Friends Newsletter

In 2020 Npower will complete their contractual obligation to restore the ash pits at Radley, and thereafter will provide no further funding for management work. Continued funding after 2020 will be reliant on grants from conservation organisations which will require biological evidence from surveys.

The Earth Trust has managed the ash pits for several years, clearing scrub to create ‘rides’ and cutting other areas to provide habitat suitable for ground-nesting birds. The rides and low density scrub areas now host four species of orchid in large numbers: Early Marsh, Southern Marsh, Common Spotted and Marsh Helleborine. Photos of some of the orchids found at Radley lakes are shown below.

Lapwing and Skylark (Red Listed species) now nest in the cleared open areas while Willow Warbler and Reed Bunting (Amber Listed) are common in the scrubby areas. In 2016 Abingdon Naturalists Society undertook botanical surveys of Pits G and JP. (Pit G is now called ‘Little Holmes Field’). This year we have undertaken more botanical surveys, this time of Pit HI. Nine volunteers are taking part and we have completed two sessions with another planned for July. So far we have recorded over a hundred plant species including some which are quite rare.

Friends of Radley lakes is adding to the survey work by funding a survey of bees and wasps by Ivan Wright who is recorder of Aculeate Hymenopter for Oxfordshire. Up to 12th May, Ivan had recorded 28 species:. He says ‘Best result is Lasioglossum puncticolle – a very scarce bee in Oxfordshire and generally more southern. I’ve had 5 specimens from across the Radley site – which compares with my 2 specimens from the whole county in the last 18 years! The other good record is Andrena tibialis.’ Ivan will continue his surveying into September, and expects to record many more species.

David Guyoncourt

Tea at the Lakes

For some years, Friends of Abingdon have organised a series of walks on May Bank Holiday starting from Abingdon Market Place. Friends of Radley Lakes have been part of this event from the start and have organised a walk every year from the Market Place to Thrupp Lake with naturalist David Guyoncourt on hand to point out flora and fauna of interest. The walk ends at the old Sandles site at Thrupp Lake where tea is provided. This year the walkers also went searching for orchids which they found in abundance. We had a really delightful afternoon so why not come and join us next year.

Feedback from Barton Fields

The grassland area is now looking really good with lots of wild flowers and is handsomely repaying all the hard work that has gone into improving it in recent years. As reported in the last newsletter, Sophos personnel had a day off to help prepare five plots on which cornfield annuals were planted. These contain Corn Camomile, Poppy, Cornflower, Corn marigold and Corn Cockle. These plots are looking splendid at the moment and would well repay a walk along the cycle track through Barton Fields.

Look out also for the many grassland butterflies currently on the wing including Large Skipper, Marbled White, Meadow Brown & Ringlet.