Tree planting Mission accomplished !

In the hour between 11am and 12 mid-day the Friends successfully  planted thirty six trees in their contribution to the ‘Tree O’clock record breaking event.
Our effort maybe small by comparison to some groups but it will count in the total for the uk as a whole.
We thank all those who took part.

Coffee Morning

24 October 2009
Friends of Lancing Ring
Coffee Morning
Venue: The Holy Family Catholic Church Hall at Monks Farmhouse in North
Road, Lancing
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Lancing Ring Slide Show (by Ray Hamblett)

Tree 0′clock

The Friends have made a pledge to take part in an attempt to break a record for the most number of trees planted in one hour.

The project is called Tree O’clock

The event happens during National Tree Week which is from 25th November to 6th December.
We will be planting trees on Saturday 5th December on the reserve, from 11am to 12am mid-day. If your coming along then meet at the carpark at 10.30. From there we will walk over to the triangular meadow northwest of the clump on the way to Steepdown Hill
The  Friends will be planting five Rowan and five Beech trees.
Visitors are welcome to contribute their own native trees but they must be planted in the one hour time frame .

The beautiful woods of Lancing Ring

The Woodland aisle

To me this area is like a cathedral with living columns supporting the green canopy.  The light breaking through onto the floor is like the patterns from a leaded glass window.

Beech woodland

When you next visit the Reserve, make a point to pause here and admire this magnificent view.
Whatever the weather this always looks good but its enjoyed best when the dappled sun is breaking through the leafy canopy.

Spider hunt

The hunt for the Wasp Spider is on again. Argiope bruennichi is usually found at this time of year in certain areas of the reserve, notably in the Chalkpit. I set out this afternoon intent to find it in that area having failed to spot any on the west slope of the reserve where i thought it may have established by this time.

Wasp Spider

I first noticed these distinctive large Orb Web spiders on the reserve about four years ago and have been noting their appearance each year since.
I did manage to see just one of the large females in grass on the northern edge of the chalk pit, but disappointingly, the only one i could find.

Notes on the airshow

The fields and meadows in and around the reserve proved a popular spot at the weekend.
The slopes facing the Adur Valley and Shoreham airport give good views of events as aircraft of the past and present, put on displays of aerial skills.

In idyllic weather groups of people gathered in the area around and just south east of the dew pond,  in the warm sun they had picnics while enjoying the spectacle.

The cornfield on Lancing Hill  just adjacent to Barton’s field drew more groups of specatators, here the view is less obscured by trees although perhaps the ground is less comfortable to sit on amid the stubble of recently cut Straw.

Airshow at Shoreham seen from Lancing Hill

Nature Notes

Common Knapweed

Purple Loosetrife

Wall Brown

Summer flowers come their peak on the reserve at this time, the left picture here shows Common Knapweed now massing in the meadows, following on from the earlier Greater Knapweeds which are fading.
The centre picture shows Purple Loosetrife in the Dewpond margins. The right picture is a Wall Brown butterfly which I recorded on the edge of the grass around the Dewpond.

Lancing Ring Nature

5 August 2009

One large dragonfly with a bright blue abdomen cruised over Lancing Ring dewpond without stopping for at least 15 minutes and probably considerably longer. It did not seem big enough for an Emperor Dragonfly but this its most likely identity. The first red Common Darter (dragonfly) of the year was also seen whilst I was waiting for this large impressive insect to settle so I could have a closer look.

On the approaches to Lancing Ring there were the expected few each of Speckled Woods, Gatekeepers, Common Blues, Large Whites and one Red Admiral. In the meadow at the top of McIntyre’s Field the first butterfly was a tattered Green-veined White and both Common Blues and Meadow Browns were frequently seen with one Brown Argus identified and more suspected although some turned out to be female Common Blues. A Brimstone Butterfly and Yellow Shell Moth were seen at the entrance to the eastern car park on Lancing Ring Nature Reserve with frequent Speckled Woods under the trees.

Holly Blue

Hemp Agrimony

The large meadows to the south-east of the main clump of trees was much more overgrown than in previous years (because of the rain) and the dense and varied grasses and herbs hosted frequent Common Blues but not nearly as many as seen in the best years when thousands were actually seen. There were frequent Meadow Browns and frequent Silver Y Moths with a few Brown Argus Butterflies and a few Large Whites. Hemp Agrimony bordering the hedgerow that can be found along the south side of the main meadow is a nectar plant visited by numerous butterflies, but there was not as many as previous years although the small patch was visited by a few Peacock Butterflies, the inevitable Painted Ladies, a few Common Blues and at least two each of Meadow Brown, and Gatekeeper and a single Small Tortoiseshell. Two Clouded Yellow Butterflies flew strongly over the short grass immediately to the east of the main clump of trees. There was single Wall Brown flying around near the dewpond.

Full Butterfly Report

via Lancing Ring Nature. by Andy Horton

The Roman’s in Lancing

click on the image to go to Vobes site

Video of visit on Sunday 12th July

The walk was about an hour in length

We arrived at the main car park at around 3:30 in the afternoon and walked into the reserve via the wooded area, reaching the grassy meadow and taking the low path on the south side.
Here was sheltered from gusty wind which was keeping any butterflies from flight.
A few Small Skippers and a Marbled White were active, mostly on the flower heads of the Greater Knapweed.
About half way along, we headed up the slope keeping among the shelter of bushes where possible and made our way to the Dewpond.
Checking for signs of Dragonflies, there was none on the wing. It was still gusty and flight would of been hard work .
Another visitor spoke to us about the sighting of a small Yellow Snake, he had seen on the bank of the Dewpond. Also of seeing some youths with a Vivariam type container.

We continued our walk into the Beech woods area aiming for the far side walking via the area of replanted beech and ash.

Among the woods in the sheltered dappled sunlit spots, were several butterflies . A Comma, two Gatekeepers, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood and Large White.

Beyond the trees in an area of bramble a male Broad-bodied Chaser Dragonfly was seen resting in the sunny sheltered space.
His work of mating and guarding the females when they were egg depositing over the Dewpond is done. Hopefully larvae will develop and flourish .
Heading southwards through the tree canopy a noisy group of Long-tailed tits, twittered in the branches of  Ash trees which swayed in the wind blowing overhead.
We left the woodland crossing back through the meadow and headed home for a cup of  tea.