The Chairman's Message
At our AGM in October, George Elsbury stepped down as Chairman of the Trust after a period of four years. I would like to express our thanks to him, on behalf of the Governors and Members of the Trust for steering it through what proved to be testing times. I am privileged to have been asked to resume this position and look forward to the challenges ahead.It is with sadness that we report the death, last November, of Edmund Vestey one of our patrons. He backed the project at its inception with an interest free loan, and was a strong supporter of the aims of the Trust.
We are very happy to announce that Hugh Duberly CBE, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire, and Professor Stephen Hawking CH, CBE, have both accepted invitations to become patrons of the Trust. It was a very happy occasion when Hugh Duberly presented Eric Winterflood with his MBE in September 2003. Many may remember Professor Hawking, at the opening of the disabled walk, as he propelled his wheel chair to the top of Little Trees Hill.
Our Ranger, Chris Goodwin, has been glad to see the many familiar faces who use the Down. In March, we carried out the first period of our survey on how our visitors use the land. We hope that the results from this will help us in future planning and we intend to present the data at a Wine and Cheese evening early in September, to which some other speakers will be invited.
Kathleen Foreman
Brown Butterflies on Magog Down
Magog Down is a wonderful achievement. Where only 15 years ago there were unvaried fields of cereals, now there are meadow butterflies in abundance, particularly the Browns.
There are dozens of Meadow
Browns, still the commonest butterfly in England. The male is a rich brown with
a black spot with a white centre in an orange ring at the top of the upper
wing. This ‘eye’ is designed to mislead a hungry bird. Older Meadow
Browns can look quite ragged at the edges as a result. The female has a much
larger area of bright orange on its wings.The second most common butterfly is the smaller Gatekeeper or Hedge Brown, which clings to the damper areas of long grass near the trees and in high summer can be seen in abundance on the Bramble and Ivy in the old hedge beside Jane’s Piece. It has much more bright orange in the upper wing. If you have good eyesight, you will see that the eye spots contain two white dots, not one.
The Meadow Brown has only one brood a year, and adults emerge from May to late September. The butterfly lays its eggs on or among common meadow grasses. The caterpillar emerges in two to four weeks and then hibernates in long grass over the winter, feeding on occasional warm days. In spring, as it grows fatter and more vulnerable, it climbs up grass stems to feed at night before making a chrysalis close to the ground.
The Gatekeeper has a similar life cycle but a shorter flight period, from July to late August. The caterpillar uses a wider range of grasses, and is thought to hibernate completely during winter. The survival of a great many of our moths and butterflies depends on there being areas of grass that are left standing for 18 months to two years. The ideal habitat for Browns is a mosaic of long and short grass, with occasional small shrubs. A wildflower area, which is ‘tidied up’ completely in the autumn, will not support many meadow butterflies.
Julia Napier
WILD FLOWERS OF MAGOG DOWN - 34
Wayfaring Tree (Viburnum lantana)
A once common hedgerow shrub on the chalk-land soils of Cambridgeshire, the wayfaring tree was re-introduced onto Magog Down in 1991.
A large shrub or small tree which can grow up to 18 feet high, it is
recognisable by its toothed, wrinkled, ovate leaves, usually pointed at their
tips, cordate at their bases and covered (sparsely on their upper- and densely
on their under-sides) with stellate hairs. In early summer, conspicuous,
flat-topped clusters of small, creamy-white flowers are borne at the ends of
the branches. The flowers are funnel-shaped, their five petals fusing into a
tube at their bases. Autumn paints the leaves a rich crimson and the somewhat
flattened fruits add to the colour as they pass from green through coral to red
and eventually to black (the different colours often occurring in the same
cluster). In winter, look out for the buds which lack the usual protection of
bud-scales and are covered instead with numerous whitish hairs.(Continued on page 4)
The fruits are enjoyed by birds but are rather astringent and, although not poisonous, they are not normally regarded as being edible. In years gone by, however, both fruits and leaves have been used to make a gargle and to ‘settle the stomach’. The fruits have also been used to make ink, and. the leaves to make a black hair dye.
The tree’s old country names hint at the ways in which our forebears used its shoots. ‘Lithe-wort’ and ‘lithy-tree’ testify to their suppleness, indeed they are so pliant that they can be used for tying bundles. ‘Twist-wood’ and ‘whip-crop’ are indications of their suitability for making switches and whips. On the Continent they were also employed in basket making.
The rather evocative name by which the shrub is more commonly known prompted poet William Howitt to muse
| Wayfaring-tree! What ancient
claim Hast thou to that right pleasant name ……………………. A name, methinks, that surely fell From poet in some evening dell Wandering with fancies sweet. |
In fact “that right pleasant name” has a rather less whimsical origin. It was given by the 16th century herbalist John Gerard who knew that the French name for the tree was viorne and assumed that this was derived from the Latin via (= a road or way) and ornata (= decorated). The French word appears actually to have been derived from viburnum, the old Latin name of the tree (now used as the generic name for a group of related species). Gerard’s etymology may have been at fault - but his choice of name wasn’t. In areas where the tree is common, its spring blossoms and autumn colours do indeed decorate the roadsides to cheer the heart of any “wayfaring man” who passes by.
David Yarham
The Dunnock
The dunnock is sometimes mistakenly called the hedge sparrow, though it is not related to the sparrow family, rather to the Accenters. It seems a shy and quiet little bird, commonly seen in our gardens, fields and woodlands. There are plenty to be seen on the Magog Downland.
It is a drab
bird, mostly grey around the head with a brownish pattern on the back. Notice
how it creeps around constantly pecking for food (invertebrates and seeds)
before disappearing into a nearby hedge or bush, which provide close cover for
its protection. In contrast to its outer drabness its eggs (usually4 to 6) are
bright blue and often two broods are produced. The nests are neatly formed in
hedges or bushes or overhanging ivy and are made of grass lined with moss or
hair.In springtime lookout for the entertaining display of the sexes as they face each other with shivering wings and flicking tails, a delightful scene that I have had the good fortune to witness. The male also attracts his mate with a fairly loud and plaintive call note.
Generally dunnocks keep to a particular area, though occasionally in harsh weather some may fly to the UK from the continent and return later. They are commonly found on the continent of Europe, often overlooked but charming little birds nonetheless.
Mike Antcliff
Forthcoming Events: |
| Cambridge Natural History
Society 89th Conversazione and Exhibition |
 The Cambridge Natural History Society's Annual Exhibition of the
Natural World will conclude the Society's 150th year with its 89th
Conversazione on 13th to 15th June at the Department of Zoology, Downing
Street.The Magog Trust will again be represented. Visit www.cnhs.org.uk for further information. |
| |
| Annual General Meeting |
| The Annual General
Meeting of the Magog Trust will be held on Saturday, 11th October at 2:30 pm in the Johnson Hall, Stapleford. |
| Family: Individual: Concession: Life: |
£25.00 ) £15.00 ) per annum £12.00 ) £250.00 |
 FOR CONSERVATION AND INFORMAL PUBLIC RECREATION |
| For further
information: Write to: 43 Mingle Lane, Stapleford, Cambridge, CB22 5BG. Phone: 07796 471457 Email: Website: www.magogtrust.org.uk |
| Registered Company No:
2426534 Registered Charity No: 802150 |