Doncaster Naturalist Society

Occasional Newsletter No. 2

Dear Member,

Enclosed is the Summer Programme for 2002. I hope you agree that as usual it is interesting and varied and that you will be able to come to at least some of the field trips. As always, if you would like transport to any of the venues do contact the named leader.

We are coming to the end of our fist series of winter evenings at St. Mary’s and would welcome comments about the new venue.

Following the AGM I am now President and Helen has taken on the role of Programme Secretary. The other officers and committee members remain in post. We would welcome ideas as to how to increase our membership as well as offers from anyone who would like to get more involved in running the society.

If you have not already paid your subscription for 2002 (still £7), Louise Hill will be pleased to hear from you!

Forthcoming Event

As a follow up to Brian Eversham’s inspiring talk on Slugs and Snails in December, Brian has agreed to lead a workshop on the subject on Sat. March 23rd at 10.00am at the Museum to be followed by a field meeting at Sandall Beat at 2.00pm. There are limited spaces at the morning session (2 available as I write), but anyone is welcome to join us in the afternoon. We will meet in the Car Park at Sandall Beat.

Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union

It was pleasing to see 9 DNS members at the YNU Spring Conference in Harrogate last month, representing a quarter of our membership. It was an excellent event on the theme of Biodiversity of Mineral Extraction Sites. Helen, Louise and Colin each provided a display for the exhibition.

Funding Bid

We have recently put in a bid for Local Agenda 21 money to buy equipment fot the society including some software compatible with Colin’s Recorder system at the Museum, a moth trap, a sophisticated bat detector, two halogen torches and 4 sets of slides of invertebrates. We should hear whether or not the bid has been successful at the end of March.

Doncaster Biodiversity Action Partnership

As you know this group would probably have folded some time ago if it had not been for the dedication of several of our members who have been prepared to spend time and effort (and suffer numerous frustrations) to ensure that biodiversity matters remain an issue for the Local Authority. We have been told that a Biodiversity Officer is about to be appointed but there is still no commitment to the provision of a Planning Ecologist.

The Next Generation

Six of us recently spent an evening with the Explorers at St. Mary’s, a group of 9-11 year olds. We gave them a short slide presentation and then allowed them to handle and examine the various specimens we provided with the aid of hand lenses and microscopes. There was plenty of enthusiasm on all sides. They generously donated £10 to our funds.

We are continuing our links with the Thorpe Marsh Watch Group which is lead by Mick Townsend.

Much has been happening recently in which the Nats are involved – not least………

Cessation of Peat Extraction on Thorne and Hatfield Moors and Wedholme Flow.

Of course this is great news but Scotts will still be active on Hatfield for another two years as well as in other parts of the UK which are not part of this agreement. The real battle is to get the message across to gardeners to stop using part wherever it comes from. Apart from Ireland and Eastern Europe, where they have long been active, the large commercial companies are now turning to Indonesia and other Asian countries, Although our immediate concerns are to see peat extraction stopped on Hatfield we do not want to export the problem. You will probably have seen of heard Helen speak up for Hatfield on the media both locally and nationally since the latest agreement was  announced. Meanwhile spare a thought for the Lyon family who have faithfully guarded their patch at Lindholme for many decades and will not see a penny of the multi million pound payout. Lindholme is an invaluable refuge for the many specialist species which will be vital for the eventual restoration of the moors.

Ombudsman

Since the last Newsletter matters have moved forward a little. (The complaint was made on behalf of the Nats and I have had to assure the Ombudsman that the membership is kept up to date with events.) The present situation is that the Ombudsman has asked the Council to resurvey the Rossington Bridge and to draw up a management plan in consultation with English Nature and other appropriate bodies (we have asked to be included) and the Council should pay for its implementation. If the landowner does not consent to this we have been asked to consider other measures the Council could take to compensate for their failure to fulfil the Government Inspector’s conditions.

The owner of the Mother Drain has appealed against the Enforcement Order which was eventually served after the intervention of the Ombudsman. The situation now is that we have been asked if we would be willing to sit down with the agent and representatives from various bodies and come up with mutually acceptable conditions to form the basis of a new planning application including strict conditions for restoration of the site.

All the correspondence is available to members who may wish to see the history and details of this ongoing saga.

Finningley

The Public Inquiry is now over. The Inspectors will produce a report from the masses of evidence and written submissions they have received during the last 5 months and the final decision will be made by Stephen Byers (or his successor), as Minister for Transport. The documents which Helen and I produced on behalf of the Nats are available for anyone to see.

And Finally!

We look forward to an exciting season of exploring and recording the natural world around us as our predecessors have been doing for the last 122 years.

Pip Seccombe (President), March 2002