tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61106280114689768252024-03-14T05:59:52.960+00:00Peter Thompson - Fresh Air ScribblingsThis blog is about all aspects of the countryside. All views and thoughts are my own.Peter Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350865571811975257noreply@blogger.comBlogger318125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110628011468976825.post-60297133019532264332021-02-24T17:18:00.002+00:002021-02-24T17:19:28.832+00:00Fake Tesco farms<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I was
reading a marketing training guide the other day and it said “Customers expect
brands to be open, honest and authentic. They are increasingly interested in
understanding provenance and are much more marketing-savvy than they used to
be. Brands must be as clear as they can be, to avoid confusing customers in any
way”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Well, I do
not think that anyone from Tesco’s marketing department has been on this course
or indeed, any other marketing course. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Actually, having
had second thoughts about this, quite possibly I’m wrong and they have all been
sent on a training programme entitled “How to be as economical with the truth
as possible”. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Tesco’s you
see, have a range of branded farms with quintessentially rural sounding British
names, such as Nightingale farms, Willow farms, Woodside farms and Redmere
farms. Oh, that’s nice – supporting British farmers. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But you
really don’t have to dig that deep to find out that these farms are completely 'fictional'
farm brands. Yep – these farms do not actually exist. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Let me give
you an example. Below is a photo of a label from a packet of Tesco Garlic from
Redmere farms. Turn it over however, and you will see that it has been sourced
from China! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPN6huIWP28xEVFbOlSwKbirDPQLD7O_KzxXrjLaW0qUkas_XPaK5kEDrcjecjpvsruc2pot8LmU2-cwnHWJXX4svZ5n7oY2iEHktMFAjCDkomPt7BvnnMpOyPS-FMYerJKKh8a3lXVk/s1518/DSC_0322a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1439" data-original-width="1518" height="606" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPN6huIWP28xEVFbOlSwKbirDPQLD7O_KzxXrjLaW0qUkas_XPaK5kEDrcjecjpvsruc2pot8LmU2-cwnHWJXX4svZ5n7oY2iEHktMFAjCDkomPt7BvnnMpOyPS-FMYerJKKh8a3lXVk/w640-h606/DSC_0322a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizP7eO2_hxECIhSj85L0RCpsJ_m0SY1fSHSWVCLJi96y_kEEgbFDBQ71t63qwRDItkG7MqivMoAfq2vRcWA4ObLjIlxpNONQ7p6hSd6wjB_dlPKxsR8V8dQqSDj6iXP2VBXoxU7SzMKII/s1548/DSC_0323a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1548" data-original-width="1279" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizP7eO2_hxECIhSj85L0RCpsJ_m0SY1fSHSWVCLJi96y_kEEgbFDBQ71t63qwRDItkG7MqivMoAfq2vRcWA4ObLjIlxpNONQ7p6hSd6wjB_dlPKxsR8V8dQqSDj6iXP2VBXoxU7SzMKII/w528-h640/DSC_0323a.jpg" width="528" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Now, is this
a little “un-truth”, a fib or a full-blown lie. Well, I am not certain – but it
sure as hell is not squeaky clean is it? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The other
thing that Tesco has started to use is the phrase “Trusted farms”. This term
means what? Trusted to be cheap as chips? Trusted to keep shelves full, whatever
the cost to the animal? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It certainly
does not have any legal definition when applied to animal welfare.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The ham
joint in the photograph does not even have a country of origin written on it.
But that’s OK folks, because after all, it is from a trusted farm.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU6hede8MBMi-L-msTYl0x8-m2GpLexNooHdV1TY9fbP2C1Gp3d-00uPR6Ttqqt7GJRwn6iGmxCAy4x7jvkSdj82F6f45NS4XXmFPnHxJB0wNO_7QBtiPAIemIn6U-OXy_SVWZjga7u_w/s341/Tesco+ham.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="341" data-original-width="233" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU6hede8MBMi-L-msTYl0x8-m2GpLexNooHdV1TY9fbP2C1Gp3d-00uPR6Ttqqt7GJRwn6iGmxCAy4x7jvkSdj82F6f45NS4XXmFPnHxJB0wNO_7QBtiPAIemIn6U-OXy_SVWZjga7u_w/w274-h400/Tesco+ham.jpeg" width="274" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I will leave
you to make up your own mind about this marketing ploy. But I just want you and
Tesco to know, that I most certainly did not buy either the ham or the garlic.<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /></span><p></p>Peter Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350865571811975257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110628011468976825.post-82730067167023410342021-02-10T16:14:00.000+00:002021-02-10T16:14:00.493+00:00Wasps are amazing!<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Last year I saw
that I had wasps going in and out of a brick air vent in the front of my house.
