Kent Branch News

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2010

Since joining the Kent Branch, I have attended many photographic - social evenings and have witnessed many changes in both the format and attendance. Years ago, we called it the "Photographic Competition" and it was held at a less than ideal venue having dire acoustics. To hear what was being said was something of a challenge to say the least, the slightest scrape of a chair on the floor was enough to set off a string of complaints, but the concept of the meeting was sound and had stood the passage of time well.

Throughout the evening, the audience would be shown a variety of slides and asked to choose their favourite for a final winner. The whole procedure, by its very nature, was tediously repetitive and involved several people to mark the various entries and load them in to slide carriages etc. The voting took the shape of gradual elimination and, by the time a winner was chosen, most people were well and truly fed up with seeing the same slide over and over again. This is not a criticism, simply an unavoidable by-product of the system. One thing in its favour was its innocence, no tweaking of images, no 'cut-and-paste', just good photos. The fact that it was a competition, however, brought with it its own problems.

What were we judging, the quality of the image, its content, the expertise of the photographer, the 'ahhh' factor of a fluffy bird? I suspect it was a little of everything but it was missing a point. The best photo may have been a rare orchid or butterfly but why? Was not the picture of sunlight reflecting off a peaceful loch just as pleasing? If we were to truly be judging the photograph from all angles, we must consider the equipment used and the subject more closely to give a fair outcome. The orchid may well be rare but not at all difficult to photograph in comparison to say, a picture of a Small White. You only have one chance (if you are lucky!) to snap the butterfly, as it rapidly moves from plant to plant, and have to make calculated corrections for shutter speed, depth of field and exposure compensation. The loch can be framed carefully and all the necessary corrections made whilst enjoying a flask of tea as you wait for the sun to appear. Questionable then as to what makes a competition winner.

The competition factor certainly created some split views and the advent of digital photography threw open a whole new can of worms. Even in its infancy, it was possible to modify an image to eliminate unwanted background and the blade of grass across the butterfly. How then, do you judge the resulting image, by technical merit, field craft or financial outlay? A tough call indeed and, when I introduced the audience to the new world of video footage, followed by ever more sophisticated equipment, it was no longer possible to run a competition. Following our branch trip to the Pyrenees, I produced a video tape that recorded most of what we saw, complete with soundtrack and transitions. When I showed this to an audience, you could hear a pin drop and a corner had been turned. A new venue was a must and we soon found a local hall that fitted the bill on all counts, easy to find, good parking and, above all, good acoustics - and we would need them in the new age of sight and sound.

The Committee made the decision to drop the competition and focus on a social evening where members could show pictures from their holidays or any pictures of our wildlife. With the rapidly advancing technological developments, Ben and I invested in suitable projection equipment and encouraged participants to choose the format of their choice. Prints, slides, video or digital video were all (and still are) welcome and we enjoyed some excellent evenings. Sure, we made a few blunders along the way with timings etc but the restrictions of the competition were gladly behind us and there was real appreciation of what we were seeing.

To arrange these evenings took a great deal of time and effort on the part of a few dedicated members and didn't just happen. Right up to the time the lights went out, we often had little idea of who would turn up and who would exhibit, let alone how many teas and coffees to cater for and mistakes were made. We learnt from these and tried very hard to plan in advance just who would be attending and in what capacity and, by and large, things went well. Ben was crucial to this but I suspect most folk have little idea how much pressure was placed upon him to ensure things went smoothly, I do, I was there. Imagine how damaging unfounded criticism could be if a presentation did not go quite to plan, and we had them, or an exhibitor overran by a few minutes? As I say, mistakes were made and we took it on the chin but it leaves a scar, trust me.

This year's meeting was extremely disappointing for a number of reasons. Attendance was abysmal with just twelve people showing up. Three were from my own family, two were non-member guests and three were Committee members. We had received a number of apologies from regulars who were unable to attend and this, although disappointing, was unavoidable and we could normally rely on their valuable input. It did, however, indicate just how much we rely upon these regulars to make this meeting a success with so few new faces appearing. It brings into question whether the event should be discontinued or not as it is rapidly gaining a 'club' status and far removed from what we are trying to provide for our membership. I felt particularly let down, having given up a whole day to ensure that all was taken care of, and Jackie prepared snacks and tea for the break. Ben, as usual, worried himself silly all day in case he had forgotten anything and for what? The membership?

