part 1_findings portfolio

THE 14TH COLONYFINDINGS_PORTFOLIO DRAFT

Laura NobleUnit 4

2THE 14TH COLONY_FINDINGS PORTFOLIO Laura Noble: Unit 4

CONTENTS

1.0 INTRODUCTION 3

2.0 SITE ANALYSIS 4

Introduction 4

Photographic Analysis 5-15

Journey Map 16

Surrounding Influences 17

Historical Information 18

3.0 ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS 19

3.1 Geology & Soil 20

3.2 Bathymetrics and Topography 21

3.3 Wind Speed 22

3.4 Vegetation 23

3.5 Insect Species 24-26

3.6 Insect Nesting 27-28

3.7 Pollination 29-30

3.8 Pollutants 31

4.0 Critical Evaluation 32


BriefImagine our colossal landfills in the UK as sensible resource sheds to build our future urban spaces. If so, what kind of effort is required to reuse their copious contents as housing and infrastructure? Now that the bulk of humanity has cho-sen to settle in urbanised areas, waste management needs a radical revision. For hundreds of years we design cities to generate waste. It is time we design waste to generate cities. At present, almost all the waste produced in England and Wales is put in about 1,500 landfill sites. About 100 million tones of waste a year is land filled. In the past landfill was an easy route for waste disposal because it was cheap and space was often available in old quarries. This is no longer the case as space approved for landfill is set to run out in the next five to ten years. Ungracefully our English value system is somewhat distressed. The volume of waste being produced by households and businesses is increasing to such an extent that other methods of waste management have to be adopted. Recent European legislation states that landfill must be the last option for waste disposal. All other options, like recycling, minimization, prevention and re-use, must be considered first before the landfill option. About two-thirds of land filled waste is biodegradable organic matter from households, businesses and industry. Other waste includes inert materials, for example from construction and demoli-tion. 1

IntroductionThe site initially looks bare and poorly maintained, however as you begin to delve into the makings of the location from geology to bathymetrics, routes and landings around the site many complex elements begin to unfold. I have identified three tactical layers in my site analysis, these were movement, prediction and composition.

Movement

The level movement tracks the activity of people, animals and insects around the site, identifying their migration paths, public walkways and private roads.

Prediction

Subjects such as weather and the movement of flora and fauna can be estimated but not necessarily correctly identified. The flood defence barrier act as a mechanism against the weather along with the marsh land to protect the nearby town of Dartford.

Composition

The make up of each element on the site can be related to the next by breaking down its layers to be adapted to create new products.

1. Murray, S. 2012. Part 1_Unpacking Brief Unit 4.

1.0_INTRODUCTION

4THE 14TH COLONY_FINDINGS PORTFOLIO Laura Noble: Unit 42.0_SITE ANALYSIS


2.1_PHOTOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS

Photographs are a key part of the site analysis, the low lying landscape rich with colours, materials and industrial sur-roundings should be analysed and incorporated suitably. From the journey around the site and photographs take the materials and textures around the side are primarily raw, unpainted or natural paths and tracks. The industrial estate boarding the site creates a harsh boundary of metal fences and solid facades. The old fireworks factory have been overtaken by nature and the erosion and weathering of the metal sheds have created an autumnal feel around the site. The images are numbered accordingly to the corresponding pages.

A-H

I

P

UVW

XYZ

Q

RST

JK

LMO N


2.1_PHOTOGRAPHS

Abandoned Fireworks FactoryA B


2.1_PHOTOGRAPHS

Abandoned Fireworks Factory

C

F

E

H

D

G


2.1_PHOTOGRAPHS

Site Views

I

J K L


2.1_PHOTOGRAPHS

Fly Tipping SitesO

N

M


2.1_PHOTOGRAPHS

Historical FeaturesP


2.1_PHOTOGRAPHS

MarinaQ


2.1_PHOTOGRAPHS

Flood DefenceR

S

T


2.1_PHOTOGRAPHS

View of Dartford Bridge from site

U


2.1_PHOTOGRAPHS

V W X


2.1_PHOTOGRAPHS

Y Z


I began my journey by driving over the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge to get a view of the site from a distance. Once across the bridge the most direct entrance towards the site is along the A206 and through the industrial estate where the Littlebrook power station is along with other commercial office buildings and warehouses filter off through small streets.

A housing community has recently been developed on the old site of the Joyce Green Hospital. A small section of the site has already been developed and sold on but there is construction plans to create housing amongst the rest of the site. The housing community along with the industrial development create a dent in the beautiful landscape that it is blocking, views out to the river are very limited.

The main site can be accessed through a country lane called Marsh Lane which is an unmade road that leads up towards the abandoned Fireworks Factory and clay pigeon shooting range. There is also a public footpath which continues onto the high river walk [flood defence] where you can walk along from the flood barrier to Littlebrook factory.

Walking towards the power station along this path you will also find the old tramway path which used to connect the hospital ships and Joyce Green Hospital.

2.2_JOURNEY MAP

Driving Routes

Pedestrian Walking Paths


2.3_SURROUNDING INFLUENCES

LocationDartford Borough lies 25 km south east of Central London in Kent between the North Downs and the River Thames. The smallest of the Kent districts, it covers an area of about 7,000 hectares and has a population approaching 86,000. The Borough occupies an important strategic location within the South East, bordering Greater London to the west, the River Thames and Essex to the north and the remainder of Kent to the south and east. Two of the principal lines of communication within the region intersect here - the M25 London Orbital Motorway and the A2, linking London to Can-terbury and the Channel ports - to provide excellent links to the capital, the remainder of the South East and Continental Europe. The Queen Elizabeth II Bridge across the Thames provides a dramatic and strategic landmark in this part of Thames Gateway. The North Kent railway line links Dartford to London mainline stations. [Source - Contaminated land strategy - page 9]

IndustryIn between the Dartford marshes and the Queen Elizabeth II bridge there is Littlebrook industrial estate providing job and services such as training centres, warehouses for food packaging, electronics manufacturer and suppliers. The industrial estate thrives on the direct and major access routes it has towards the M25.

Waste Management SitesThere are various types of waste management sites and recycling centres around dartford, one called Hump it n Dump it, is located in Dartford on the other side of the M25 to our site location. Kent Enviropower Limited is located on the outskirts of Maidstone takes non-hazardous waster from households and businesses in the Kent area for recycling and energy recovery. There is a secondary recycled aggregates and minerals recycling facility centre being proposed at the moment with Kent County council on the Dartford/Gravesend border.

Activities Dartford is located in a central area with many attractions and activities near by. The nearest activity is the Clay Pigeon farm which is located to the north of the site along the river front. The main town centre has a high street with general nationwide retail stores as well as independent stores. The site is around 10-15 minute car journey to a large shopping centre called Bluewater located in Erith. Kent is a very open county with lots of green spaces and open parks, locally to Dartford there are a number of attraction which include wildlife. These include Shorne Country Park, Eagle Heights Bird of Prey Centre and wildlife park. The county is quite historical, with Lullingstone Castle and a Roman Villa located to the South of Dartford near Farnigham.

Public RealmThe marsh land has many public walkways through the fields and around the river edge you can walk on the flood defence around the site and get fantastic views of the grazing marshes. The roads leading to the marshes are public however at the end towards the river it does become private property of the Clay Shooting Farm. Within the marshes fly tipping is a major problem around many areas of the site, as can be seen in the photographs detailed.

EducationalIn the centre of Dartford there is many schooling and educational facilities for all age ranges. There are 82 Primary Schools and 20 Secondary schools within a 5 mile radius of the site. As well as a technology college and other skill and trade learning facilities within the Dartford Industrial estate.