I always leave wasps nests alone if they are not bothering anyone, and apart
from avoiding the use of a short cut through path, this nest was not an issue.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I have now
removed the unused, old nest as it was obviously blocking up the air vent. As
you can see from the photo, it is a good size and rather elongated instead of
round, as it had to be built to fit along the channel within the house.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GrM_pxqCGlBokRX64kemvZSmCI2rbU1ton_8f9Y8ECq0w8N4_MWYLcEvYuGiVLVJkVkkgVBh7Zj1olMxQhQcUfJ4mJl_-eqE0EOI1TGe8aNaLmpG7n-v0r9PM8PtEgmODkLLXobnoN0/s2048/Wasp+nest+%252B+tennis+ball+for+size+comparison.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1605" data-original-width="2048" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GrM_pxqCGlBokRX64kemvZSmCI2rbU1ton_8f9Y8ECq0w8N4_MWYLcEvYuGiVLVJkVkkgVBh7Zj1olMxQhQcUfJ4mJl_-eqE0EOI1TGe8aNaLmpG7n-v0r9PM8PtEgmODkLLXobnoN0/w640-h502/Wasp+nest+%252B+tennis+ball+for+size+comparison.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wasp's nest with tennis ball for size comparison</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh3OI0zWvc4hTydSMTVJDLa-FQ_7B7YTksDJrp0BoiQBJufEsYp-v5DC8qtz952xd1FoEdECqvuA7wu2vtC_JLHG_HJVwEWpVW1hFa2Iug_bJyUCaGtR8wKmUMPBGuK2SNe7Z5U7UWZU4/s2048/Wasp+nest+inside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1476" data-original-width="2048" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh3OI0zWvc4hTydSMTVJDLa-FQ_7B7YTksDJrp0BoiQBJufEsYp-v5DC8qtz952xd1FoEdECqvuA7wu2vtC_JLHG_HJVwEWpVW1hFa2Iug_bJyUCaGtR8wKmUMPBGuK2SNe7Z5U7UWZU4/w640-h462/Wasp+nest+inside.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The inside of the wasp's nest</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I recovered
a couple of dead wasps from the nest and identified them as Vespula vulgaris,
the common wasp. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The queens
which were born last year, are the only survivors from the nest and having
mated, will now be hibernating over-winter somewhere away from the nest.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When the queen
emerges from hibernation in the early spring. She establishes her nest usually
in a cavity in the ground or a tree, and as she builds each cell, she lays an
egg in it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">After about
30 days, her first offspring, which will be workers, emerge as adults. These
will all be female wasps and they will take over the foraging, nest building
and maintenance duties, while also tending to new broods. Meanwhile, this extra
help allows the queen to concentrate on laying egg after egg. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I watched
many of these workers chomping away on my wooden fence throughout the summer,
taking away small amounts of wood which they then chew into a paste-like pulp
mixed with their saliva. They then form this pulp into the outer wall and also into hexagon-shaped paper cells within. The whole nest resembles a structure
made from delicate sort of paper-mache. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">From these
new broods will hatch carnivorous larvae, which the adult wasps will bring food
to in the form of aphids and other insects. In return, the larvae excrete a
sugary liquid for the workers to eat. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The single
queen who resided in my nest could have produced up to 10,000 workers, who in
turn potentially may have gathered up to 250,000 aphids or equivalent! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Wasps are
also pollinators of flowers and crops. Adult wasps don’t need much protein (the
bugs they prey on are for the developing brood in the nest) but they do need
sugar, which they get in the form of nectar from flowers. In the process of
finding it, wasps pick up and transfer pollen from flower to flower. Unlike
many bees, wasps do not mind what flowers they visit – as generalist
pollinators they are often more abundant than bees in degraded or fragmented
habitats and so are important ‘back-up’ pollinators in these areas.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Once the
colony is big enough, the queen will switch to laying a sexual brood - these
are males and the sexual females capable of becoming next year’s queens. When
the sexual brood emerges, they leave the nest to mate and then the queens will find
somewhere to hibernate over the winter. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So, should
you find a wasps nest somewhere that is not going to cause you any immediate
problems, then leave them be, as they are both fascinating and useful
creatures! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Peter Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350865571811975257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110628011468976825.post-32757310165552728902021-02-02T11:44:00.000+00:002021-02-02T11:44:31.475+00:00BP’s “dirty little secret” <p> </p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Bernard
