Reefs, wrasse and rocky shores - 4th December - Lisa Browning, South East England Marine Officer for the Wildlife Trusts Partnership.

The alternative title for this talk was 'Peacocks, Baked Beans and Sea-Mice', and, taken together, they give an idea of the rich variety on offer at this meeting. This was a talk, and a video presentation, beautifully shot, and brilliantly presented. To have this meeting immediately after the one on marine archaeology was a particularly happy decision, because it gave a chance for an overview of the wealth that is to be found underneath the waters of the English Channel.

In the course of the talk we were shown the range of habitats that can be found, including slightly muddy sandy gravel, and gravely muddy sand, which are to be confused at your peril, as well as my personal favourite, 'gloopy mud'. with which St Helens' roads are particularly well endowed. Lisa showed the range of marine life typical of each area, as well as emphasizing those areas where the seas of the south-east are particularly special. The economic value of these resources were discussed, as were the condition of these areas, and information was given on what is being done to protect them.

The south-east was an area of particular interest. Not only is the Solent one of the most sheltered marine water bodies in Europe, but the South-East of England is the area where the colder waters of the North Sea mingle with the warmer currents arriving from the south-west Mud dominated areas had Peacock Worms, with their tentacles emerging from narrow tubes, and the Mantis Shrimp, currently a topic for study lead by Roger Herbert. Our Mantis Shrimps spear their prey ... elsewhere related species can smash their way through aquarium glass. The Mantis Shrimp also has trinocular vision in each eye, giving it powers of sight which would be the envy of anyone. As a result they can focus on two separate prey items simultaneously !

Sandier areas held many species. These included the sea-mouse, a type of worm with iridescent bristles which could hold the key to the next telecommunications revolution. There were also wonderful images of Brittlestars, a spindlier version of the starfish. They favour areas with strong currents, and live in groups of thousands, linking arms to give them greater stability, and prevent themselves from being swept away. In habitats where shingle predominates one of the most memorable images was of the Baked Bean Sea Squirt. When ending its larval stage, it digests its own brain, which it will not need when an adult. If only life were so simple. Another species with a remarkable name was the Boring Piddock, a mollusc which lives on rocks off the Isle of Wight. When agitated it can radiate blue light, and already one bio-tech company is interested in using the juices released to detect the presence of certain chemicals.

It was already clear that there was a wealth of marine life which was of great importance, and the south-east has a number of special features, including 40% of Europe's coastal chalk, and the only site with offshore coast cliffs, as well as internationally important numbers of native oysters. The economic value was of significance, not just from fishing and the dredging of aggregates, but also the considerable recreational benefits of the area. The condition of the habitat varies enormously. Huge damage has been done in some areas by over fishing, particularly to skate stocks. Dolphins and Harbour Porpoises have declined, and nutrient enrichment has led to the gender-bending of some species, although there have been recent examples of improvement in the notorious case of the Dog-whelk. On the plus side Minke Whale numbers are increasing, the Thames is a success story, and lead and cadmium pollution levels are declining.

Marine Conservation is not a lost cause. Now, however, is the time to act. When you have finished reading the Bulletin, members may wish to consider helping this excellent cause by signing the petition calling for a Marine Bill to protect this unique environment. The petition can be reached on-line at www.wildlifetrusts.org/index.php The meeting ended with a chance to see part of the video that had recently been made about the marine environment in the south-east. Thought is being given to producing a further version for use in schools, to build on the educational work already being undertaken.

Richard Smout

26th October

Our thanks go to Roger Herbert of the Medina Valley Centre for suggesting that The Isle of Wight Natural History and Archaeological Society might like to hold an event jointly with them using the Eco-Challenger van. Also, we would like to thank Becky and the rest of the team for all their hard work with the organisation that resulted in the Society holding a joint full day with the Medina Valley Centre on 26th October at Calbourne Mill, where we were kindly allowed free use of the grounds for the day. The weather leading up to the big day had been blustery and very wet but the actual day was very pleasant and autumnal. About a dozen of our members volunteered to man various posts and lead a number of activities.

Magnificent Mammals - small mammal traps had been laid the night before, and adults and children accompanied Richard along the trail to see what had been trapped. Of the 40 traps that had been laid 37 were occupied with 34 Wood Mice, 1 Field Mouse and 1 Wood Vole.

Macro Moths - the moth trap had been set the night before and was opened when the activities began and three moths flew out! The Beaded Chestnut and a November moth that had not looked at the calendar!

Woodland Detective - people took a walk in the woods to see trees, shrubs, ferns and plants that grow there and afterwards the children were able to use their art skills to make a tree ID sheet to take home, or just be artistic with Ieaves, paint and some paper!

Clay play - the children had a great time making things from clay.