Flight PathsThere are only a couple of direct flight paths over Dartford. However in 2009, there was a large debate about a flight path being redirected over the town because of the runway extension at Heathrow airport, but this was not continued.

BoatsErith Yacht club is located to the North West of the site where people can sail alongside the North of the site. The club holds numerous of events and is located on a large wide stretch of the Thames Estuary.

JettiesThe nearest jetty to the site is from the Littlebrook power station, this is still operable and has a good road link to the M25 for transport links. The power station transferring materials such as Gas and residual fuel has cause for concern incase of any spillages in the movement over the water could demineralise it and cause harm to the wildlife.


2.4_HISTORICAL INFORMATION

Wells Firework Factory

Joyce Green Hospital

Orchard Hospital

Long Reach Hospital [Flooded]

Land UseThe previous land uses of the Dartford Marshes and surrounding areas was mainly used for the grazing of animals. There is a list of the tenants dating from 31st March 1416 called The Dartford Marsh Roll. The records show that the tenants included notables such as the prior of St Johns, prior of Rochester and the prioress of Dartford.1 As well as open grassland the marsh also inhabits some ancient trees, which are believed to be over 300 years old. They consisted mainly of willows and they were planted as a shelter to protect the animals. The site has also been part of archeological investigation due to a range of ancient structures found dating from medieval period right through to World War Two. 2 Currently the some of the marsh is used for grazing other areas are of too poor quality to graze on. A clay pigeon shooting range and a motorcross track are other features of the land as well as the flood defence.

HospitalsThe site is a prime location for transport, being on one of the major links the River Thames into and out of London towards Europe. There was a series of hospital ships at Long Reach, which is now where the main flood barrier stands, that where part of a series of isolated hospitals that helped to deal with the containing of infectious diseases from the capital. The hospital ships continued to run until 1903 when the permanent Joyce Green smallpox hospitals was opened on a nearby site. Two temporary hospitals [Long Reach hospital and Orchard hospital] were opened on a nearby site during a serious smallpox outbreak in 1901-2. 3

Joyce Green hospital admitted refugees from Europe who were suspected of having the smallpox infection and also carried out examinations and vaccinations. It was established a status as one of the top smallpox hospitals in the country. After 1931 it was never again used for smallpox and they lie empty until 1939 for war support. In 1948 the new NHS brought changes to the river hospitals and Joyce Green became training school. The teaching centre was moved in 200 to The Darent Valley hospital which opened on the 11th September 2000. 4

The hospital tramway was set up as a unique ambulance service to link the Long Reach pier with the hospital main gate. The path way route still exists and stopped being used in 1936.

Vickers AirfieldMessrs Vickers Ltd in 1910 decided to purchase land at Dartford marshes to become more involved in the field of aviation. It was located towards the east of Joyce Green land and was the main testing ground for prototype aeroplanes, although there was never any proper runway constructed. After running for 8 years at the Dartford marshes, Vickers transferred their aircraft to Weybridge in Surrey in 1919. 5

1-3 PETER BEARD. 2006. Dartford, Crayford and Erith Marshes - Heritage Review. Source - http://www.bexley.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=1155&p=0 [Accessed: 4th October 2012]4 Payne. F. Dartford Hospital Histories. Source - http://dartfordhospitalhistories.org.uk [Accessed 19th December 2012]4-7 PETER BEARD. 2006. Dartford, Crayford and Erith Marshes - Heritage Review. Source - http://www.bexley.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=1155&p=0 [Accessed: 4th October 2012]

8 Anon. UKPS About Wells. Souce - http://www.wellsatamberley.org/aboutwells.html [Accessed 12th December 2012]

Littlebrook Power StationThe power station was developed in 1939, located on the river was a perfect location for the factory, the constant supply of water for cooling the turbines and active accessible transport. Currently there have been four power stations constructed names A, B, C, D and D is the only remaining operational station. Sections A, B and C were mainly abandoned due to insufficient ability to withstand flooding. 6

World War II StructuresA number of World War II structures are located around the Dartford marshes including the anti-aircraft battery and several pill-boxes. They currently have no specific status, they sit amongst the land which is used for animal grazing and have no official public access. 7

Fireworks FactoryWells Fireworks Factory is the only remaining fireworks factory in the UK and it has stood derelict for the past 30 years. In 1938 it opened after being moved from the Colchester works and during the 1960s there was a series of take overs and when the last Wells Director moved it was effectively the end of the company in the UK. 8 Fly tipping and vandalism has overwhelmed the site to this day, however it has now been taken over by the University of Greenwich.


3.0_ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS


3.1_GEOLOGY & SOIL CONDITIONS

Geological ResearchThe Following text was taken from a report where ground works were investigated on a nearby site, along with the observation details taken at a particular point. It compares and describes the different soil and material types from the bore holes taken.

At [observation] 85 a deep shaft was sunk to a level of -0.75m OD, the upper partof the section obscured by concrete casing. The base of the excavation exposed brown and grey silty sand similar to that seen in the previous observations but also containing lenses of coarse sand. Another pit for an inspection shaft at 86, a further 10m to the south, revealed a sequence of deposits to a level of -1.0m OD. At the base of the excavation between OD level and -1.0 OD three separate deposits were exposed, two of which were sampled. Sample 18 was derived from deposit 86 (3), a grey-brown plastic sand containing rare pebbles and lenses of iron-rich silt and lenses of chalk or tufa. Sample 19 derived from the adjacent deposit (4), a plastic grey sand containing lenses of coarse angular sand and small flint `grits. Samples 18 and 19 derived from weathered horizon in a freshwater laid sand flat (below, Appendix 3). Deposit 5 occurred at the same level, on the east side of the trench and consisted of a slightly clayey silt sand with dark lenses, perhaps from iron panning. It is possible that this deposit was a silt in a channel cutting the other deposits but the depth and site conditions did not allow closer inspection or sampling. The upper sequence was very similar to that previously seen to the north in 82 and 83.

Observations 87 and 88 were made between 220 to 320m to the south, close to the Water Treatment works. Between these points the trench revealed the make up for the previous road serving the cement works and pre-dating the Thames Way. In the area of 87 the chalk road makeup sealed marsh deposits containing domestic waste, apparently part of rubbish dumped in the early C20 date as seen in previous test pits (Sparey-Green 2007b). The trench at 88 only penetrated the road make-up but the final section of trench heading south-west across the verge and entering the water treatment works encountered another area of domestic waste dump at present ground level, beneath the existing bund bordering the works at this point.

[Page 30 - Northfleet Growth Scheme Document]

OBSERVATION (86) at CHAINAGE 2540m.THAMES WAY, SOUTH OF RAILWAY BRIDGE TQ 617739 Present Ground level 4.25m OD(1) Made ground over Terram. 1.8m thick.(2) Grey-brown to grey clay silt sand . 2.5m thick.(3) `Plastic grey-brown sand and silt containing rare pebbles, lenses of iron richsilt and sand and lenses of chalk or tufa flecks SAMPLE 18 (4) `Plastic grey sand, at base lenses of gritty sand and small angular flintfragments


3.2_BATHYMETRY & TOPOGRAPHY

TopographyThe topography of the site is mainly a low lying landscape generally at or below 5m above Ordnance Datum, with the main change near the river edge where the 7m man made flood defence created of built up land surrounds the marsh. There are several characteristic ditches which carry a series of habitats that network across the marsh and are extract-ed by the River Darent. The River Darent flood barrier is noted as a landmark of significance.

BathymetryBathymetric data is the contours which have formed within a rivers bed. The bathymetric data of the Thames Estuary has been quite significant in the past to identify historical items such as medieval coins and instruments. It has also been useful to identify any changes in the rivers path or strength by analysing changes in the contouring of the river bed.

