Moths Project
The Moths Projct entered the home straight in July with the fourth and final round of trapping. So far, we have found 84 different moth species in four Lambeth gardens! The final results will be published later this year and shared with the Lambeth Biodiversity Forum.
One member reported:
“I planted quite a lot of Bird’s food trefoil in my mini meadow. Partly because a wide range of bees and butterflies like it Partly because it’s the larval (caterpillar) food of the Common blue butterfly, which I wanted to attract to my garden. And just now I saw a Common blue on the Bird’s foot trefoil flower – my first in the garden!
“I had just finished watering when I saw a largish insect flying around near my herb garden, hovering occasionally. My first thought was Hornet hover fly (I had one on a flower recently), but when I got a better look I realised it was a Hummingbird hawk moth! That is one of the priority species I’ve been hoping to attract. Seeing it is so exciting and satisfying.”
Members’ garden visits
In July we visited the garden of WGG member Annie, who had lots of self-set hazel plants to give away! Her small garden manages to include an eclectic number of pollinator-friendly plants, a mini greenhouse and pond. The front garden is crammed with bees guzzling on a sea of towering Echium pininana.
The Comma butterfly pictured here is feeding on her buddleia.
We’ve visited four WGG members’ gardens so far this year and picked up a lot of tips on how to create an attractive and productive space in a wildlife-friendly way.
Visits to local wildlife-friendly spaces
Our programme of visits continues with a local community site in August and a tour of Brockwell Greenhouses in September.
Altogether, it has been a highly productive first year. We’re very grateful to Co-ordinator Czech Conroy for setting up and steering the Group.
We are now brainstorming how to develop the WGG in its second year.