Toadstool Terror - children and adults walked in the woods and looked on the grass to collect fungi in trays which were put on display and named on arrival back at base.

Mini-beasts - adults and children looked in the woods for creepy crawlies and slimy snails.

Wet and Wild -'pond dipping' in the water channel was particularly popular with the children an activity that went on all day.

Barn Owl Forensics - pellet dissection to find out what Barn Owls had for dinner was held in the Straw Barn near the Eco-Challenger van. By the van you could have a look through magnifying glasses and a microscope to see the wonders of the natural world, letting folk see the results of the pond-dipping and moth trapping at scarily large magnification.

Bird Bonanza - bird watching in the grounds with one of the ideas being to watch the mallards up-ending and time how long they remained with their heads under water. We had not anticipating them being so well fed that they very stubbornly and very contentedly remained sitting upright!

Migration Game - the children loved playing swallows migrating in a fun-filled action packed game and watching the President pretending to be a Swallow, but mercifully being brought down by a Hobby as he tried to cross the Mediterranean. Survival of the fittest I suppose!

Round the Ponds - A nature trail around the ponds to see what plants could be found. The Mill put on a Milling Demonstration during the afternoon and some people took to punting on the water.

The mill staff manning the entrance estimated at least 500 people attended during the day and were as delighted with the response as we were. I think all the volunteers would agree that it was very worthwhile, and, hopefully something can be arranged for next year. So keep looking in the programme and Bulletin and volunteer your services on the next occasion!

Jackie Hart

16th October

The Fungus Foray was held two weeks later this year due to the recent dry autumns that had meant few finds in recent years forays. The main foray was held in Parkhurst Forest on Saturday 16th October with Dr Derek Reid on hand for identification of finds at the Island 2000 office in Forest Road. Dr Reid identified either on the day or on closer examination a grand total of 138 species. This included 7 species new to the Island; Uncinula clandestina, Cortinarius bolaris, Lactarius mairei, Leccinum holopus, Tricholoma saponacium, var. squamosum, Tyromyces sericeo-mollis and Tremella foliacea. Members of the section also paid visits to Firestone Copse and Combley Great Wood over the weekend. At Firestone 73 species were identified. The visit to Combley resulted in a list of 113 species including one new to the Island Clavulinopsis asterospora. One other species new to the Island was identified by Dr Reid at Fishbourne as soon as he had arrived on the Island, Sawadaea tulasnei. Dr Colin Pope brought along an example of the cage fungus Clathrus ruber collected from a garden in Pondwell. Over the weekend a grand total of 219 species were identified and of these 10 were new to the Island. Thanks go out to the team at Island 2000, Dr Reid and the regular members of the section who helped to make the foray a success even when I had to disappear off to work right in the middle of the Parkhurst Foray.

Chris Holland

18th September

Guided walk from Puckpool to Nettlestone Point, Seaview. The meeting was scheduled to include a guided walk concentrating on the new coastal protection scheme for Seaview Duver, led by one of the Coastal Officers. It was therefore very unfortunate that the coastal section were not in a position to provide anyone for the meeting, despite all the best efforts of our Programme Secretary. We were able to admire the many successful visual features of the scheme, and appreciate the fact that it had been completed on schedule, unlike the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth, which we could still see under construction on the other side of the Solent. It would however have been very helpful to have learnt more about the thinking behind the scheme, and to have had a chance to discuss its likely environmental impact. This was an opportunity missed. In the absence of our scheduled guide, members pooled their knowledge of the area, and the President brought along some notes about the history of various parts of this coastline.

Puckpool Park and the site of the heavy mortar battery they contained had been bought by the local authority in 1928, and one of its early concerns were the arrangements for viewing the Schneider Seaplane Race. Licences were also given for flying rights on the foreshore at Springvale. The battery, and the forts offshore were the result of the attempts to update the defences for Portsmouth in the 1860s.

We walked on to Springvale admiring the distant view of Woodlands Vale on the hill behind. The coastguard cottages were pointed out, and census returns used to show how the 19th century coastguards had moved around the coast of the British Isles in successive postings. There were a number of other attractive frontages in Springvale to look at, and we successfully avoided adding our numbers to the wedding photographs outside the Springvale Hotel. moving on past the site of the old toll house, we walked the length of the new defences, and then looked at the Salterns Cottages. In the 18th century the salterns themselves had been in active use. By the mid 19th century they were largely homes for mariners, but 50 years later there were a wider range of craftsmen and labourers living here, a reflection of the decline in the seafaring emphasis of this side of the island.