The contours and bathymetric data have been created using a 3D modelling programme and inputting the spot heights found on the OS Map to estimate the contour paths.

Patched together bathymetric data


INTRODUCTION

The wind on the site is very noticeable and there is not much in the way of shelter for the majority of the site. The wind pattern shown in the map and measurements taken, were taken on one of the first site visits. The day was fair and brisk and as you walk towards the Thames Estuary you notice the uptake in wind speed rapidly. The abandoned fireworks factory is generally the most sheltered location on the side due to its overgrown plantation and lack of mainte-nance.

The wind acts as an attacking agent on the site influencing weathering and deterioration the sheds on the firework site. The wind direction can be noticed across the site by looking at the fall and lay of the long grass and reeds which surround the marsh grazing land.

3.3_WIND SPEED


3.4_VEGETATION

IntroductionThe Dartford marsh area is mainly open grazing land with low level shrubs and bushes, with a few trees located at the boundary and urban edges. The grazing land is surrounded by dilapidated hedgerows which are a vital piece of vegetation to the British landscape. The tree species is typical of wetlands such as willow and poplar are scattered around the boundary and ditches as well as elm and sycamore trees which mainly cover the wooded area near Joyce Green hospital. Floodplain grazing marsh was created centuries ago when forests in river floodplains were cleared for human settlement and ditches cut to draining the land, making it suitable for grazing by livestock. The main grazing marshes located in Kent are concentrated along the Greater Thames estuary, the Swale estuary, Dartford marshes, Romney Marshes, small areas at Sandwich Bay and Stodmarsh.

HedgerowsHedgerows were initially built as a barrier between farmers land or for land rights [Parliamentary Enclosure Act]. Some hedgerows were remainders of existing woodlands which had been cut down and ordered to create fields for crops. The age of a hedgerow can be defined by looking at the numbers of species that are in the hedgerow. Hedgerows containing only one species usually hawthorn, can generally be dated to the eighteenth century due to a Parliamentary Enclosure Act that required all towns to enclose their land with a barrier.

The hedgerows provide a variety of plant species which makes it a rich habitat for animals and insects to nest in. The largely hawthorn hedgerows help to provide shelter for hibernation and food. Traditional mixed hedges located in the South East consist of hawthorn, blackthorn, field maple, hazel, dogwood and spindle.

Fireworks FactoryThe fireworks factory is a very neglected space with large amounts of overgrown grassland and shrubs. During the summer season the grassland plants help to provide nectar for insects and seeds for birds in winter. The longer grass also helps to create a sheltered environment for the insects such as grasshoppers or frogs thrive in this vegetation. Except for scattered plantations, trees are relatively scarce in the Dartford landscape.

ThreatsThe threats against the grazing marsh lands include saltwater flooding due to sea level rise, localised effects of industrialisation and urbanisation, management and welfare neglect. Directly in Kent the main threats are directed from land-take development, changes in the grazing and mowing regimes that could affect breeding or migration patterns of birds and insects.

Source: http://www.kent.gov.uk/klis/resources/factsheets/habitat_fr/Grazing_Marsh.pdf [Accessed 20th December 2012]

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High TideLow Tide


3.5_INSECT SPECIES

Bees, Wasps and Ants - Order: Hymenoptera

Introduction

Today there are over a million different species of insects around the world and they inhabit every continent. They play a vital role in the worlds ecosystem by pollinating blossoms, aerate the soil and decompose dead materials reviving the soil with nutrients.

I have documented a set of winged insects that live and migrate around the site, the information was sourced from the Kent Wildlife Trust information on the marshes as well as other blogs and websites that encountered sightings of specific insects around the site.

Information sourced from Kent Wildlife Trust - http://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/wildlife/species-explorer/invertebrates

Common Name: Black Garden AntLatin Name: Lasius NigerStatistics: Length 3mmConservation Status: Common

AboutThe Black Garden Ant is common in many habitats, including gardens where nests form under paving stones, in soil and between brickwork. During hot and humid summer weather, winged adults appear and swarm in large numbers; these flying ants mate and eventually disperse to form new colonies. The colonies of the Black Garden Ant are huge, featuring thousands of workers which collect food, keep the nest clean and look after young, and a queen who produces the eggs. The diet of the Black Garden Ant is varied but it includes milking (stroking) aphids for their honeydew.

Common Name: Carder BeeLatin Name: Bombus pascurorumStatistics: Length 13mmConservation Status: Common

AboutOne of our most common bumblebees, the Common Carder Bee emerges early in the spring and can be seen feeding on flowers right through to November. It is found in gardens, farmland, woodland edges, hedgerows, heathland: anywhere there are flowers to feed on. It nests in cavities, such as old mouse runs, in birds nests or in moss mats in lawns. A social insect, nests may contain up to 200 workers. The queen emerges from hibernation in spring and starts the colony by laying a few eggs that hatch as workers; these workers tend the young and nest. Males emerge later and mate with new females who are prospective queens. Both the males and old queen die in the autumn, but the new queens hibernate.

Common Name: Honey BeeLatin Name: Apis MelliferaStatistics: Length 12mmConservation Status: Common

AboutHoney Bees are well-known as hive bees: semi-domesticated for thousands of years to produce honey for human consumption. They may form colonies in the wild in wooded areas. As with other colony-living insects, the hive is split into a queen who lays eggs, the workers who look after the young and the drones who are reproductive males. The hive is made of wax honeycombs, each divided into a number of hexagonal cells that are used to rear young or store food such as pollen and honey (which is actually regurgitated nectar). The larvae pupate in the cell which is capped by wax until they emerge. The first new queen to emerge may sting following queens to death and will either take the place of her mother (who will leave with a swarm) or will create a new colony.

Common Name: Red Mason BeeLatin Name: Osmia RufaStatistics: Length 6-11mmConservation Status: Common

AboutThe Red Mason Bee is a small, common bee which nests in hollow plant stems, in holes in cliffs, and in the crumbling mortar of old buildings. It is a solitary bee so, after mating, each female builds its own nest; she lines each cell with mud and pollen and lays a single egg in each until the cavity is full. The larvae hatch and develop, pupating in autumn and hibernating over winter. The Red Mason Bee is on the wing from late March, and feeds solely on pollen and nectar.

Common Name: WaspLatin Name: Vespula VulgarisStatistics: Length 20mmConservation Status: Common

AboutA familiar insect of British summers, the black and yellow Common Wasp is a frequent visitor to gardens, even building its large nest in cavities in houses. The Common Wasp is social, living in large colonies within a nest built out of paper that is formed by the queen chewing up wood. Inside the nest, sterile workers hatch and take over looking after the new young produced by the queen. At the end of summer, reproductive males and queens develop and leave the nest to mate. The males and previous queen die, and the new females hibernate, ready to emerge next spring and start the cycle again. Common Wasps catch a wide variety of invertebrates, mainly to feed to their larvae; they feed themselves on high-energy substances like nectar and rotten fruit.

Common Name: White-tailed BumblebeeLatin Name: Bombus lucorumStatistics: Length 22mmConservation Status: Common

AboutThe White-tailed Bumblebee is a very common bumblebee which emerges early in the spring and can be seen feeding on flowers right through to the autumn. It can be found in gardens, farmland, woodland edges, hedgerows and heathland: anywhere there are flowers to feed on. As with other social insects, the queen emerges from hibernation in spring and starts the colony by laying a few eggs that hatch as workers; these workers tend the young and nest. Males emerge later and mate with new females who are prospective queens. Both the males and old queen die in the autumn, but the new queens hibernate.

