Make it an organic turkey this year.

How much air and water is there on this planet? What would it look like if you collected all the world’s air – or the world’s water? See for yourself!

Water and air are the most precious substances we have, because without them, life on Earth would not exist. Sheepdrove’s animations show you a new perspective on how truly limited these resources are.

More details at the Sheepdrove website > 

The Nutcracker is coming to Sheepdrove! This enchanting Christmas story comes to life in a unique music production, only on 4th and 5th December 2009. Delicious refreshments are included in the price of the ticket!

Visit our website for more event details…
For bookings please call 01488 674737 

Folic acid in your bread, whether you like it or not? The Food Standards Agency (FSA) say yes.

The Food Standards Agency, as advised by their Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition, has written to Sir Liam Donaldson, the chief medical officer, to confirm their view that it should be mandatory for folic acid to be put into British bread.

This mass medication programme would be undertaken to reduce rates of Spina Bifida, a debilitating condition which develops in a baby during its mother’s pregnancy, as a result of shortage of  Folate (vitamin B9) in the diet. Currently the annual incidence is around 1,000 cases in the UK annually, which the FSA reckons could be reduced to 350 cases.

If the Department for Health recommends legislation the UK could soon become the first European nation to follow the example of the USA and Canada. As with the mass fluoridation of water, this move to medicate without choice is controversial.

Because the body cannot store Folic Acid, those who argue in favour of the supplement point out the advantages of having the nutrient continuously available in the staple diet. Folic acid, along with other B-vitamins, is already found in a number of popular breakfast cereals.

However, critics point to the unknown effects of state-imposed Folic Acid over long periods. In a study last year, Prof Young-Im Kim of the University of Toronto highlighted increases in bowel cancer rates in USA and Canada, saying: “Excess folate, especially in the form of folic acid, can fuel lesion growth, accelerating progression into life-threatening cancers, because high levels of the vitamin make it easier for tumour cells to copy themselves.”

Natural sources of Folate include green leafy vegetables, beans and sunflower seeds.

Rumours have emerged again of funding cuts for the Pang Kennet and Lambourn Countryside Projects.

Sheepdrove raised awareness of this in Feb 2009 with a published letter to local Councillor, Graham Jones. People rallied to the cause, and instead of completely cutting all cash from West Berkshire, the council voted to reduce its withdrawal of funds by half.

Nevertheless, this was a severe blow to the Pang Kennet and Lambourn Countryside Projects.

The projects carried on, but now the programme of countryside events, walks, nature conservation teams, Barn Owl groups, along with professional farm wildlife advice and biodiversity projects might be under threat once again. A stalwart projects volunteer, Dick Greenaway, has contacted parish councils and other allies, to ask for letters of support to go to councillors at West Berkshire. 

We too urge the council to continue to back the projects, which draw much more money into the district than they spend, and provide services to the countryside which would otherwise not happen. Learn more about the projects…

Sheepdrove is now on Twitter.
Follow our tweets for exclusive Sheepdrove special offers, and more!

Over the last week we have been working hard for wildlife. Staff and volunteers established Horseshoe Vetch (Hippocrepis comosa), Devils-bit Scabious (Succisa pratensis) and Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria) to enhance habitat for butterflies at Sheepdrove Organic Farm.

Sheepdrove staff plant Devils-bit Scabious

Can it be as simple as adding flowers?
What is special about these plants?

Jason Ball explains, “Yes, these are very important plants! They are special because each is food for the caterpillar of a rare butterfly. Horseshoe Vetch is essential for Adonis Blue and Chalkhill Blue, Devilsbit Scabious is the favourite of Marsh Fritillary, and Kidney Vetch is vital for Small Blue.”

This is all part of Sheepdrove Rare Butterly Project, launched in partnership with Natural England, Butterfly Conservation, BBOWT, Pang Kennet and Lambourn Valley Countryside Projects, Forestry Commission and Flora Locale to develop a scheme to save some of the rarest lepidopterans in the Lambourn area.

“All of these butterflies are in need of help. Marsh Fritillary is almost extinct from Berkshire with only one colony left, which is located in the Lambourn Valley.”

“However, putting wildflowers around the farm is not enough - we must manage the habitat to suit the ecological needs of the target species we are trying to bring back. This is the task of our fine beef cattle!”

Devils-bit Scabious at Cockcrow Bottom

Cattle grazing reduced the height and dominance of rough grasses at Cockcrow Bottom, our 2.2 hectare project area near the lake. Devils-bit Scabious has thrived here, and is in flower now. Grazing also maintained the short swards at Bockhampton Down where the 4.18 hectare project area includes a young woodland with open habitat zones.

Our potted scabious proved to be tough in surviving dry summer periods, and next year they should flower well, if we can keep the rabbits off them. Sheep will be excluded altogether and the cattle grazing will be stopped early in August to allow the scabious a full flowering season.