We continued into Seaview, along the sea-wall, past the old Methodist chapel, and the yacht club, and reached our furthest point at Nettlestone Point. Here we were able to admire the fleet of Seaview Mermaids bobbing on the slight swell just offshore. We heard about the development of Seaview by, amongst others the Caws family. Another set of local landowners, the Glynns, were keen to enhance it further, using , the facilities of the chain pier, and wished to block railway development into Ryde and divert it to this village in the hope of cornering the resulting tourist trade. William Anthony Glynn, the owner of Fairy Hill in the mid 19th century, was a man of considerable size, and girth, so much so that a semicircle had to be cut into the dining table at his house so that he could get close enough to eat. His son, also William Anthony was notoriously argumentative, locking up St Peter's Church in the village to prevent its use for some thirty years. We walked back towards the Duver via Bluett Avenue, and a view of Seafield House.

The visit ended with a visit to the new hide overlooking the ponds behind the sea wall. We were able to watch Oystercatchers, three Grey Herons, a couple of Little Egrets, and a pair of Little Grebe. There was the briefest of views of a passing Kingfisher, and a very fine Stock Dove drinking from the edge of' the pool. Earlier a single Mediterranean Gull, a Sandwich Tern, and at least six commie Terns were noticed during the walk along the sea-front.

Richard Smout

14th August

A small but keen group of members appeared from various directions in Chichester some having been to the Cathedral Cafe and some to the shops. They met Sue and Derek Telfer outside the main doors of Chichester Cathedral for a tour of the cathedral and, then, a walk round the old walls of the city. Sue took us into the cathedral and told how the building in which we were standing was started in 1076 and built with Quarr stone from the Isle of Wight. It would then have had a wooden or straw roof. The tower and spire, which is the third tallest in the country. were built much later and, in 1861, both collapsed and were reconstructed in 1866 by Sir George Gilbert Scott.
We came to the font and, here, our eyes were caught by a little brown blob on the wall. It was a bat with wings and legs tucked in for sleep. No one knew what kind of bat it was. Walking along the south aisle, we came to the sculptured panels, in low relief, depicting the raising of Lazarus from the dead. They are about 800 years old. Sue pointed out that they used the convention that the importance of the person related to their size in the picture. Therefore Christ is the largest and the gravedigger very small.
Some 16th century wooden panels depicted all the bishops associated with the cathedral until that time. They started with St Wilfrid who established the first cathedral in the area in the 7th century. In the panels all the faces are the same, as Lambert Barnard, who painted them, had only one effigy to draw from, that of Bishop Sherburne, who became bishop in 1508.

In sharp contrast to these ancient works was the altar tapestry designed by John Piper and unveiled in 1966. In brilliant colours it represents the Trinity and the four elements of air, water, earth and fire. This modern work is either liked or hated but it certainly makes an eye-catching centrepiece.

We could have stayed twice as long, marvelling at the beautiful vaulted ceiling and the many memorials and tombs around the aisles but it was necessary to move on as there was still the walk around the walls to be done.

Derek then guided us on a walk of the walls that were built over 1500 years ago and are mostly complete and measure 1.5 miles. The Romans established a military base here and by AD 50 a civilian settlement began to develop. In the 2nd century the Romans fortified Chichester with high banks made up of soil and rubbish and since that time the defences have been strengthened at various times. The current walls follow the original Roman lines exactly.

In the area of the West Gate we saw the size and strength of one of the 16 forward bastions that was built in the 3rd century. The walls were repaired when King Alfred the Great re-fortified Chichester against the Danes, and again in the 14th century. In the 12th century the Dean obtained permission from the King to cut a hole in the wall at the rear of his residence, to visit his large farmlands that he held south of the wall. This became a weakness exploited by the Parliamentarians during the Civil War in 1642. Although the Royalists plastered the passageway over, the Parliamentarians knew of it and placed explosives against the spot and blew it while making two distracting explosions at the East and West gates and so entered the city.

We went up onto the wall promenade, which is a wide pathway against the wall, built by the Victorians. We saw part of a bastion that is no longer attached to the wall, but some unlucky person has dominating his small back garden. The chimney pots in this area are of Fareham manufacture made from between 1775 and 1820. Each craftsman was allowed to put a number of hands on the pots thus indicating their work and place a message inside. We visited all that remains of the 13th century Greyfriars Priory chancel as it is part of the Chichester museum and houses large Roman stones found in the City and displays concerning the history of Priory Park and some of the churches of Chichester. In the park, during the time of William the Conqueror, a Mott and Bailey with fortifica-tions was built and lasted around 130 years. During King John's time the city was instructed to destroy the castle but they did not and the French captured it and they proved difficult to dislodge. We then event out of the park and rejoined the wall to the East Gate which was the last gate to be demolished, in 1783. We decided not to walk the section between East Gate to where we started but return to the Bell Rooms off' the Cathedral cloisters for tea and cakes! It was a lovely afternoon and a joy to see our old friends Sue and Derek, who have now settled in Chichester.

Chris Lipscombe and Jackie Hart