Common Name: Wood AntLatin Name: Formica RufaStatistics: Length 10mmConservation Status: Common

AboutWood Ants are aggressive predators, equipped with large, biting jaws and the ability to spray formic acid in defence. They feed on a wide variety of invertebrates, which the workers collect from the area surrounding their colony. Wood Ants build large nests out of soil, twigs, leaves and pine needles. They can be found in heathland, moorland and woodland throughout Britain.

Common Name: Yellow Meadow AntLatin Name: Lasius FalvusStatistics: Length 2-3.5mmConservation Status: Common

AboutThe Yellow Meadows Ant is familiar to us as the common ant that creates anthills in grassland and downland habitats, but also appears in our gardens if the grass is not cut too often. They build a soil dome above the nest - which can extend a metre below the ground - that helps to regulate temperature and humidity. Like all ants, the Yellow Meadow Ant is social and forms colonies; the workers are mainly active underground, however, and not often seen unless the nest is disturbed. During summer, winged adults pair and mate, the females dispersing to form new colonies.


3.5_INSECT SPECIES

Common Name: Angel ShadesLatin Name: Phlogophora MeticulosaStatistics: Wingspan 4.8cmConservation Status: Common

AboutThe Angle Shades is a medium-sized moth, generally seen on the wing from May to October as the result of two broods. The caterpillars are stout and green or brownish, with faint stripes on every segment. Larvae that hatch in autumn overwinter as caterpillars and pupate in the soil the following spring to produce the first generation of adults that year. The caterpillars feed on a wide range of plants including Dock and Stinging Nettles. This moth is quite common in parks and gardens, as well as woodland edges, scrub and hedgerows

Common Name: BrimstoneLatin Name: Gonepteryx RhamniStatistics: Wingspan 5.2-6cmConservation Status: Common

AboutOne of the joys of spring is watching a fluttering Brimstone alight on a flower on a sunny day - one of the first signs that the seasons are changing. A fairly large, pale yellow butterfly, Brimstone adults hibernate through cold weather, so may be seen flying on warm days throughout the year, although they are most common in the spring. Usually seen in ones or twos, they are never very common but are widespread. They can be found in damp woodlands, along sunny, woodland rides, mature hedgerows and in large gardens. The foodplants of the larvae are Buckthorn and Alder Buckthorn, two shrubs that both occur on wet woodland, while buckthorn also occurs also on dry chalk and limestone soils.

Butterflies and Moths - Order: LepidopteraBeetles - Order: Coleoptera

Common Name: Brimstone MothLatin Name: Opisthograptis LuteolataStatistics: Wingspan: 2.8-3.5cmConservation Status: Common

AboutThe Brimstone Moth is a medium-sized, mainly night-flying moth that is on the wing between April and October when it frequently comes to lights in the garden. It can also be found in woodland, scrub and grassland habitats. The twig-like caterpillars feed on a variety of shrubs in the rose family, including Hawthorn, Blackthorn and Rowan. The Brimstone Moth hibernates as a dense cocoon, usually on the ground.

Common Name: Elephant Hawk-mothLatin Name: Deilephila ElpenorStatistics: Wingspan: 6-7cmConservation Status: Common

AboutThe Elephant Hawk-moth is a medium-sized hawk-moth, on the wing from May to July and active at dusk. It is commonly found in parks and gardens, as well as woodland edges, rough grassland and sand dunes. The caterpillars are seen from July to September and are very characteristic: greyish-green or brown with two enormous, black eyespots towards the head. When disturbed, they swell up to show these spots and scare-off predators. The caterpillars feed on willowherbs, fuchsia and bedstraw, and the adults feed on nectar. The caterpillars overwinter as chrysalides, hidden amongst low vegetation or in the soil.

Common Name: Common BlueLatin Name: Polyommatus IcarusStatistics: Wingspan: 2.9-3.6cmConservation Status: Common

AboutThe Common Blue is a small blue butterfly which flies throughout the summer between April and October. The most widespread of the blue butterflies, it is found in a variety of habitats including heathland, woodland rides, grassy meadows, parks and even large gardens. Caterpillars feed on clovers, Restharrow, Birds-foot Trefoil and related plants.

Common Name: Red AdmiralLatin Name: Vanessa AtalantaStatistics: Wingspan: 6.4-7.8cmConservation Status: Common

AboutA fairly large black, white and red butterfly, the Red Admiral is an impressive visitor to our gardens where it can be spotted feeding on Buddleia and other flowers. Adults sometimes hibernate, and may be seen flying on warm days throughout the year, although they are most common in the summer and early autumn. The caterpillars feed on Common Nettles

Common Name: White AdmiralLatin Name: Limenitis CamillaStatistics: Wingspan: 5.6-6.6cmConservation Status: Classified as a Priority Species in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan

AboutThe White Admiral is a medium-sized butterfly found in shady woodlands, clearings and rides in late summer. Adults are often found on the flowers of Bramble and lay their eggs on honeysuckle leaves, which the caterpillars feed on. Usually seen in ones or twos, it is never very common, but is widespread in southern England.

Common Name: Burying BeetleLatin Name: NicrophorusStatistics: Length: 3cmConservation Status: Common

AboutBurying beetles are the undertakers of the animal world - a group of large beetles that bury dead and decaying animals such as mice and small birds. Burying beetles can be found wherever there are corpses for them to feed on, and often fly into lights at night. Males and females pair-up at the corpse and will fight off rivals to take charge of it and bury it. The female lays her eggs on or beside the buried body and the resulting larvae eat the rotting corpse. Burying beetles are unusual in the beetle-world for the fact that both males and females continue to care for the larvae after they hatch - feeding them from the corpse. Their antennae are equipped with receptors that are able to detect rotting bodies from metres, even kilometres, away.

Common Name: Bloody-nosed BeetleLatin Name: Timarcha TenebricosaStatistics: Length: 2-2.3cmConservation Status: Common

AboutThe Bloody-nosed Beetle is a large, round beetle with long legs that is flightless and can often be seen plodding across paths or through grass. It can be found during the spring and summer in grassland, heathland and along hedgerows. One of our largest leaf beetles, adults feed on the leaves of Ladys Bedstraw and related plants, and the larvae can be seen hanging from these plants. The name derives from its defence mechanism, when breathed on, the beetles secrete a blood-red liquid from the mouth which irritates the mouths of mammals.

Common Name: 14-spot LadybirdLatin Name: Propylea 14-PunctataStatistics: Length: 4-5mmConservation Status: Common

AboutThe 14-spot Ladybird is a medium-sized ladybird found in a wide variety of habitats, particularly grassland, woodland edge, towns and gardens. Both adults and larvae feed on aphids, making them a friend in the garden. The 14-spot Ladybird has a long hibernation period, emerging as late as May to breed. Its bright colouration is a warning to predators that it is distasteful, although some birds may still have a go at eating it.

Common Name: Harlequin LadybirdLatin Name: Harmonia AxyridisStatistics: Length: 8mmConservation Status: Invasive, non-native species

AboutA non-native species, originally from Asia, the Harlequin Ladybird first arrived in the UK in 2004, and has rapidly become one of the most common ladybirds in the country, particularly in towns and gardens. The invasive Harlequin is one of the larger species of ladybird in the UK and is a voracious predator - it is able to out-compete our native species for aphid-prey and will also eat other ladybirds eggs and larvae. It can have multiple broods throughout the spring, summer and autumn, which also gives it a competitive edge.

Common Name: Voilet Ground BeetleLatin Name: Carabus ViolaceusStatistics: Length: 3cmConservation Status: Common

AboutThe Violet Ground Beetle is a common beetle found in gardens, farmland and meadows. Ground beetles are active, nocturnal predators, chasing and catching smaller invertebrates; they are particularly helpful to gardeners as they prey on many pest species such as slugs. They can often be found resting during the day under logs and stones and in leaf litter. Adult females lay their eggs in soil and the larvae hatch, becoming active predators themselves.


