Levin Down diary - late April

Rob Eadie

Volunteer Reserve Manager 

The talk on Levin this week has been about Adders and Duke of Burgundy butterflies. Adders are doing well on Levin - I have counted seven in marginal scrub surrounding a large bramble thicket in a remote part of the reserve. One of these was a beautiful copper-coloured young adder, no more than five inches long. There is also a large Black Adder that has been showing well for both Sussex Wildlife Trust staff and interested members of the public! Black Adders are not infrequently seen, and their melanism is perhaps an advantage because it enables them to absorb heat more quickly. Definitely an advantage this spring.

The Duke of Burgundy butterfly has not been seen on Levin since 2018. This is a great pity, as Levin Down previously supported one of the strongest populations in Sussex. Butterfly expert and champion of the ‘Duke’, Neil Hulme, visited Levin this week to assess the habitat potential. He was greatly encouraged by the amount of new habitat that has been created and is confident, given further volunteer effort and the correct grazing regime, that there will be enough suitable habitat for a reintroduction of this charismatic butterfly.

A newly opened glade at the northern end of the reserve, sheltered on all sides by Hazel and Blackthorn scrub, has been a haven for early spring insect life. Ashy Mining Bees have been attracted to the blossoming Blackthorns and Green Longhorn moths and St Marks flies have been dancing in the dappled sunlight.

Violets (Hairy, Common Dog and Sweet), Wild Strawberry and Tormentil are all in flower this week on the grassland, and the glorious Whitebeam trees are in bud. The Wayfaring trees are also about to flower across the reserve. Named by a 17^th century botanist, who noticed its flowers in the hedgerows that bordered the old drove roads near Winchester, The Wayfaring tree is a ‘must see’ at this time of year on Levin.

All in all, it looks like an exciting spring and early summer lay ahead for the reserve. Given a few days of extended warmth and sunshine, Levin will really start to buzz with activity.

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