Minutes of the 4th meeting of SIG⁽¹⁹⁹⁷⁾ held at 7.30 p.m., 4 October 1999 at Coutts House (confirmed)

Present: J Webb, E Brown, R Tribbeck, T Beynon, M Waterhouse, D Skingsley, J Stanney, C Slawson, M Webb, H Ball

Apologies: N Collingwood, D Emley

SIG⁽¹⁹⁹⁷⁾ now known as SIG

SIG remit: JW referred to his letter of 25 May 1999 which contained a draft remit for the SIG. This was thoroughly discussed and there was a consensus of agreement with the remit with minor amendments as follows.

• Survey and record site(s) for invertebrates to increase understanding and knowledge of them within the county
• Highlight site(s) which are important for invertebrates to relevent organisations via the SWT Grading Committee
• Survey one SWT reserve per year as a group. This is to include one planned day for all SIG members who wish to attend. All other visits are at the discretion of the individuals and should invlove liason with SIG Secretary or Chair. A SIG reserves report compiler will collate information gathered in order for SIG to comment on management plans for each SWT reserves visited.
• Introduce new members to SIG and encourage them to become involved in recording and serveying

Much discussion took place regarding the line of communication of records. It was finally agreed that all records should be sent to the SIG Record Compiler (C. Slawson) who would then be responsible for collating the records and forwarding them on to the Grading Committee and other relevant organisations. Individuals could also send their records direct to the relevant County Recorder. SIG Record Compiler would liase with County Recorders to ensure confirmation and status of rarer species records.

SWT Grading Committee comprises G Walker - English Nature, R Hill - County Ecologist and S Lawley - SWT Conservation Officer.

Comment on SWT reserve management, The draft SIG remit Item 5 was considered too far reaching and it was agreed to amalgamate it with Item 3, the annual survey of one SWT reserve (see above). It was agreed that following the survey SIG would make recommendations on site management particularly regarding micro-habitat requirements. It was also agreed that SWT should be requested to obtain site invertebrate records from

SIG.

SIG set-up: It was agreed that the initial period of office for all officials would be until autumn 2001.

Chair - Jon Webb,
Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, Coutts House, Sandon, Staffs, ST18 0DN
Tel 01889 508534 Email: staffswt@cix.co.uk
1. to chair meetings

Secretary - David Skingsley,
Biology Division, Staffordshire University, College Road, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 2DE
Tel: 01782 294746, Email drs2@staffs.ac.uk
1. to take and issue meeting minutes
2. to act as new members contact
3. to compile annual newsletter
4. to develop external contacts

Record Compiler - Craig Slawson,
20 Queens Road, Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 7LJ
1. to receive and collate all records annually
2. to liase with County Recorders
3. to forward records to Grading Committee

Reserves Report Compiler - Helen Ball,
Bottom Lane Farm, Bottom House, Nr Leek, Staffs, ST13 7QL
1. to receive and collate all records from annual survey site
2. to produce site report including habitat management recommendations to SWT
*** It was agreed that the Reserves Report Compiler would be changed annually.***

The following members agreed to act as County Recorders:

• Caddisflies R Tribbeck, 14d Stoneyfields Court, Sandy Lane, Newcastle-u-Lyme, Staffs, ST5 0LT
• Centipedes C Slawson, 20 Queens Road, Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 7LJ
• Coleoptera J Webb, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, Coutts House, Sandon, Staffs, ST18 0DN
• Craneflies D Skingsley, Biology Division, Staffordshire University, College Road, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 2DE
• Diptera M Waterhouse, Six Oaks Farm, Bradnop, Nr Leek, Staffs, ST13 7EU
• Harvestmen C Slawson, 20 Queens Road, Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 7LJ
• Hymenoptera M Waterhouse, Six Oaks Farm, Bradnop, Nr Leek, Staffs, ST13 7EU
• Lepidoptera D Emley, 23 Leacroft, Stone, Staffs, ST15 8GF
• Mayflies R Tribbeck, 14d Stoneyfields Court, Sandy Lane, Newcastle-u-Lyme, Staffs, ST5 0LT
• Millipedes C Slawson, 20 Queens Road, Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 7LJ
• Molusca R Gillibrand, 20 Sutherland Drive, Westlands, Newcastle-u-Lyme. Staffs, ST5 3NB
• Odonata N Collingwood, 20 Dorridge Grove, May Bank, Newcastle-u-Lyme, Staffs, ST5 0HX
• Spiders C Slawson, 20 Queens Road, Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 7LJ
• Stoneflies R Tribbeck, 14d Stoneyfields Court, Sandy Lane, Newcastle-u-Lyme, Staffs, ST5 0LT
• Woodlice C Slawson, 20 Queens Road, Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 7LJ

Reserve survey for year 2000: It was agreed to survey the new SWT reserve at Cotton Dell and Star Wood (SK0645), the date of the annual site get together will be agreed at the next meeting. Reserves Report Compiler (H. Ball) to obtain group permit, maps and to establish background records of the site.

Biodiversity Officer Report fom J Webb: Carried over to next meeting (SBAP news-sheet in the offing).

Cannock Chase: Records for Cannock Chase are to be sent to Sue Shephard as well as to the SIG record compiler and county recorders (belt and braces approach).

Any other business: C Slawson requested any spider records outstanding to be received before the end of the year to enable them to be included in the forthcoming national Spider Recording Scheme provisional atlas.

Date of next meeting: 7.30p.m. Monday, 28 February 2000 at Coutts House