Grasshoppers - Order: OrthopteraSpiders - Order: Araneae

Dragonflys - Order: Ordonata

Common Name: Dark bush-cricketLatin Name: Pholidoptera GriseoapteraStatistics: Body length - 1.5-1.7cmConservation Status: Common

AboutA common animal across the southern half of England, the noisy, irregular chirpings of the dark bush-cricket are a familiar feature of late summer. An animal of gardens, hedgerows and woodland edges, dark bush-crickets can often be seen in quite large numbers sunbathing on bramble patches. However, males are very aggressive, defending their territories against intruders. Females lay their eggs in late summer in rotting wood or bark crevices; they emerge 18 months later, so odd-year and even-year dark bush-crickets never meet.

Common Name: MayflyLatin Name: EphemeropteraStatistics: Body length - 1-2cmConservation Status: Mostly common. Yellow and Iron Blue mayflies are classified as Priority Species in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan

AboutThere are 51 species of mayfly in Britain. They are common around freshwater wetlands, from fast-flowing rivers to still lakes, where the larvae spend their lives underwater feeding on algae and plants. The adults hatch out, usually in the summer, and have very short lives (just hours in some cases) during which they display and breed; hatchings of hundreds of adult mayflies in the same spot at the same time often occur. Many species do not feed as adults as their sole purpose is to reproduce and once they have mated, they die. The common name is misleading as many mayflies can be seen all year-round, although one species does emerge in synchrony with the blooming of Hawthorn (or Mayflower).

Common Name: Scorpion FlyLatin Name: Panorpa communisStatistics: Body length - 1-2cmConservation Status: Common`AboutThe Scorpion Fly is a strange looking insect which is found in gardens, hedgerows and woodland edges, particularly amongst nettles and Bramble. It has a long beak-like projection from its head that is uses to feed, scavenging on dead insects and frequently stealing the contents of spiders webs. It lives up to its name by sporting a scorpion-like tail, which the male uses in courtship displays. Adults usually mate at night, but mating can be a dangerous game for the male, who might easily be killed by the female. So he presents her with a nuptial gift of a dead insect or a mass of saliva to placate her - the equivalent of a box of chocolates! The resulting eggs are laid in the soil and the emerging larvae live and pupate at the soil surface.

Common Name: Club-tailed DragonflyLatin Name: Gomphus vulgatissimus Statistics: Length - 50mmConservation Status: Nationally notable species with local BAPs in Worcestershire, Shropshire and Cheshire.`AboutThe club-tailed dragonfly is a medium sized species, on the wing from early May to late June. This species is elusive as an adult, mostly seen on emergence from its riverine habitat. Meandering rivers with silty substrates over a rocky bed are favoured by the burrowing larvae. Adults have a tightly synchronised emergence with dense concentrations being found at favoured sites. Once emerged adults spend most of their time away from the river in adjacent woodland where they spend most of their time in the canopy of trees.

Common Name: Emperor DragonflyLatin Name: Anax imperator Statistics: Length - 50mmConservation Status: Common

AboutThe emperor dragonfly is a very large, impressive dragonfly which is on the wing from June to August. It is a common dragonfly of large ponds and lakes as well as canals and ditches and is rarely found away from water. The female lays her eggs in floating pondweed. One of the largest dragonfly species in Europe, the emperor dragonfly flies high up looking for insect-prey such as butterflies and chaser dragonflies. It catches its prey in mid-air and may eat it on the wing.

Common Name: Golden-ringed DragonflyLatin Name: Cordulegaster boltonii Statistics: Length - 7.4-8.4mmConservation Status: Common

AboutThe golden-ringed dragonfly is a very large dragonfly which is on the wing from May to September. It is a dragonfly of small, acidic streams in moorland and heathland and may be found away from its breeding sites. The female of this species is the UKs longest dragonfly because of her long ovipositor. Golden-ringed dragonflies are voracious predators, feeding on large insects such as damselflies, other dragonflies, wasps, beetles and bumblebees. They are fast, agile and powerful flyers.

Common Name: Field GrasshopperLatin Name: Chorthippus BrunneusStatistics: Length: 1.8-2.4cmConservation Status: Common

AboutCommon and widespread, the Field Grasshopper is ubiquitous in any open, sunny, grassy area, including our gardens. Adults are present from June until late autumn, feeding on plants and grass. A gregarious species, males can be seen displaying to females by rubbing their legs against their wings to create a song - in this case, it is brief, single chirrup, repeated at short intervals. After mating, the eggs are laid in the soil ready to hatch the following summer.

Common Name: Nursery Web SpiderLatin Name: Pisaura MirabilisStatistics: Length: 1.5cmConservation Status: Common

AboutThe Nursery Web Spider is a common spider of grassland and scrub, and is often seen sunbathing amongst Brambles and Stinging Nettles. The adults are active hunters and dont spin a web to catch food, instead using a quick sprint to capture flies and other insects. The female carries her large, round egg-sac in her fangs. When the young are about to hatch, she builds a silk sheet among the vegetation to act as a tent, sheltering them until they are old enough to leave on their own.

Common Name: Garden SpiderLatin Name: Araneus DiadematusStatistics: Body length: Female 1.8cm Male 9mmConservation Status: Common

AboutThe Garden Spider is the UKs commonest orb web spider and is abundant in gardens, grassland and woodland - it can be found almost everywhere, in fact. They build their typical spider webs (spirals with radial threads) out of sticky silk. They sit in the middle of the web, waiting to feel the vibrations of a struggling insect caught in the web, at which point they rush out and wrap it tightly in silk. Once immobilised they will kill their victim with a venomous bite. Adults appear from June to November and the young emerge from their silk egg-sac the following spring.

Common Name: Zebra SpiderLatin Name: Salticus ScenicusStatistics: Body length: 6-7mmConservation Status: Common

AboutThe Zebra Spider is a common jumping spider that stalks its prey on walls, rocks and tree trunks in the sun, before leaping on it - they can jump up to 10cm, nearly twice their own body length. Zebra Spiders frequent gardens and sometimes come into houses. Males attract females through a complex courtship dance, moving around the females with their legs waving in the air. The females create a silk cocoon in which the eggs are protected, and guards the nest until the young hatch.

Common Name: Daddy LonglegsLatin Name: Tipula PaludosaStatistics: Body length: 1.6cmConservation Status: The Daddy Longlegs is common, but other species of cranefly are rare.AboutThe Daddy Longlegs is actually a large type of cranefly, of which there are 94 species in the UK. Familiar to all of us in its adult form as the gangly insect that flits around our homes in summer, the larvae of the Daddy Longlegs are grey grubs (also known as leatherjackets) which live underground, feeding on plants stems and roots. This habit makes them unpopular with gardeners as they can leave bare patches of lawn, and can also become agricultural pests. The adults are on the wing during the late summer and are common in gardens and fields, often coming indoors. They rarely feed at this time, concentrating on mating and laying their eggs amongst the grass.

3.5_INSECT SPECIES

Information sourced from Kent Wildlife Trust


3.6_INSECT NESTING

Bees NestExamples of extant solitary to eusocial bee nest morphologies. The basic building blocks of bee nests are fask-shapedcells with or without a spiral cap closure, modied several ways to construct different types of nest architectures. (A,B) Nest of the communal halictid bee Pseudagapostemon divaricatus. (C) Nest of the colonial orchid bee Euglossa ignita. (D) Cell cluster of the primitively social halictid bee Lasioglossum (Euylaeus) duplex. (E) Nest of the eusocial honeybee Apis mellifera. (F) Nest of the semisocial halictid bee Augochloropsis sparsilis. (G) Nest of the pocket-making social bumblebee Bombus (Fervidobombus) atratus. (H) Nest of the eusocial stingless honeybee Trigona (Tetragona) favicornis.

