FOREST CHIEFS HELP HAMSTERLEY'S SUN-BATHING ANTS

PRESS CALL 11AM FRIDAY 11 JUNE

They are a tad hairy around the eyes, spit formic acid and are generally low in the public's affections.

But now the Forestry Commission is helping the northern wood ant - the UK's largest - claim a place in the sun by tweaking its management of 5,000 acre Hamsterley Forest, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham.

Forest chiefs have created about 20 "sun-traps" to give the warmth-loving insect a fighting chance of survival in one of its few north eastern locations. The south-facing “alcoves” have been cleared of young trees, offering ant nests a direct view of the mid-day sun.

Insects are often hailed as amongst the planet’s most successful life-forms, but times have been hard for the northern wood ant (Formica lugubris). It now merits its own UK Biodiversity Action Plan and is rated as “near threatened” and "local" in its distribution.

Up until now Hamsterley’s colony has been constantly on the move as fast conifer branches grow and block sun-light. Many of the magnificent domed shaped nests - made from thousands of spruce needles and up to two feet high – have been rebuilt on sloping ground, causing them to collapse. But now the colony can look forward to laying down more permanent roots.

Foster Mark Herbertson and naturlist Gordon Simpson will be available for photos/interviews at one of the ant nests. Meet at Hamsterley Forest Visitor Centre on Friday 11 June at 11am.

Mark Herbertson said:

"Wood ants need to keep nests at a stable temperature and by restoring their view of the sun, that will allow them to build bigger nests and maintain a healthy population. The work has not taken long, but it will produce a real dividend for the ants."

The sun traps were suggested by ex-forester Gordon Simpson, of West Auckland, who now works for the Forestry Commission as a wildlife consultant. He explained:

"Wood ants have an important part to play in a healthy environment. They are a major food source for the green woodpecker and eat other insects to maintain a natural balance. They are also most impressive insects, up to a centimetre long, with black and red markings. Because they are restricted to just a handful of locations in north east England it makes Hamsterley’s colony very precious."

Wood ants live in colonies which can number up to half a million. Nests are carefully maintained by workers, with the dome built like a thatched roof to shed water. The south side of the nest is also flatter to present a greater surface area to the mid-day sun. To cap it all, worker ants will also 'sunbathe' and then go into the nest to release excess heat and keep eggs warm.

NOTE TO EDITOR
Hamsterley Forest is one of 20 woodland areas named as a great place to see plant and animal life in a new “Wildwoods” campaign. The Forestry Commission initiative is backed by a new website at www.forestry.gov.uk/wildwoods packed with more information on wild flowers, fungi and creatures such squirrels, badgers and birds.

Media calls to Richard Darn on 01226 246351, 0775 367 0038.