If these events are to take place, they have to have the backing of the membership as a whole, and not just a few dedicated individuals. We are eternally grateful to the exhibitors for their truly stunning pictures and their time that made the evening as successful as it could be, without them, we would have been lost. We sadly missed two regular contributors due to circumstances beyond their control but where were you? There was something there for everyone but it was frankly embarrassing to see so many empty chairs. To see Ben and Jackie looking so down was heartfelt, throwing away uneaten refreshments and questioning why they had bothered at all.

Clearly, we cannot continue to run this event unless we see a major commitment from our membership. Obviously, not all members will be able to attend but surely, out of a potential five hundred, we should expect more than four? These events are for you and we welcome your views and opinions as to where we should hold them and what you wish to see. We currently run them centrally in Kent but maybe we should vary the venue to east or west Kent? You decide. Perhaps every year is too often and it would be better to make it every other year, again, you decide. Your Committee is dedicated to serving you, our valued member, and want to do what is best for you but we could use a little help here. We are not asking for volunteers, although that would be a bonus, just your ideas on how we can make this work for the benefit of the branch. Please take time to give it some consideration and let us know by email or letter what you would like to see in the future. There are probably some great ideas out there, we simply never hear about them, but this can be changed. It's never been easier to contact people, see our website, so give it a try and stop this becoming a photo finish.

Thank you

Peter Kirby

2009

When David Gardner first floated the idea of an AGM and Members' Day, it was greeted with more than a little apprehension. This was not unfounded as even the normal AGM provided enough trepidation to turn, normally sane people, to gibbering wrecks! This was to be something very different and therefore required considerable planning by the Committee if it was to be a success.

The choice of hall was made by David and proved to be ideally situated to attract members from the east side of the county but close enough to still attract those from the west. The facilities at the hall were excellent and prior arrangements with the Lenham WI group ensured a steady supply of beverages and food at lunch time. Peter Kirby and his family set about arranging the chairs and tables while Margaret Riley set up a book stall to help raise funds. We were particularly grateful for a donation of wildlife books from Alan Hall, a local member, and we soon had a healthy display on offer. All IT and display issues were ably covered by Ben Kirby and Jackie Kirby took hold of the photographic competition which promised to be something of a monster.

Members were soon arriving in numbers and many old acquaintances were remade as the event gathered pace. It was particularly encouraging to see such a large entry for the photographic competition and there was soon a display of cracking photographs on show. The planning held fast and, despite the obvious pressure, Jackie and Ben kept the whole thing sane and ensured smooth running throughout the event.

The AGM opened with Jim Flegg giving a stirring account of the year and his own observations, noting the diverse numbers between species in, what can only be described as, a mixed butterfly year. The formalities of the AGM were soon dealt with and we were treated to some interesting reports from the Recorders and White Hill Management. Ian Ferguson was able to report progress on the moth reports and forthcoming book but tempered this with an overview of the work to date, not for the feint hearted! He had enjoyed many useful field trapping sessions with David and this, although putting him somewhat behind with certain deadlines, was a welcome break. White Hill came under the spotlight as this had been a disappointing year with significant impact from rabbits upon the reserve. The loss of flowers and blooms had been a shock to any visitors but did not seem to have a big impact on the Chalkhill Blues flying, however, what impact this had on the breeding success will have to wait until next year and Peter Kirby put out a request for support on the planned work parties.

Mike Easterbrook gave an interesting account of the records received, particularly the increase in sightings of the Dingy Skipper, Small Blue, Purple Emperor, Heath Fritillary and Wall Brown. Even the Small Tortoiseshell has shown a small increase in numbers this year, in keeping with other branches.

Ben Kirby gave an interesting report on the web site activities and went on to explain one or two difficulties encountered with the on-line recording system. It would appear that some records were somewhat vague and particularly, the numbers seen. There was quite a diversity of formats being used and this was having a negative impact upon the database, leading to records having to be deleted in some cases where the true facts could not be ascertained. He urged that prospective recorders adhere tightly to the correct protocols and, if there was any doubt, to drop him a line to discuss any issues. His presentation provoked several questions from the audience and he was able to answer all questions posed. With these formalities out of the way, the event moved on to our guest speakers.

Fran Thompson gave a most interesting review of the Denge Project and all that it had achieved in the year and what could be expected in the future. The Duke of Burgundy had been seen in good numbers and several new colonies had been discovered, many with the help from members and a vote of thanks goes out to them. New habitat was in the process of being created at Bonsai Bank and this should ensure the strengthening of the existing colonies and encourage natural dispersal, evidence of which had already been noted in the wide ride. Fran's enthusiasm was infectious and she ably answered several questions from the floor. Her presentation closed with a note of caution for the future as her own involvement would cease next year and there was a need for continuity to involve local landowners in the creation of habitat.