A bees nest consists of a single queen bee, female workers and male drones. The nest is created from a matrix of hexagonal cells made of beeswax called honeycomb which is used to store food (honey and pollen) and house brood. The nest is created in a similar way to the wasps nest to begin with the queen bee searching for a place to create her colony. She usually locates the nests in trees, crevasses anywhere where it was warm and enclosed. The queen gives off a special pheromone to prevent the other female bees from becoming fertile and a queen be. However when the time is right for the nest to move on she will produce a set of eggs to become new queen bees.

If the nest gets to small for the colony then she will send out her workers to go and search for a new location. Once the location is found they return back to the nest and do a figure of eight dance to inform the other bees on where the new nest will be located. They store as much honey and nectar as they can to transport to the new nest to begin the new colony. Sometimes the queen bee will stay with her existing colony and send one of her princess bees off to create a new colony.

Source - Hasiotis, S. 2002. Complex ichnofossils of solitary and social soil organisms: understanding their evolution and roles in terrestrial paleoecosystems. The University of Kansas, Kansas. [Available at http://www.journals.elsevier.com/palaeogeography-palaeoclimatology-palaeoecology]

Solitary WaspsExamples of extant solitary to eusocial bee nest morphologies. (A) Simple nest architectures in soils constructed by species of Diadasia. (B) Simple nests with cells arranged in series and short lateral tunnels constructed by soil (halictid, anthophorid, megachilids) and wood (xylocopid) bees. (C) Simple soil nests with cells arranged in a combination of series and lateral tunnels constructed by colletid, nomad, and melitid bees. (D) Complex cell clusters constructed by halictid, corynurid, neocorynurid, augochlorid, and paroxystoglossid soil bees. (E) Complex architectures of soil nests with cells arranged in a combination as individuals, series, and branches from lateral tunnels constructed by colletid, halictid, periditid, adrenid, and paragapostemid bees.

Common Wasps NestExamples of extant eusocial wasp nest morphologies. (A) Nest architecture of Paravespula vulgaris. (B) Major nest architecture development patterns constructed by eusocial vespid wasps.

The nest is created from chewed wood fibres mixed with saliva, to create an open cell with a cylindric column called a petiole the attaches the nest to the main substructure. The queen wasp begins by creating around 20-30 cells and laying egg larvae within the cells to create her colony. The queen continue to feed the larvae for a few weeks until they become adult and hatch. When enough of the wasps have hatched they will begin to forage to feed and continue to build the nest, and the queen just concentrates on reproduction.


3.6_INSECT NESTING

Ants NestExamples of extant ant nest morphologies. The basic building blocks of ant nests are unlined chambers and galleries arranged in diffuse or concentrated architectures. (A) Nest morphology and ontogeny of Pogonomyrmex occidentalis. Nest morphology of: (B,C) Camponotus turkenstanicus ; (D) Formica pratensis; (E) Camponotus aenescens; (F) Camponotus interjectus ; fungusgardening ants, (G) Trachymyrmex turrifex; (H) Trachymyrmex septentrionalis ; (I) Oxyonomyrmex santchii; (J) Atta texana.

The production of an ants nest is very similar to that of a wasp and bees nest. British ants tends to build their nest in damp soil as it is easier to excavate compared to other material such as sand. Simple ants nests are just made up of long paths called galleries where as the more complex nests have chambers with flat floors and interconnecting tunnels. The nests need a constant regulated temperature amongst the colonies.

One of the most skilled ant in England is the Yellow Meadow ant (Lasius Flavus) which can build their nest more than a metre down into the ground. The Lasius Niger, also know as the Common Black ant chews up wood fibres like a wasp to line the wall of the nest with.

Source - Hasiotis, S. 2002. Complex ichnofossils of solitary and social soil organisms: understanding their evolution and roles in terrestrial paleoecosystems. The University of Kansas, Kansas. [Available at http://www.journals.elsevier.com/palaeogeography-palaeoclimatology-palaeoecology]


3.7_POLLINATION

PollinationBees and plants evolved alongside each other, as the bees would visit the plants for food (pollen and nectar). Around 73% of the world crops are pollinated by bees worldwide, and if the bee population began to diminish there would be a chain effect on the food industry that supplies around the world. Bees are attracted to flowers because of their bright primary colours that are within the light spectrum that they can sense. They can detect every colour of the rainbow except for red. Flowers that bloom in early spring and late autumn are sometimes deprived of pollination because bees tend not to leave their hive if the temperature is below 10oC, even then they are drowsy and cannot fly very far in the lower temperatures.

Producing HoneyThe fuzziness to the bees hair on their bodies creates an electromagnetic charge allows the pollen to stick to their bodies and hind legs, similar to the balloon and hair experiment. Honey bees and bumble bees both make honey, however the colony of honey bees are much larger and more hard working than bumble bees, as the average worker bumble bees only tend to last one season from spring to winter. An average honey bee colony has around 20,000 to 60,000 workers where as a bumble bee hive only around 200-1000 bees.

Pollinator TypesBees generally pollinate crops for fruit and vegetables, as well as helping provide a consistent life cycle for other flora and fauna. To the left is a list of flower and bush plants which are generally pollinated by the bees, and on the next page displays the trees commonly pollinated by bees. The known flora on the site are highlighted.

This leaet lists a number of shrubs (dened as a perennial plant not growing normally on an single trunk) useful for providing pollen and/or nectar for bees and other pollinating insects.

The list includes a wide range of plants suitable for a range of habitats, including small and large gardens and some may also be found in the wild. Brief details are given of the less common species.

All will normally ower in the UK, although some will need a good summer to ower well. In most cases pollen production is relatively reliable, but nectar production is not, being more affected by the soil and weather. There is an increasing number of species now being grown in the UK which originate from hotter countries and these may be especially variable in owering and nectar production. Many of these are not reliably hardy in colder parts of the country but with warmer summers and milder winters some of these plants can be grown far more widely, and may produce more nectar in good weather.

Information Leaet L3

Shrubs useful to Bees

Bush Fruits

Most bush fruits are valuable bee plants, some producing copious nectar (marked ). Flowering time varies with the variety.

Bilberry Whortle berry Black, red & white currants

Blackberries Wild & cultivated

Blueberries

Gooseberries

Hybrid berries: Boysenberry, Worcester berry, Jostaberry

Raspberry & Loganberry

This leaet is provided for general interest and information only. No liability is accepted for any injury or loss arising out of the contents of this leaet.

BBKA 2007The British Beekeepers Association

The National Agricultural Centre,Stoneleigh, Warwickshire CV8 2LG

Syringa spp & hybrids Lilacs. Spring NP Wide range of medium & large shrubs, mostly spring owering, all strongly scented.

Tamarix spp Maylate summer NP Feathery foliage, profuse masses of tiny, pink owers. Varying owering times from May to late summer.

Ulex europaeus, U. minor Gorse. N? P Long owering periods.

Viburnum spp Wide range of evergreen & deciduous shrubs. Good species include: V. bodnatense, V. fragrans Winter NP Deciduous, winter owering, scented. V. burkwoodii Evergreen, scented. Apr NP V. carlesii Scented. Apr NP V. juddii Scented. AprMay NP V. opulus Guelder rose. JunJul NP V. tinus, V. laurustinus Evergreen. OctMar P

Weigela orida & hybrids MayJun N P? Pink, red or white owers.

Wisteria spp Climbers. W. oribunda & W. sinensis AprMay (N)P

To nd out more about specic plants and their cultural requirements most garden centres and libraries have a reference section with encyclopaedias of garden plants.






