News
Concerns as insects fail to make a splat
INSECT life in Kent is showing a massive decline and it has conser- vationists worried. While some might welcome
fewer bugs, especially in the sum- mer months, wildlife experts warn of catastrophic consequences. Insects comprise a huge part of
the lower end of the food chain upon which other supporting species depend and are responsi- ble for pollinating many foods. Entire eco-systems are in danger of collapse, say experts. Maidstone-based Kent Wildlife
Trust used the ‘splatometer’ method of recording the number of insects, by counting the number of ‘splats’ left on a number plate. Last year, people were asked to
record the number of insects squashed against their number plates and this was compared to a similar survey conducted in 2004 by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). This showed there were 50%
fewer bugs. Fly-fishing clubs, have been warning of steep declines in the number of ephemerids, such as the mayfly, for decades. Agricultural chemicals, water ex- traction, wash-off from roads and motorways and climate shifts are all thought to feed into the causes of fewer hatches of water-borne fly. The trust reports: “The Wildlife
Trusts around the UK are calling for action to reverse the decline. “By reducing our use of pesticides
and creating more insect-friendly habitats in towns, cities and the
countryside we can help stop the de- cline.”
Conservationist Theo McCausland
said: “When you build houses and habitats are gone, they're gone for- ever. “And when you see beehives
being shipped in to pollinate the apple orchards around here, you know there's a problem. “But it’s not always terminal, be-
cause insects can regenerate quickly. If everyone sets aside a bit of garden to grow wild, for instance, we can all make a difference.”
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now, readers THE recent spread of the coron- avirus has led to some cancellation of events in all our publication areas. In this edition, we have taken
every effort to ensure that diary dates have been checked as far as possible before the edition went to press. However, with the fast-mov- ing nature of events surrounding the the COVID-19 virus, we cannot be sure that all events as published here are accurate. Therefore we would strongly
urge all readers to check with the organisers first.
VE day picnic
at cricket club KINGS Hill Cricket Club is hosting a VE Day celebration. “Picnic on the pitch” will take
place from 1pm to 10pm on Friday, May 8, to mark the 75th anniver- sary of VE Day – bring your picnic blanket, gazebo and your bunting. The club will have lots of activi-
ties going on to keep everyone oc- cupied. Everyone is welcome.
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2 Malling March 2020
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