July 2013 - Graffham Parish News

Sussex Wildlife TrustPots, plastic spoons and new arrivalsFirstly I must say it was nice to see so many Graffhamchildren (and associated parents and grandparents) on mybug hunt on the Sussex Wildlife Trust’s heathland reserveat Iping Common a few weeks back. The weather wasterrible – it poured down! (although it didn’t seem wetenough for some children who splashed in every availablepuddle). I armed the children with pots and plastic spoonsand sent them out around the heath to gather anything thatwriggled or scuttled past. Despite the weather we stillmanaged a good haul of snails, spiders, caterpillars, bugsand beetles – including some impressive violet groundbeetles. Thanks to everyone who came along - I’llcertainly plan some more bug hunts closer to home at ourGraffham Common reserve in the future.We've received a lot of positive feedback from people whohave visited the recently restored 'Graffham CommonWest' reserve. Local Sussex Wildlife Trust memberGraham Ault has been appointed as the Volunteer ReserveManager for Graffham Common and will be assisting uswith events here in the future. I popped over this week foranother walk around the reserve with Jane Willmott andothers. Despite the restoration work only being finished afew months ago we are already seeing some interestingwildlife returning to the site.I discovered the eggs of the emperor moth – one of ourlargest and most impressive moths – on the leaves ofsome young heather growing up from the sandy soil.Graeme Lyons, our ecologist, was amazed to hear a treepipit calling as it flew around the site. This tiny bird, whichmigrates to England from its wintering grounds south ofGuinea and Ethiopia, loves our heathlands and can be8