Bush Fruits




Blueberries

Gooseberries


















Bush Fruits




Blueberries

Gooseberries













Key to list:

** tender. * not reliably hardy. Spp = species. (N) = nectar produced when weather good enough.

N = nectar collected. P = pollen collected.

**Abutilon vitifolium MayJul NP Soft grey/green vine shaped downy leaves, large saucer-shaped owers, various colours.

Berberis spp AprJul NP Wide range of species, all attractive to bees.

Buddleia alternifolia Long lilac spikes. Jun NP B. globosa Globular orange owers. May NP B. x weyeriana Orange panicles. JunOct NP

*Ceanothus spp NP Wide range of species, all attractive to bees. Range from spring to late summer owering.

Chaenomeles spp Ornamental quinces. FebApr NP

Cistus spp Rock roses. MayJul NP Evergreen. Range of colours.

*Choisya ternata Mexican Orange Blossom AprJun P Evergreen.

Clematis spp Climbers. Most large owered hybrids only produce pollen. C. armandii Evergreen, strongly scented. AprMay (N)P C. cirrhosa Evergreen, small bell-like owers. DecFeb (N)P C. montana AprMay NP C. vitalba Travellers Joy, wild clematis. JunJul NP

Clethra alnifolia Acid soils. AugOct P

Cotoneaster spp Jun NP Wide range of good garden plants.

Cytisus spp Brooms. NP Wide range of species & hybrids, mostly early owering.

Deutzia spp Summer P Very pretty free owering shrubs.

*Escallonia spp & hybrids NP Wide range of good garden plants. Evergreen.

Eschscholtzia spp Late summerautumn N Unusual lovely shrubs, mint-scented leaves, owers various colours. Good nectar producer.

*Fuchsia magellanica Late summer N Naturalised in S & W. Free-owering.

Genista spp Gorses. Early NP Wide range of garden varieties.

*Hebe spp NP Wide range of sizes from dwarf to large, evergreen, owering periods vary from early summer to late. Some very tender species.

Helianthemum spp & hybrids Sun roses. P Evergreen dwarf shrubs, many colours.

Hydrangea Only those varieties with fertile orets are used by bees, not the showy sterile ones (Hortensia). H. petiolaris Climber. Jun NP H. paniculata and H. villosa Late summer NP

Hedera helix Ivy. NP Climber, evergreen. Good source of late nectar.

Kalmia spp Calico Bush Jun NP Evergreen, acid soils. K. angustifolia, K. latifolia

Kolkwitzia amabilis MayJun NP Uncommon shrub, easy to grow, beautiful drooping bell-shaped owers.

Lonicera spp Honeysuckles. NP Shrubby honeysuckles have smaller more open owers, with more available nectar than the climbing varieties. Some ower late winter. L. angustifolia, L. standishii, L. purpusii

Mahonia spp Winter/spring P Evergreen shrubs with yellow owers. Valuable pollen source early in the year. M. aquifolium, M. bealei, M. japonica, *M. lomariifolia

*Myrtus communis Late summer (N)P Evergreen, fragrant owers.

Olearia spp Daisy bushes. O. haastii White owers. JulAug NP O. macrodonta Jun NP

Parthenocissus quinquefolia Virginia creeper. Aug NP

Perovskia atriplicifolia AugSep NP Aromatic grey foliage & purple/blue owers. Excellent bee plant.

Philadelphus spp Mock Orange. JunJul NP Large number of species and varieties, most strongly scented.

Potentilla fruticosa NP Many varieties & hybrids. Small shrubs, white or yellow owers. Long owering period.

Prunus laurocerasus Cherry laurel. Apr NP Evergreen. Also has extraoral nectaries, very attractive to bees in summer.

Prunus lusitanica Portugal laurel. Jun NP Evergreen.

Pyracantha Firethorn. MayJun NP P. angustifolia, P coccinea

Rhododendron spp NP Small varieties of rhododendron & azaleas can be worked by honey bees. R. ponticum can produce poisonous honey occasionally.

Ribes spp R. sanguineum Flowering Currant. Apr NP Pink, red or white owers. R. odoratum Buffalo Currant, yellow owers. Apr NP R. speciosum Red owers. AprMay NP

Rosa spp N? P Only single owered types. Wild roses & R. rugosa.

Rosmarinus ofcinalis Rosemary. AprMay NP Evergreen, aromatic.

Salix spp Willows. Early spring NP Numerous small shrubby willows. Good species include: S. apoda, S. boydii, S. hastata, S. lanata, S. melanostachys, S. uva-ursi

Symphoricarpos spp Snowberries. JunAug NP Most produce copious amounts of nectar. S. alba, S. occidentalis, S. orbiculatus, S. rivularis

Information Source:


This leaet lists a number of trees useful for providing pollen and/or nectar for bees and other pollinating insects. The list includes a wide range of plants suitable for a range of habitats, including small and large gardens and the wild. Brief details are given of the less common species.

Possible sizes are not given as these can vary dramatically according to the situation, soil, altitude, exposure to wind, etc. Check with a good book (see back of leaet) before buying trees for small gardens. There are many new cultivars which may vary from the usual species.

All of these trees will normally ower in the UK, although some will need a good summer to ower well. In most cases pollen production is relatively reliable, but nectar production is not, being more affected by the location, soil and weather. Lime and hawthorn are especially ckle in their production of nectar, ranging from profuse to nothing! There is an increasing number of species now being grown in the UK which originate from hotter countries and these may be highly variable in owering and nectar production. Some of the trees listed are not reliably hardy in colder parts of the country but with warmer summers and milder winters they are able to be grown far more widely, and may produce more nectar in good weather, being good sources of honey in their native countries.


Trees useful to Bees

Fruit TreesAll are good sources of pollen and many are also excellent nectar producers.

Almond Prunus dulcis Earliest to ower. Profuse nectar producer.

Apple Malus pumila Can be grown as cordons and bush

forms suitable for small gardens. Range of varieties, owering from early April to late May. Good nectar producers.

Cherries Prunus cerasus Large trees, good nectar producers.Medlar Mespilus germanica May Large white owers.Peach & nectarine Prunus persica Early owering, good nectar producer.Pear Prunus communis MarApr Weak nectar, rarely collected.

Plum Prunus domestica Early Apr Good nectar source.Quince Cydonia oblonga Spring Good nectar source.

Less Common TreesThese are less widely grown but are not difcult and are good bee trees. Some ower when there is little other nectar available.

Eucryphia glutinosa, E. nyamansensis AugSep NP Evergreen. Large, beautiful, single white owers.Snowdrop tree Halesia carolina May NP Pretty, small tree. Bunches of owers along branches.Golden Rain tree Koelreuteria paniculata JulAug (N) Large, loose panicles yellow owers.Hop tree Ptelea trifoliata JunJul N Related to Tetrodium. Aromatic leaves, small white

owers, highly scented. Profuse nectar source. Pagoda tree Sophora japonica Sep NP Creamy owers S. tetraptera Smaller, needs shelter. Spring NP Deep yellow bunches of owers. Chinese bee tree AugOct NP Tetrodium (Euodia) danielli, (hupehensis) Small tree with strongly scented small white

owers. Profuse nectar source.





This leaet lists a number of trees useful for providing pollen and/or nectar for bees and other pollinating insects. The list includes a wide range of plants suitable for a range of habitats, including small and large gardens and the wild. Brief details are given of the less common species.

Possible sizes are not given as these can vary dramatically according to the situation, soil, altitude, exposure to wind, etc. Check with a good book (see back of leaet) before buying trees for small gardens. There are many new cultivars which may vary from the usual species.

