doubt that we will see short term plunder followed by long term ecological collapse and the subsequent loss of thousands of jobs in fishing communities.”

He also expresses concerns over Environmental funding sources : “Scotland currently receives substantial amounts of funding for environmental initiatives from the EU and we are deeply concerned about a potential sharp drop in income from this source.” Read more at http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/blog-post/what-leaving-the-eu-means-for-our-environment/

A busy June in the Borders for Sarah Eno

It's a busy month what with the monitoring of rare plant species

on the Whitlaw Mosses, trying to do botanical surveys along the

Yarrow valley and combining that with looking at rock rose sites

for the Northern Brown Argus (NBA) project! Here are photos of

Coral-root orchid Coralhorrhiza trifida (left) and Round-leaved

Wintergreen Pyrola rotundifolia (right) taken on Beanrig Moss (one

of the 4 mosses comprising Whitlaw) in mid June. We got good

counts of both so the species is in favourable condition.

The NBA project has been talked about for a while. The aim is

eventually to get farmers along the Yarrow valley with good sites

for the food plant, Rock Rose Helianthemum nummularium to get

funded for positive management for the butterfly. Surveys for known and new sites for the food plant are continuing but the

next thing is to find out if any NBA populations are on these spots too. It should be flying

now but again, weather conditions have not been brilliant up to today (22nd June). It's

easy to see the eggs as they are laid on the upperside of the leaf (right) and once you get

your eye in are easy to spot. We will be looking for those until about mid July so any

volunteers are welcome.

Earlier in the year Andy set up a calendar spreadsheet for the 24 weeks of butterfly

transect monitoring on Murder Moss. This spreadsheet exists in the 'cloud' – i.e. anyone

with a computer can look at it through the link they are sent and book their week for

monitoring. It's a brilliant method (Google—Microsoft SharePoint Online) which enables everyone involved to see what is

going on and join in without spending loads of time trying to organise. It's in effect self organising.

However, in the field, its not been a good spring for the Murder Moss transect which has been run every year since 1989. Too

cold, overcast or windy to get good butterfly records. But that's how it goes some years. Hopefully from now till end of

September will be more rewarding!

Recent Outings

Ettrick Marshes was dull and cold, Duns Castle had a terrible

weather forecast (which proved inaccurate) and Glenkinnon

Moth Night was drizzly and midgy. Despite these sometimes

challenging conditions all three outings were informative and

greatly enjoyed.

Not a medical emergency

at Duns Castle, but our

leader, Ron Mcbeath,

getting down low and

personal with a tiny rust

fungus

Our Facebook page for the Central Borders Group can be

accessed via a link on our webpage http://

scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/local-member-group/central-

borders/ or by browser search for “Scottish Wildlife Trust

Central Borders Facebook”. A great place to post a story, show

photographs, give an opinion ,find out about our events or ask

for identification help.

iSpot

“What’s this?” wondered

Alison Smith during a

walk through our Hare

Moss reserve. A good

sharp photo was taken

and subsequent enquiry

quickly established the

lack of any local expert

on flies! So Alison sent

the photograph to the

website iSpot

www.ispotnature.org and

soon received an

authoritative entomological response. It’s a Birch sawfly

Cimbex femoratus, the UK’s largest sawfly. What an amazing resource! Well worth using iSpot for

these puzzling bugs, beasties, plants, fungi etc etc.

(NB the story also highlights the need for some wildlife

enthusiasts in the Borders to develop entomological

skills—butterflies and moths are well covered , but we

have hardly any local expertise on other insect groups).

“Moving Beyond Neonicotinoids?”

The Scottish Wildlife Trust and Buglife Scotland are

leading a campaign calling for a permanent ban on three

neonicotinoid insecticides in Scotland because of the

detrimental effects on bees and other wild pollinators.

The Scottish Government have yet to make a decision.

As part of the campaign for a ban, a roundtable

discussion was held at the Scottish Parliament in March,

sponsored by Graeme Dey MSP. Speakers discussed the evidence that neonicotinoids can harmfully affect bees and other

wildlife. The event was designed to inform MSPs of the issues surrounding

neonicotinoids, including how farmers and other commercial growers could cut down on

all pesticide use by moving towards systems that benefit wildlife, improve long-term

farm health and safeguard food production. Two of our members, Kate Bissett and

Alison Smith attended and these points are extracted from their notes:

The chemicals

The systemic nature of neonicotinoids was explained. Following application to the seeds, neonicotinoid can be

transmitted through the air when drill seeding and also through the soil as they break down around the seeds.

Clear evidence now exists of harm to honey bees and bumble bees from the use of neonicotinoids which are

systemic pesticides.

Research needs to be expanded to consider impact of use of neonicotinoids on other wildlife and more pollinator

monitoring is needed.

There has been criticism of lack of ‘field’ work research in UK. However reference was made to ‘in the field’

research carried out in Sweden which confirms effects on honey bees and indicates negative effects on other insects

such as parasitic wasps – which are themselves ‘control pests’.

Research is currently being carried out at Stirling University on the possible impact of neonicotinoids on butterflies,

So far, research indicates no effect on caterpillars but negative effects on health of adult butterflies.

There is concern that systemic pesticides such as neonicotinoids are ‘persistent’ as was DDT.

Criticism of current EU ‘testing’ of pesticide products which should be more robust before they come on the market.

Farming issues

Cereal crop yields have been going down despite pesticide usage rising.

IPM (Integrated Pest Management), being developed at the James Hutton Institute, was discussed. It looks at non-

pesticide input systems being used to grow healthy crops.

There is a need to get IPM and other research into the farming industry not just scientific research journals.

Need to reduce prophylactic pesticide usage and consider correct tools for specific crops and situations.

Questions raised on how effective the neonicotinoids actually are in use. Farming industry sees neonicotinoids as

‘precision technology’.

A NFU representative said that it is not feasible to protect crops and not harm ‘anything’.

Many farmers feel that a ban would have adverse effects on the Scottish agricultural economy.

Concern by the farming industry that EU legislation and bans will lead to withdrawal of pesticide products with no

alternatives in place.

There is possibly too much emphasis by food retailers and public on ‘perfect’ food items and low prices?

Worry about pesticide products being sold on a ‘commission basis’ by suppliers rather than being based on

independent situation crop specific advice.

More information can be found on the SWT website at

http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/what-we-do/policy-and-campaigns/help-save-our-bees/