Horseshoe Vetch goes into the chalkpit

No, these are not the latest buzzwords of interior designers, they were two of the moths we met on National Moth Night 2009 at Sheepdrove Organic Farm. Berkshire Moth Group had an interesting night, with 20 people attending to watch the moths descend to our lamps. 

Red-Green Carpet (Chloroclysta siterata)

Many moths have elaborate and strange English names, sometimes related to their caterpillar food plants but more often they refer to appearance. For example, Oak Hook-tip caterpillar feeds on oak and the adult has hook-tipped wings. But to me, many moth monickers are meaningless! At least two that make sense are the Red-green Carpet and Burnished Brass. I must say that the photo of Burnished Brass, below, doesn’t capture the metallic quality of this awesomely beautiful creature.

Burnished Brass

Burnished Brass caterpillars often feed on Stinging Nettle or a range of other herbaceous species such as wild marjoram, deadnettles, or Lesser Burdock. Red-reen Carpet grubs feed on the leaves of various trees and shrubs including oak, ash, lime, birches, blackthorn, cherry, and rowan (many of the rose family).

Wandering from lamp to lamp

Everyone set their light traps at different places between the Sheepdrove Eco Conference Centre and the lake. from 7.30pm until 12.30am we visited each other’s lamps to see what had arrived. Apart form the many moths we also saw craneflies, sawflies, caddisflies, dung beetles and midges.

BMG kindly sent the farm a full species list from the event. Read their moth list and article.

Checking for moths - they hide in the egg trays!

Words and pictures by Jason Ball

Tuesday 22 Sept 2009, 2pm – 5pm
Butterfly conservation task at Sheepdrove

Foodplants for Marsh Fritillary toasted by Peter Kindersley, Bob Anderson, Jason Ball, Chris Blunt, Phil Robbshaw

It’s the Autumnal Equinox on 22 September, when day length equals night, and the days shorten from now on. Make the most of the daylight! Join us on a butterfly conservation task, as part of the Sheepdrove Rare Butterfly Project.

Be part of our ambitious plans – dig for butterflies! Help to plant 40 potted Devils-bit Scabious to attract Marsh Fritillary plus 120 Horseshoe Vetch to attract Chalkhill Blue. This is the next stage of the work that volunteers have kindly helped us to achieve.

“We aim to establish the most southern colony of Marsh Fritillary in Oxfordshire and the second colony known in Berkshire!” announces Jason Ball, who devised the Sheepdrove Rare Butterfly Project.

“The Lambourn Valley is an important part of the country for rare butterflies. The habitat needed by many butterflies have been nudged to the periphery of towns and industrialised farmland. We are fortunate at Sheepdrove Organic Farm to have the chance to recover some of the numbers of species such as the Marsh Fritillary, Small Blue and Chalkhill Blue.”

Marsh Fritillary needs new colonies to escape local extinction

“The owners, Peter and Juliet Kindersley, have lived nearly 40 years in the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and took to heart the cause of biodiversity conservation long ago. They restored 75 hectares of flower-rich downland which is the foundation for our latest Lepidopteran ambitions for Sheepdrove Rare Butterfly Project, funded by the Kindersleys and Natural England.”

• Light refreshments provided.
• Please be prepared for changing weather. Wear tough outdoor footwear and clothes. Bring gardening gloves if you have them.
• Meet at the farm office, Sheepdrove Organic Farm, Sheepdrove Road, Lambourn. Map and directions at www.sheepdrove.com/153.htm

Contact Jason Ball on 01488 674727.

PRESS

As seen at the Berkshire Biodiversity newsletter 2009 in the Newbury Weekly News and on the BBC Berkshire nature pages.

Friday 18th Sept 2009
7.30pm – until late!

We’re hosting an event for National Moth Night 2009 this Friday.

Everyone is welcome. It’s a great event for familes, and a good excuse for the kids to stay up very late. Berkshire Moth Group is organising it, and their members will be able to tell us about the moths we see.

Bright lights will draw in the nocturnal flutterbies towards ‘moth traps’ which are basically boxes the insects get confused in, much as they would in your house. We let them out in the morning.

We’ll set up a few different moth traps in the beautiful gardens here at the Sheepdrove Eco Conference Centre. Surrounding us are ancient woodlands and water habitats which should hold some very interesting types of moths. Plus the moth traps attract beetles and a whole range of other insect life.

Tea, coffee and biscuits provided.

Location: Sheepdrove Eco Conference Centre, Sheepdrove Road, RG17 7UU. Satnav users beware – enter road name NOT postcode.

Directions at www.sheepdrove.com/153.htm 

BOOKING ESSENTIAL: Please call John Lerpiniere 0118 375 1756 (0775 700 1159) especially if weather poor. If you have to leave a message, tell us how many people are coming with you. Thank you!

HINTS for a happy moth night

• Come wrapped up warm and check the weather forecast.
• Bring a torch
• Bring sunglasses – the lamps are amazingly bright!
• Bring a camera that can take close-ups
• Have a map and directions with you. (please car-share!)