The tab headings above - not just the drop-down menus - are links to pages
As part of the Dipterists Forum 'Adopt a Species' initiative Judy is 'Fly Guardian' for four rare flies,
which she monitors every year and reports on to the forum's Conservation Office - see 'Flies' page
Within the Oxfordshire Flora Group, Judy is 'Flora Guardian' for three plant species - see links to their pages below
As part of the Dipterists Forum 'Adopt a Species' initiative Judy is 'Fly Guardian' for four rare flies,
which she monitors every year and reports on to the forum's Conservation Office - see 'Flies' page
Within the Oxfordshire Flora Group, Judy is 'Flora Guardian' for three plant species - see links to their pages below
Greater water parsnip,
Sium latifolium |
Narrow-leaved water dropwort
Oenanthe silaifolia |
Information about all the rare plants monitored by the Oxfordshire Flora Group
of the Ashmolean Natural History Society of Oxfordshire can be found in its annual newsletters.
Issues from 2007 to 2019 are available on the Group's website (links given at bottom of that page)
On 24 Nov 2018 at Wytham, Oxford, Judy gave a talk to members of the Oxfordshire Flora Group on
local work being undertaken on the conservation of creeping marshwort and greater water parsnip
Her Powerpoint presentation is available here
A short video, A Guided Walk at Cutteslowe Meadow, was filmed on 28 July 2020 by The Freshwater Habitats Trust.
In it Ellie Mayhew, Southern Project Officer, explains what the Trust is doing at Cutteslowe to best manage the site for freshwater wildlife
in collaboration with Oxford City Council, local expert Judy Webb, and others. Information given in that video is also summarised here.
More about Judy's involvement can be found on the FHT's Ex-situ Wetland Plant Project page
Judy also helps with the conservation of other rare flower species
25 May 2021 Jim Penny of Oxford Botanic Garden and Judy planted fen violets in an Oxfordshire calcareous spring fen. There has been a massive decline in the populations of fen violet, Viola persicifolia, due to habitat loss and draining of wetlands. For full-size photos taken by Judy and Jim, click here
15 April 2019: with Natural England volunteers at Knocking Hoe National Nature Reserve (NNR) in Bedfordshire doing a survey of Pasque flowers
Photos by Judy, who reported: 'The maximum number of flowers I counted on one plant was 13 - extraordinary. But many were dwarfed by drought and some had shrivelled before properly opening. Many had been eaten off by rabbits. It was cold and windy so few/no bees for pollination. I recorded the counting as it progressed but this only covered two sample areas, not the whole. In these areas there were hundreds, maybe more than a 1000 - a secure population at least. Other rare species found on this amazing site are field fleawort, spotted cat's ear and several orchids, but none of these were in flower yet'.
3 May 2014: with other members of the Oxfordshire Flora Group, monitory the Pasque flower, Pulsatilla vulgaris, at Aston Upthorpe Downs SSSI - photos
Photos by Judy, who reported: 'The maximum number of flowers I counted on one plant was 13 - extraordinary. But many were dwarfed by drought and some had shrivelled before properly opening. Many had been eaten off by rabbits. It was cold and windy so few/no bees for pollination. I recorded the counting as it progressed but this only covered two sample areas, not the whole. In these areas there were hundreds, maybe more than a 1000 - a secure population at least. Other rare species found on this amazing site are field fleawort, spotted cat's ear and several orchids, but none of these were in flower yet'.
3 May 2014: with other members of the Oxfordshire Flora Group, monitory the Pasque flower, Pulsatilla vulgaris, at Aston Upthorpe Downs SSSI - photos
Orchard Tooth Fungus, Sarcodontia crocea
Judy is the first contact via the People's Trust for Endangered Species for verification of this extremely rare Red Data listed fungus, which lives only on very old apple trees. People who think they have this fungus on their apple tree contact Judy and send her a photo. If the fungus looks likely to be Sarcodontia crocea she asks them to send a specimen to Kew for final verification. The fungus has a very strong smell (wine/pineapple/fruity) and is very yellow when young ('crocea' means 'yellow'). For slideshow of photos taken by Judy, click here.
Judy is the first contact via the People's Trust for Endangered Species for verification of this extremely rare Red Data listed fungus, which lives only on very old apple trees. People who think they have this fungus on their apple tree contact Judy and send her a photo. If the fungus looks likely to be Sarcodontia crocea she asks them to send a specimen to Kew for final verification. The fungus has a very strong smell (wine/pineapple/fruity) and is very yellow when young ('crocea' means 'yellow'). For slideshow of photos taken by Judy, click here.
Judy introduced Yellow Loosestrife in Milham Ford Nature Park with the aim of attracting the scarce Yellow Loosestrife bee, Macropis europaea. She was therefore delighted to find this one there in mid-July 2015.
Photo by Judy Webb |
A rare Earth Tongue fungus, Microglossum olivaceum discovered by Judy at Aston Rowant, which featured in The Oxford Mail,
on 15 January 2016, had not been seen in Oxfordshire since 1958. Judy is one of the regular volunteers at Aston Rowant National Nature Reserve. Photo by Judy Webb |