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ESSEX WILDLIFE TRUST - AN APOLOGY
My final "President's Page" article in Newsletter number 24 (February 1998) caused
something of an upset. In that article I said that the Council of the Essex Field Club has
for some time been concerned at the state of many of the Essex Wildlife Trust reserves.
I went on to highlight some examples of what I considered to be problems in this area.
However, let me make it quite clear now that my views expressed in that article were
personal ones, and not those of the Council of the Essex Field Club.
At a recent meeting between the Essex Field Club and the Essex Wildlife Trust, convened
to discuss co-operation between the two organisations, it was suggested to me that there
were certain inaccuracies in my article. It would now appear that I received somewhat
misleading information about two nature reserves with which I am not absolutely familiar
and that my statements were evidently not a true reflection of reality.
I must emphasise in particular that I meant no slight on any of the hard-working wardens
or voluntary workers engaged in management work on any EWT reserve. My very
sincerely intended apologies to anyone who may have taken my comments personally.
Colin W. Plant
PROVISIONAL DISTRIBUTION OF GROUND BEETLES IN THE LONDON AREA
On behalf of the London Natural History Society, I would welcome all records of
Coleoptera: Carabidae (include Cicindela and Brachinus) from the London Area. This
area is defined by a circle with a radius of 20 miles centred on St Paul's Cathedral: I can
provide a list of included grid references but will be happy to sort records from the fringe
of the area. Much of the south-west Essex area is included.
I would appreciate as precise a grid reference as possible and a description of the habitat
but will accept all records with an identifiable site description. The usual data (date of
capture, identifier, etc.) should accompany the record. I shall be pleased to receive
multiple records for the same species over several years as a possible indication of spread
or decline of the species. To the same end, rough indications of population numbers
might be helpful.
I can accept records in writing or as computer files (ASCII or Xbase, possibly others)
either on disc or by e-mail (fax by arrangement). The provisional distribution will be
mapped and published ny the LNHS. The location of rare or endangered species may be
obscured on publication. Thanks for your co-operation.
Paul Mabbott (LNHS Recorder Coleoptera: Carabidae)
49 Endowood Road, Sheffield S7 2LY
Tel: 0114-2014504 email: PRMabbott@aol.com
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE NEWSLETTER
I am very grateful to the many Field Club members who have contributed items for this
bumper issue of the Newsletter and a special thanks go to Geoffrey Wilkinson who also
provided the attractive illustrations included with his observations. Please continue to
send me more than I can cope with!
I urge members to respond to the Rainham Marshes issue set out below by Phil Butler by
writing their objections to the LB of Havering.
Editor
Essex Field Club Newsletter No. 26, August 1998