With the timetable almost in tact, lunch was served and people had chance to vote in the photographic competition and take a look at Peter Kirby’s quiz. The WI did a grand job and the food was excellent and well presented and it was with some difficulty that David, once again, took hold of proceedings and called for order as our next speaker made ready for his presentation.

Pavel Votapeck had spent some considerable time conducting larvae and ova searches for the Duke of Burgundy in the Denge complex and this complimented Fran's work. He showed slides of larvae damage on the food plant and offered some interesting conclusions as to what constituted the ideal food plant and location. He had discovered larvae damage in the new ride and noted that this was confined to the larger plants, in keeping with the discoveries of other branches, but opposed to the findings on Bonsai Bank where eggs are regularly laid on small, exposed plants. There was clearly much more to learn and his research would provide valuable input.

Our next speaker was David Redhead from the Upper Thames Branch and his subject was the Brown Hairstreak. David had spent many hours, as the species champion, searching for eggs throughout his region and his results were most impressive as well as revealing. This elusive butterfly appeared to be spreading its range but, most surprisingly, it was now being found deep within the urban sprawl of Oxford, something that a few years ago would have been unthinkable. This raised the question of true distribution and the distribution of recorders, a contentious issue that can be applied to many species. We were shown some superb slides and his talk was well received by all. It was thought provoking and would provide the basis of renewed effort in Kent to establish the true status of the butterfly, watch the web site for future information and how you can help!

A short tea break was taken as our next speaker prepared and the final count of votes in the photographic competition was completed. This potentially onerous task went well and conclusions were beginning to appear.

Our last speaker was Josie Newman who gave an interesting presentation on Folkestone Warren and the future management of this important location. Her slides gave an insight to how the habitat was formed and how it may have looked many years ago when its importance as a wildlife habitat was far greater than now. Scrub encroachment was the ongoing issue and would require radical management decisions but funding could be secured to ensure sustainability of any such work. It soon became obvious that this was a complicated site with many issues to consider, not least of which was the access by members of the public. Grazing with goats would almost certainly be required and this would undoubtedly clash with dog walkers etc so much needed to be done.

With the pace beginning to tail off, it was time to call the results of the photographic competition and the quiz.  Peter Kirby tackled to arduous task of bringing some order to the quiz results.  Previous quizzes had been marked as too difficult so this one had been pitched at all levels to ensure that it was taken in the spirit of the event but confusion lay in wait.  Forty questions were posed but some of them had multiple answers, all of which had to be answered for the question to be marked as correct.  This fact was missed by some contenders and, when asked, “Who has twenty-five or more questions correct?”, Peter was presented with call for sixty or more!  Not quite what he had planned but amusing none the less and it took some time to bring a degree of order to things and find a winner.  Kelvin Reel won by a margin and he was presented with first prize but a debacle was narrowly avoided and Peter retired hurt.

Last, but not least, the photographic competition results were called and it was refreshing to note that there was clear definition this time!  The voting had been made by all comers and so had no bias and this made it relatively simple to pronounce the winners.  Ben and Jackie had done a splendid job in both the organising and delivery of the competition and Ben set about calling the results.  With such a high standard of entries, we had been rewarded with some truly magnificent photographs and all should be congratulated on their efforts.  The advent of the digital era brought with it a whole new dimension but made presentation far easier than slides or other formats could possibly have done.  Kelvin Reel took the overall winner’s prize with his Grizzled Skipper and there was a good spread of other awards issued to various categories.

It had been a long day for the organisers but well worth the effort and, if you were not there, why not?  You missed a memorable day and we look forward to seeing you next time, without members, it isn’t a members’ day.  A vote of thanks must go out to everyone who made this day possible, the guest speakers, the WI, members of the Committee, Jackie and Ben, Margaret Riley (Margaret made over £100.00 on the book stall), David Gardner and the members who enjoyed a fantastic day.  These things don’t just happen, they have to be worked for, so we are already planning for next year and will apply all the lessons learned to ensure another success.  See you there!

Peter Kirby

2008

At the Kent Branch AGM, in 2008, it was announced that John Maddocks was stepping down from the committee. We would like to thank John for all his hard work. Please send in your butterfly records to Mike Easterbrook.

