Category: Uncategorized

Dallington Forest Rare Insects Found

(Posted on behalf of Doug Edworthy )

Photo of wetland cranefly
Photo ©️ J. Salmela

Dallington Forest is home to so many treasures. A recent survey – Dallington Forest Saproxylic Invertebrate Sampling report – just published, has found a number of nationally rare and endangered species including a wetland cranefly Ellipteroides alboscutellatus (pictured here)  described in the report as “a remarkable discovery”

From April through October 2018, 150 species of insect were identified from sampling in Dallington Forest; 48 of the Coleoptera species, 37 of the Diptera and 2 Hemiptera were saproxylic – dependent on decaying wood, giving a total of 87 saproxylic species; 16 of the species trapped are of special note due to their rarity across Britain, and these comprise 5 Nationally Rare and 11 Nationally Scarce species.

The report by Ecological Consultant Dr. Keith Alexander was commissioned by Dallington Forest Project. It was funded by a grant from Sussex Lund, grant application assisted by the Woodland Trust, Ancients of the Future (a Buglife project funded by the heritage Lottery Fund) provided traps and materials, and Peter Chandler identified the Diptera.

A PDF copy of the report is available here:
Dallington Forest Saproxylic Invertebrate Sampling 2018 Keith Alexander

Saproxylic invertebrates are those invertebrates that are dependent on dead or decaying wood (or dependent on other organisms that are themselves dependent on dead wood). These invertebrates may not be dependent on the wood for their entire life cycle but at least some stage is dependent on wood.

A good example of this are the larvae of some beetles that feed on decaying wood. The adults may feed on other things (such as nectar).

Dead wood is an essential component of woodland ecosystems, but one that is often overlooked and cleared away as unsightly or on the grounds of safety or neatness. As a result, invertebrate species that rely on dead wood are now some of the most threatened in Britain. It is vital to retain a variety of dead wood habitats within the woodland. This includes standing trees, dead branches, stems and snags on living trees and fallen branches and stumps. A range of dead wood at all stages of decay will provide a range of habitats for more specialist saproxylic (dead wood) invertebrates.

See the following websites for more information about saproxylic invertebrates: –

https://www.buglife.org.uk/search?combine_2=saproxylic

http://ec.europa.eu/…/spec…/redlist/beetles/introduction.htm

https://www.amentsoc.org/insects/glossary/terms/saproxylic

April 2019 Parish news

(Posted on behalf of Bobbie Steel)
St Giles Church
Services in April

  • Sunday  7th April        11 am.       Service of The Word
  • Sunday 14th              6.30 pm.      Evensong
  • Sunday 21st.              11 am.           Easter Sunday Holy Communion
  • Sunday 28th.            9.30am.       Holy Communion

The World Day of Prayer service was held at Dallington on Friday March 1st. As well as members of the congregations in our benefice we were joined by friends from Heathfield. The service, which had been prepared by the women of Slovenia, was very thought-provoking, and the title, “Come, everything is ready”, welcomed and included all present.

History Group: the last two meetings of this Spring will be:
Wednesday April 10th  Jenny Stiles will talk about Dallington after 1066.
Wednesday April 24th Douglas Sewell (postponed from March) on Dallington’s war graves
Both meetings in the Old School from 7 for 7.30pm

Flower Club Angela has written a note about the Flower Club:
I am very sorry to say that, reluctantly, it has been decided to finish the monthly meetings. This is mainly due to the lack of support and interest. Looking back, we have learned a great deal and had many happy afternoons. I think it began some 8 or 9 years ago when Dorothy Messer approached Pam Fuller with the idea of starting a flower-arranging group locally. We have made large and miniature arrangements, used a kitchen utensil and a dustpan, made Harvest and Christmas wreaths, joined in with a couple of Flower-Festivals and learned to make Christmas arrangements to use at home. I also remember trying to make crepe-paper poppies, daffodils and anemones. How hopeless we were. Pam used to tell us that the Brownies she taught were much less awkward than us! Many thanks to Pam for all her help and enthusiasm over many happy Thursday afternoons.  Angela.

Dallington WI. At our February meeting we had the pleasure of listening to our neighbour, Robin Taylor, talking about the life and work of Elizabeth Bishop, a poet of whom he is very knowledgeable. We very much enjoyed hearing Robin share his interest.
In April we look forward to a return visit from Chris McCooey, with his talk entitled, ‘News from the Home Front’. The April meeting will be in the Old School Village Hall at 7.30pm on April 18th.
Please note the summer evening time and do not get caught out by arriving in the afternoon. Visitors are always very welcome.
Bobbie

Library Cafe As usual the Library Cafe is open in the Old School village hall every Monday (except Easter Monday) from 2-4. The monthly Saturday morning openings are April 6th and May 4th 10-12. We will be including a sales table for plants and produce in all Saturday sessions throughout the season – please bring along any spare plants, seeds and garden produce to swap or sell

St Giles Churchyard closed for retiling works Friday 1st February

(Posted on behalf of Diana Day)

This coming Friday 1st February, there will be men in the churchyard replacing tiles on the roof. The churchyard will be closed for about 2 hours around lunchtime. This is to protect both the workmen and the public from any accident or mishap. Diana will be putting up “men at work” signs and will be around to redirect any visitors.

