Steve Orridge reports on a better year for Butterflies in Grin low

Every year a band of dedicated butterfly enthusiasts look forward to the start of the survey season. This runs from the beginning of April until the end of September and lasts for 26 weeks.

The year is divided up between the volunteers and it usually means that we each have one survey to do a month. We started surveying in 2015 and each year has been better than the last.

See Graph below

We are now up to week 19 and our count is already 100 more than last years total. We have seen 18 species of butterfly within Grinlow and here is a selection from the 11 species we saw in week 19’s survey.

Last year was a fantastic year for Red Admirals with huge numbers seen right up to the end of September Will we get the same this year? It is hard to tell but the dry hot summer and lack of rain has reduced the crop of Devil’s Bit Scabious which provided such a wonderful supply of nectar for last year’s generation. No matter how the year ends, it is going to be remembered for the exceptional numbers of butterflies.

Although it is not a rare species this brimstone butterfly is our first record for Grinlow.

It has been a very good year for Common Blue butterfly with 68 being counted on one survey in June.

The introduction of the Woodland Ride in 2015 has provided increased habitats for Butterflies as well as increasing the bio diversity of the wood generally.

We will publish a full report at the end of the year which will be available to download from our website.

If anyone would like to get involved in future surveys please let us know by emailing us at communications@buxtoncivicassociation.org.uk

A Video by Andy Parker on the Serpentine Community Farm

The Serpentine Community Farm was set up four years ago and had faced a constant struggle to stay on the site of the Serpentine Nursery. Other sites had been considered but none proved suitable. Meanwhile the site had been transformed from a neglected dilapidated space into a vibrant community garden, a haven for the young and old, the green fingered and the not so green fingered. It became a place to learn and a place to share knowledge. A few weeks ago High Peak Borough Council gave notice that they wanted the Community Farm to vacate their base on the Serpentine site by 31st July 2018. Denied even the opportunity ti water and harvest the plants that were growing, the process of packing up and storing equipment began.

But on the 19th July High Peak Borough Council had a change of heart and reconsidered their decision. They offered the community farm an eighteenth month temporary lease while a more permanent solution was sought.

Great news indeed. On the last Sunday of the 2018 Festival the community farm hosted a fringe event "Give Peas a chance."

This is Andy's short video celebrating the community farm, the people and its future.

The journey continues.

Give Peas a chance

Jon White on a memorable evening 'Trapped' in Poole's Cavern

Not many people know that Chile is the world’s largest miner of copper ore. At the San Jose mine on 5 August 2010, a collapse left 33 miners trapped. They were 700 m underground and 5 Km from the entrance of the mine.

“Trapped” tells the story of how they survived for 69 days until their rescue. The Experiential Theatre Company told this story in a way that does justice to its name!

We were greeted by the team at Poole’s Cavern and required to don boiler suits, gloves and helmets. Health and safety was a priority and we were advised to take responsibility for ourselves and to look out for each other. “What have we signed up for?” one lady was heard to ask her friend……

Into the cavern we boldly go, holding on to a thick rope in single file. On reaching the poached egg chamber, one of our guides unexpectedly fell and screamed to the others, rocks fell clattering and there was darkness. Real darkness and screaming!!!

Slowly the lights on our helmets came back on and we were Trapped. The “miners” panicked as they fought and cried. They calmed, becoming “strong in turns” just as the miners in Chile. There emerged an espirit de corps through which they supported each other demonstrating strength through unity.
We were there and being immersed in the action, were given an authentic experience. The lighting of the cavern, with dramatic images and the haunting voice of the live soloist echoing through, completed the picture.

Then the moment of rescue arrived. For us, it had been an hour while for the miners they were there until 13 October. On our emergence from Poole’s Cavern we all felt a little awed and shaken by this very physical experience. Perhaps also with a little more understanding of the miner’s leader, Luis Urzua, and a sense of how hard it must be to work safely when profit comes ahead of people.

Thanks go to Buxton Civic Association and their team for hosting such a creative, relevant and poignant performance.

We have wonderful news. High Peak Borough Council is stopping all works on trying for residential development within Serpentine Walks.
The Serpentine Farm is to be offered a lease on the whole site, including buildings until 31st December 2019 as discussions open on the long-term future - whether a long lease or outright purchase at a suitably discounted price.

Thank you to all our followers for the support and leads you have given us.

Dr Tim Birch Head of Living Landscapes North, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust will talk about his vision for the Uplands

"We will continue to present the arguments for a new approach to our uplands where wildlife can thrive and people and the local economy benefit."

What future do we want for our Uplands? With Brexit looming there are exciting possibilities if we think differently about our Uplands. We can carry on with business as normal or we can look to a future where our Uplands are full of wildlife and truly wild places. That will be good news for wildlife, people and the local economy.

Come along to our September Members talk on Friday 21st September at 7.30pm at Poole's Cavern Visitor Centre and hear about Tim's and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust's exciting vision for the future of our uplands.

The talk is free to BCA members and their friends.

Read about the Vision for the Uplands here

The cafe at Poole's Cavern are hosting a brand new Rock Opera, written by local musician and performer, Will Hawthorne, about the merciless 14th Century villain Arthur Poole who used to hide his ill gotten gains in Poole's Cavern.

The Opera is part of the Buxton Festival Fringe and is being performed in the visitor centre cafe at 8pm on 5th and 10th July. Tickets can be bought from the Visitor Centre at Poole's Cavern £7.50 (£5.00 concessions)

If you click on the links below you can have a sneak preview of the opera.

All proceeds go to the Charity Music in Hospitals and Care.

Poole Incarnate - Paperchase

Poole Incarnate -The Prelude

We are delighted to announce that we have had our EQM award renewed until November 2019.

The Citation on the renewal report read as follows;

Citation

Buxton Civic Association manage Poole's Cavern and the surrounding woodland, both of which are sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs). It was clear during the assessment that Buxton Civic Association has a strong commitment to environmental and social issues, as well being passionate about the conservation of their cavern and woodlands. Access for all is also central to their ethos, with some excellent work undertaken to allow less able people to enjoy both. High energy use is a significant environmental impact for the cavern and new LED lighting has been installed to address this.

Buxton Civic Association held its 49th AGM at the Devonshire Dome on 18th June 2018. Sixty members packed in to the lecture theatre to hear reports from the Chair Mike Monaghan, and several of the Directors on BCA's activities.

The presentation that was delivered to the meeting can be accessed below.

After four years as Chair. Mike Monagan announced that he would be stepping down as Chair.

Peter Phillipson gave a vote of thanks for all the hard work that Mike has done, in particular in bringing BCA back into the centre of the voluntary groups community in Buxton. This was heartily endorsed by the members.

A full report will be posted to the website shortly.

Martin Wragg will talk about one of the most challenging rock climbs in the world

Martin will talk about a journey to the legendary Cirque of the Unclimables in the remote Logan Mountains at the northern end of the Rockies in Canada's North West Territories to attempt one of the greatest rock climbs in the world guarded by legions of dangerous beasts and the approach from hell.

As usual the talk will be at Poole's Cavern Visitor Centre starting at 7.30pm. Members and friends are welcome and the event is free.

The Importance of Trees

We will be at the Spring Fair again this year, up on the market, so why not pop along for a chat about the importance of trees and what BCA does to protect Buxton's beautiful woods and parks.

Come and tell us which are your favourite woods.

Do you have a favourite tree? Let us know and we will post it too our website.

My favourite tree