5
botanical richness and even the current EWT Nature Reserves Handbook states that
wildlife interest of the reserve is largely botanical, this can no longer be said to be true.
Even quite limited sampling has revealed the area as one of the richest invertebrate sites
in the county, harbouring a relict fauna consisting of species almost certainly once much
more widespread in this south-eastern corner of Essex.
References
Collingwood, C.A. (1979) The Formicidae (Hymenoptera) of Fennoscandia and Denmark. Fauna
Entomologica Scandinavia Vol. 8. Scandinavian Science Press Ltd.
Donisthorpe. H.St.J.K. (1927) British Ants, their life history and classification. 2nd ed. G.Routledge
and Sons Ltd. London.
Falk, Steven (1991) A Review of the Scarce and Threatened Bees, Wasps and Ants of Great
Britain. Research and Survey in Nature Conservation No. 35.
NCC, Northminster House, Peterborough PE1 1UA.
R. G. Payne
POND DIPPING AND AMPHIBIANS, THAXTED 7th MAY 1995
An Essex Field Club meeting was held at Park Farm Thaxted the home of Mr Simon
Latham. This farmer is interested in conserving wildlife along with good agricultural
practice. Four ponds exist on the farm, two older ones now cleared and improved and
two newly dug smaller ponds. The meeting began by dipping the large older pond.
There were large numbers of Smooth Newts here, eleven males and twenty females were
netted and released afterwards. The pond was in good condition with clear water and
also produced a specimen of the Great diving Beetle together with numerous water
boatmen. Pond snails were present, mayfly larvae and freshwater shrimps were also seen.
Three Spined Sticklebacks were found in breeding condition and numerous young were
evident.
The second of the older ponds was found by walking uphill along a conservation corridor
of trees and shrubs. This pond had recently been dug out and widened. The water was
clear and contained a strong growth of pond weeds Potamogeton natans and P. crispus.
Sticklebacks both adult and young were found but no newts were seen. Azure
Damselflies Coenagrion puella were found here.
Time did not allow examination of the two new ponds but the area was of such interest it
was thought that a further visit in the near future would be desirable to cany out more
extensive recording.
David Scott