Looking for volunteer tree surveyors

The Woodland Trust is looking for volunteers to take part in the Observatree project which aims to protect the UK’s trees, woods and forests from new pests and diseases.

Volunteers receive training to enable them to correctly identify signs and symptoms of Observatree’s 22 priority pests and diseases as well as carry out effective site surveys

if you are interested, you can find out more at https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer-with-us/opportunities/tree-health-surveyor-various-locations/

Sheep killed by dog(s) in Dallington

A farmer with land close to Dallington Forest has just informed us that a dog or dogs have killed two ewes, that a further lamb was missing and other ewes had bite marks and injuries. The whole flock has been traumatised.

The dead ewes were found yesterday [Thursday 24th May] but it isn’t known when the attack occurred – it would have been between an inspection the day before and yesterday afternoon.

A number of owners let their dogs run free in Dallington Forest and on a number of occasions this Spring have been seen running around on this piece of land. But, as the attack wasn’t witnessed, it’s not known if the dog(s) came from that direction.

Naturally, a close watch has been mounted of this flock as dogs getting a taste for sheep-killing tend to return.

Particularly at this time of the year owners need to keep their dogs under close control.

Dog owners should note that farmers are within their rights to shoot any dogs found worrying sheep.

Archive for the ‘Dallington Bellringers’ Category

Archive for the ‘Dallington Bellringers’ Category

Quarter Peal for Lord Wrenbury

Posted in Dallington Bellringers, St Giles Church on October 8, 2014| Leave a Comment »

A Quarter Peal with half muffled bells was rung at St Giles Church Dallington on Wednesday evening 8th October to give thanks for the life of the Reverend Lord John Wrenbury, who died peacefully at home on 27th September 2014, aged 87 years. Funeral Service to be held at St Giles’ Church, Dallington on Saturday 11th October at 2.30 p.m. No flowers please, but donations, if desired, payable to Dallington PCC, for St Giles’ Church, may be sent c/o C. Waterhouse & Sons, High Street, Burwash, TN19 7ET. Tel: 01435 882219.

Dallington Bellringers

Dallington Bellringers

dallingtonchurch small
If you are lucky enough to live within earshot of St Giles Church, you can enjoy the wonderful sounds of the bells drifting out over the village on practice nights (Mondays at 7.00pm) or when the bells are rung for services.

For everyone else here is just a small sample recorded outside the church on Monday August 17th 2009.

To find out more about joining the Bellringers, contact John Steel on 01435 830811.  For news and updates about the group, please click this link

d-a-d-s

Archive for the ‘D.A.D.S’ Category

Next DADS Production!

Posted in D.A.D.S, Events on August 18, 2013

DALLINGTON AMATEUR DRAMATIC SOCIETY
D.A.D.S

WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO
AN EVENING IN THE BLISS HOUSEHOLD
AND BE A PART OF HAY FEVER

TO BE HELD AT THE OLD SCHOOL DALLINGTON
30TH OCTOBER TO 2ND NOVEMBER
7.30PM CURTAIN UP
CALL 01435831040 FOR TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW

You are invited to come right into the comfortable, but untidy home of the charmingly eccentric Bliss family. Judith, the mother, is a retired stage actress for whom all the world is, indeed a stage; David, the father, is a novelist. Their grown children, Simon and Sorel, live at home with them. As the play opens, Simon and Sorel are dallying in the living room, exchanging insults about mutual friends ………………………
Can the ending really be that insulting to their guests?????????

DON’T MISS THE CHANCE TO BE A PART OF THIS WONDERFUL EVENING
SEE YOU SOON
PETER BOWERS
DIRECTOR AND GENERAL DOGS BODY

Dallington Amateur Dramatic Society (DADS)

Dallington Amateur Dramatic Society (DADS)

The Dallington Amateur Dramatic Society has been running for many years, putting on at least one performance a year at the Old School in The Street. For notices about recent and forthcoming productions, please click this link.

The stage was specially designed to be portable, and some clever & attractive sets have been conceived as you can see from this photograph from a recent production.

As a small society, with a membership of around 30, we have gained a good reputation over the years, drawing a supportive audience.

Most plays tend to be comedies with the occasional thriller or drama. Productions generally take place in the Autumn, though the programme may include other events open to the public.

Please call Roy Iremonger (01435 830141) if you would like further information. We need actors, non-actors, front of house, back stage – in fact anyone with an interest in drama (or who has friends and family who may be interested), so please give us a call.