The Project is seriously concerned about the wildlife we are displacing as we prepare the plot for maximum planting. We have upset - but not hurt - Sloworms, Ant nests, Voles and Field Mice, cut down some beautiful plants - though we have collected their seeds. We've chucked every beetle grub and earthworm into the Conservation Area. I have been allowed to plant displaced wild flower seeds in a special area, but on pain of death I have to collect their seeds from flower-heads (of all the daisies and thistles, wild geraniums, for e.g.) before they let loose!

We think that the Community will be impressed when they see ‘weeds’ in all their beauty looked after carefully so that they don't become a threat to local gardens or crowd-out our crops.


The list starts here

Insects first because they are so vulnerable and important to the welfare of our project .....

26th June, 2009
2 Violet Ground Beetles Carabus violaceus

3 Mullein Moth caterpillars Cucullia verbasci we rescued pupated in a carefully controlled environment after one week of feeding in captivity

28th June, 2009
The spectacularly beautiful Vapourer Moth caterpillar Orgyia antiquawe found on Jan Morse's arm under our Apple Tree pupated - this is a species as you may know which has a flightless female. In my experience they attract the attention of male Vapourer Moths within minutes of coming out of their chrysalis. They mate, she lays 200-ish eggs - I've counted! - and drops down dead.

29th June, 2009
2 Red Admiral butterflies Vanessa atalanta
1 Small White (Cabbage butterfly) Pieris rapae
1 Large White (Cabbage butterfly) Pieris brassicae
1 Gatekeeper Butterfly Pyronia tythonus
Several Small Tortoiseshell Butterflies Aglais urticae
1 Meadow Brown Butterfly Maniola jurtina
Lots of Ringlet Butterflies Aphantopus hyperantus

29th June, 2009
1 Hummingbird Hawk Moth Macroglossum stellatarum
Lots of 7-spot Ladybirds Coccinella 7-punctata
Lots of Soldier Beetles Rhagonycha fulva
1 Cardinal Beetle Pyrochroa coccinea
1 Shield Bug (Parent Bug) Graphosoma italicum
Lots of Ground Beetles Leistus spinibarbis
1Click Beetle Ampedus balteadus
1 Meadow Grasshopper Chorthippus parallelus
1 Green Ground Beetle Carabus nemoralis
Lots of Green Froghoppers (Cuckoo Spit!) Pilaenus spumarius
1 green Weevil Phyllobius viridiaeris
1 Common Cockchafer (May Bug) Melolontha melolontha

Reptiles
Sloworm - every five minutes when digging, especially
     when removing reed (Soft Rush) tussocks
Amphibians
Common Frog - 29th June Rana rana
Common Toad - 3rd July Bufo bufo

Mammals
Mole
Baby Field Mouse

Birds
Goldfinch
Raven
Siskins
Blue Tits
Great Tits
Long-tailed Tits
No Wrens or Dunnocks yet!
House Martins - mobbing and chasing off a Buzzard
Blackcaps (Warbler)
Willow Warbler
Chiff-Chaff
House Sparrow
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Robin
Green Woodpecker (Mr Yaffle!)
Pied Woodpecker
Jackdaw
Carrion Crow
Common Buzzard

Over time we'll supply photographs taken by ourselves, but particularly with butterflies and birds it takes a long time to get photos which are in b..... focus!