All of these trees will normally ower in the UK, although some will need a good summer to ower well. In most cases pollen production is relatively reliable, but nectar production is not, being more affected by the location, soil and weather. Lime and hawthorn are especially ckle in their production of nectar, ranging from profuse to nothing! There is an increasing number of species now being grown in the UK which originate from hotter countries and these may be highly variable in owering and nectar production. Some of the trees listed are not reliably hardy in colder parts of the country but with warmer summers and milder winters they are able to be grown far more widely, and may produce more nectar in good weather, being good sources of honey in their native countries.


Trees useful to Bees

Fruit TreesAll are good sources of pollen and many are also excellent nectar producers.

Almond Prunus dulcis Earliest to ower. Profuse nectar producer.

Apple Malus pumila Can be grown as cordons and bush

forms suitable for small gardens. Range of varieties, owering from early April to late May. Good nectar producers.

Cherries Prunus cerasus Large trees, good nectar producers.Medlar Mespilus germanica May Large white owers.Peach & nectarine Prunus persica Early owering, good nectar producer.Pear Prunus communis MarApr Weak nectar, rarely collected.

Plum Prunus domestica Early Apr Good nectar source.Quince Cydonia oblonga Spring Good nectar source.

Less Common TreesThese are less widely grown but are not difcult and are good bee trees. Some ower when there is little other nectar available.

Eucryphia glutinosa, E. nyamansensis AugSep NP Evergreen. Large, beautiful, single white owers.Snowdrop tree Halesia carolina May NP Pretty, small tree. Bunches of owers along branches.Golden Rain tree Koelreuteria paniculata JulAug (N) Large, loose panicles yellow owers.Hop tree Ptelea trifoliata JunJul N Related to Tetrodium. Aromatic leaves, small white

owers, highly scented. Profuse nectar source. Pagoda tree Sophora japonica Sep NP Creamy owers S. tetraptera Smaller, needs shelter. Spring NP Deep yellow bunches of owers. Chinese bee tree AugOct NP Tetrodium (Euodia) danielli, (hupehensis) Small tree with strongly scented small white

owers. Profuse nectar source.





Maples The decorative Japanese maples rarely ower in the UK, but the larger species are all excellent bee plants. Spring (N)P Acer campestris Field maple, native tree. A. macrophyllum Oregon maple. A. negundo Box elder. A. opalus Italian maple. A. platanoides Norway maple.

Mountain Ash Sorbus aucuparia Spring NP Many other cultivated species.

Sweet Gum Liquidambar styraciua and hybrids. Spring (N)

Sycamore Valuable nectar source. May NP Acer pseudoplatanus

Tree of Heaven Large town tree. JulAug N Ailanthus altissima

Tulip Tree Large tulip-like owers. JunJul (N) Liriodendron tulipifera

Whitebeam Sorbus aria Common whitebeam. MayJun NP S. intermedia Swedish whitebeam. Jun NP

Key to lists:



**Acacia Beautiful, tender, winter owering trees. Winter (N)P Masses of yellow, scented owers. A. dealbata, A. longifolia

Alder Good very early source of pollen. JanMar P Alnus glutinosa

Blackthorn Common wild hedge plant. MarMay (N)P Masses of white owers. Valuable source of early pollen. Prunus spinosa

Cherries Huge group, mainly decorative trees. Avoid double owered varieties. Prunus avium Gean, wild cherry Apr NP P. cerasus Sour cherry, small shrubby tree. May NP Profuse owers. P. cerasifera Myrobalm, Cherry plum. MarApr (N)P Wide range of cultivars, some with purple foliage. P. padus Bird cherry. Long racemes of May NP white owers. P. subhirtella autumnalis Attractive small tree. Winter P P. x yeodoensis Joshino cherry. Small, beautiful. MarApr NP

Chestnuts, Horse chestnuts Large, attractive trees. NP Aesculus hippocastanum White owers. AprMay A. carnea Red owers, slightly later. May A. indica Indian horse chestnut. Pink owers. MayJun A. californica Buckeye. White/pink owers. JulAug

Chestnut, Sweet or Spanish Castanea sativa Jul (N)P

Crab Apples Beautiful medium sized trees. Spring NP Malus spp & hybrids. Many named varieties: John Downie, Profusion, Golden Hornet.

Eucalyptus spp. Evergreen, aromatic foliage. Some hardy in the UK. Late summer (N) E. gunnii, E. niphophila, E. parviora.

False Acacia Robinia pseudoacacia Fragrant white owers. Jun NP R. viscosa Clammy locust. Late Jun NP R. hispida Rose acacia. May-Jun NP

Hawthorns Common, wild, small, shrubby trees May NP Erratic, but can be profuse producers of nectar. Crataegus oxycantha, C. monogyna C. prunifolia, C. crus-galli, and many other species.

Hazels Early catkins a valuable source of pollen. MarApr P Corylus avellana, C. maxima

Hollies Evergreen, tiny owers, attractive to bees. May-Jun NP Ilex aquifolium, I. opaca and spp.

Honey Locust Long branched spines on trunk, scented owers. (N) Gleditsia tricanthos

Indian Bean Tree Magnicent, spreading trees with panicles of scented, foxglove-like, speckled owers. JulAug NP Catalpa bignonioides, C. fargesii, C. ovata

Judas Tree Pretty small tree, purple pea-owers on bare stems. AprMay NP Cercis siliquastrum

June Berry, Snowy mespilus. Beautiful tree, masses of white owers in spring, edible fruits in June. Spring (N)P Amelanchier lamarckii

Lime Can supply large quantities of nectar when conditions are right but can be erratic. Aphids on some species produce honey-dew. (N) Tilia cordata Small leaved lime. Late Jul T. x euclora Crimea lime. No honeydew. JulAug T. x europaea Common lime. JunJul T. maximowicziana Japanese lime. Jun T. x orbicularis Hybrid lime. JulAug T. petiolaris Weeping silver lime. JulAug T. platyphyllos Broad leaved lime. JunJul T. tomentosa Silver lime. Jul Nectar in these species can stupefy bees.








Key to lists:



























Key to lists:




















3.7_POLLINATION






Bush Fruits




Blueberries

Gooseberries













Information Source:


3.8_POLLUTANTS

Types of Pollutants

There are several types of pollutions that can be identified on and around the site. These include -

Air pollutionWater pollutionSoil pollutionNoise pollutionThermal pollution

Air pollution is defined as any contamination of the atmosphere that disturbs the natural chemistry of the air. This includes excessive gases like carbon dioxide or other vapours. The site is located near to industrial estates that emit fumes via chimneys which is a source of air pollution. The factories also release a great deal of energy in for form of thermal pollution which may affect wildlife migration and behavioural patterns. Similarly adjacent to the site is one of the busiest motorways in the country where vehicle exhausts are constantly held in traffic emitting strong air and noise pollutants.

When Littlebrook factory was built in the 1940s not as much care was taken when disposing of the waste from the factory. Often oil and materials being transferred from the power station to the boats off the jetties would get spilt and contaminate the Thames Estuary and the surround water basin. Today a great deal of care is taken to ensure that no water pollution is disposed of or leaches into the water system. Fly tipping which has previously been discussed is also another problem on the site that could cause water pollution as the materials begin to decay into the soil and surrounding water supplies. Correct and proper management of the site and local marshes would be ideal to ensure the reduction in water contamination from fly tipping.

The abandoned fireworks factory would have produced and contained some strong chemicals which were toxic to the local surroundings. The factory closed during the 1990s however the soil may still contain chemicals that are harmful to flora and fauna around the site. A full cleaning process of the soil and ground water around the abandoned factory would be required similar to the clean up of the Olympic park site in Stratford.

part 1_findings portfolio

Documents

waste disposal

tones of waste

volume of waste

methods of waste management

site analysis5the

introductionthe site

findings portfolio laura

landfill option