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Polyzonium project
This project aims to establish the distribution and ecology of the Kentish
Pinhead Polyzonium germanicum, a millipede restricted to Kent in
the UK. An intensive survey by volunteers in April established that the
species is still widespread in the east of the county and several new
sites were located including the most easterly site at Stodmarsh NNR. New
sites were found also on the western edge of the known range around
Hawkhurst. At each site visited the volunteers collected information on
habitat features including things such as moisture levels, litter depth,
vegetation structure and percentage of bare ground. These data are yet to
be analysed but the aim is to be able to predict further habitat where the
millipede may occur and provide advice to site managers on maintaining
suitable conditions for the millipede.
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Ongoing project
Conservation of Anthophora retusa
Photo: Andy Phillips
In May 2008 a grant was awarded by PTES for a project to elucidate the
autecology of Anthophora retusa at Seaford. The work confirmed that
this is a polylectic species and pollen availability does not appear to be
behind its decline. The extent of the population at Seaford was found to
be much greater than previously known. Following on from this a new
project, supported by Defra, was begun in 2010 to monitor the response of
bees to the creation of new forage habitat in an adjacent valley not
currently supporting a population of the bee. Changes in grazing regimes
were to be used to bring about the increase in forage to assess the
usefulness of such approaches in encouraging the bee to expand its range
from its current restricted strongholds. Changes in land ownership and
tenancy disrupted negotiations to establish grazing regimes for 2010. The
project is continuing through 2011 into 2012.
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