In 2008 the Kent Branch of Butterfly Conservation will be 25 years old.

To celebrate this years AGM will have a display of photos showing the history of the branch over the years.

Also the branch website (butterflies) had a makeover with a fresh new look and new content. Kentmoths new look will be coming in December 2008. We would like and need your help to keep our branch websites updated and fresh. If you have any articles, comments or suggestions please contact Ben Kirby by clicking here. We would love to hear from you.

2007

No news issued by the branch.

2006

In early 2006, a questionnaire was sent out to all our members. The results have now started to come in. Below are some of the results:

At the Kent Branch AGM, in 2006, it was announced that Tony Steele was stepping down as our Branch Organiser. Tony will remain on the committee and we would like to thank Tony for all his hard work. If you need to contact the branch please click here.

At the Kent Branch AGM, in 2006, it was announced that Mike Brown was steeping down as our Reserve Manager. Mike will still be our Membership Secretary & Transect Officer. The committee would like to thank Mike for all his hard work over the years. Mike has seen White Hill change over the years, and without his support and effort there would be no reserve.

Peter Kirby has now taken over as Reserve Manager. If you wish to contact Peter, about White Hill Reserve, please click here.

2005

At the Kent Branch AGM, in 2005, Ben Kirby joined the committee as Website & I.T Officer. If you have any documents, articales or information you would like to have published on the branch website please contact Ben Kirby by email, by clicking here. You can also send articles etc by post. Please see our newsletter for address details.

2004

Some new features are coming to our branch web site soon! In April we will be introducing a system were you can submit your sightings online. Also this feature will allow you to search through the sightings submitted and look for records in your area or a certain site/place.

The current branch forum will close down and move onto the branch website. All the messages posted on the old forum will be transferred

As part of the new features, the Kentbutterflies website will be moving to a new server. Our web site address will not be effected by this move.

Sadly the branch website may be down for a short time, during the move. Details will be issued before the move takes place.

Kentmoths.org will not be effected by this move.

2003

As many of you may know John Maddocks decided to stand down as branch butterfly recorder in November. Mike Easterbrook has kindly offered to take on the roll as of 2004.

John will still, for now, be the main contact for any site reports required.

Mike will now be repsonsible for entering the rest of the 2003 data into Levana & will take over the main roll as branch recorder in 2004.

If you have any other sightings or records prior 2003 please send these to John Maddocks.

John Maddocks: Please click here to email John
Mike Easterbrook: Please click here to email Mike

It is with regret that we announce the passing of Geoffrey Pain.

Geoffrey will be remembered for his enthusiatic support for Butterfly Conservation and acted as treasurer during the formative years of the Kent Branch.

Our sympathy goes out to his wife & family.

2002

The Kent Branch has now opened a new web site for moths. Please feel free to visit the site @ http://www.kentmoths.org.

The site contains the very latest moth news & events taking place, the Kent Moth Reports & links to other moth websites of interest.

The Kent Branch needs a new butterfly recorder, or recorders, to replace John Maddocks who is giving up the job after the November 2002 AGM to concentrate on preparing the Kent Butterfly Atlas for publication. The work is highly interesting and is one of the most rewarding jobs on the committee. It is also rather demanding in terms of time so we are considering splitting the job in two.

One person could be responsible for entering the data from recorders onto 'Levana', which is currently around 20,000 records a year. Although this is a lot of data the 'Levana' software is easy to use and data entry is very fast.

The other person could be responsible for organising surveys, producing site reports for external organisations, liasing with recorders, head office and other conservation organisations, as well as our annual butterfly report producer and butterfly transect co-ordinator.

Ideally you would already have some computer skills and access to a PC, but we will provide full training and hardware if required. The data entry onto 'Levana' is particularly easy to learn if you are a bit wary about computers.

If you think you might be interested in doing this challenging work for the branch or would like more information before deciding, please contact John Maddocks who will be delighted to hear from you.

2001

As of 09th July 2002 the all new Butterfly Conservation Kent Branch website opened. The site has lots of new sections for visitors to view including a new section about Kent butterflies with photos and information of where to find them.

Also, a new section called "Hot Spots" contains information on the best places to visit home & abroad. We would like to hear from you if you know of any places that you would recommended visiting to add to our list, home or abroad. kentbutterflies.org

The White Hill Reserve website has now closed and the pages have now moved to this site. They can be visited by clicking on the appropriate link on the top menus.