Looney became BP’s boss about a year ago and one of the first things he did was
to commit the company to a net zero carbon footprint by 2050 or sooner. Quite a
statement for such a company to make. Obviously to achieve this, there will have
to be some very difficult decisions to make, including potentially getting rid
of a number of investments which may be “hard to swallow” for shareholders of
the company.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Let me tell
you about one such investment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">BP have a
20% holding in a state controlled Russian company called Rosneft. This company
is undertaking one of the biggest oil projects in history. So what, that is surely
what BP do – invest in oil amongst other things. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Yep, but why
does the company include the money earned from this project in its annual financial
performance, which is out this week, but fails to include Rosneft’s emissions
in its climate aims? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I wonder if
this huge project based in the pristine, northernmost tip of the Siberian Artic,
is just too lucrative to bail out of yet, despite its dirty black, rather than
green credentials? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Now, when I
say that this is a huge project, by George, I mean huge! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The project,
whose committee is chaired by former German chancellor Gerhard Schroder, is
worth $134 billion and has required two new airports, a new port, a 480-mile-long
pipeline and 15 new towns to support the 400,000 workers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This raises
the concern that BP’s ambitions to cut their carbon footprint, only covers
their own output, not Rosneft’s or oil that is traded. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Rosneft
pumped out about 2.1 billion barrels of oil and gas in 2019, putting BP’s share
at more than 400 million barrels. You might begin to see why they are reluctant
to cut themselves free from such a lucrative business. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I am not the
only one asking if BP’s statement of “net zero by 2050 or sooner” simply means
that they have three decades to make a decision on Rosneft? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Peter Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350865571811975257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110628011468976825.post-73455145523871419802021-01-13T13:48:00.000+00:002021-01-13T13:48:50.405+00:00You should be itching to know about this….<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiisI4ZAMqu1r3s20ChRtU9UbP_kCXeJHFzPFy_1-8AvMkcwF1BmccJCCj_xMcguKvQJyjlkiwGfr7nU_aS72YG5FiI83nDVDxpIz6cz54dJ4Ez0rAaWxVjlVjfsO3xii4Du10IByk-ov8/s500/Dog+swimming.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: black;">Researchers
at the University of Sussex have found widespread contamination of English
rivers with two neurotoxic pesticides commonly used in veterinary flea
products: fipronil and the neonicotinoid imidacloprid. The concentrations found
often far exceeded accepted safe limits.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: black;">Rosemary
Perkins from the University of Sussex analysed data gathered by the Environment
Agency in English waterways between 2016-18. They found that fipronil was
detected in 98% of freshwater samples, and imidacloprid in 66%.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: black;">Rosemary
Perkins, a PhD student at Sussex and a qualified vet, said: "The use of
pet parasite products has increased over the years, with millions of dogs and
cats now being routinely treated multiple times per year."<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: black;">So why might
this be an issue? Well, for starters these products have been banned across
Europe for use on farms, because of their potential impact on pollinators.
(although recently it has been allowed again in some countries, including
England, for Sugar Beet production). <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: black;">If you take
a look at the advisory label on fipronil, it states that it is highly, to very
highly toxic to marine and freshwater fish and that it is also highly toxic to
freshwater invertebrates. This, coupled with the fact that they are widely toxic
to most land based insects too, shows us that they are potentially a
considerable problem, even at very low levels. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: black;">Dave Goulson,
Professor of Biology at the University of Sussex, who specializes in the
ecology and conservation of insects, states that the Seresto dog collar contains
4.5g of imidacloprid, enough Neonicotinoid to kill 1 billion honeybees.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: black;">According to
the Veterinary Medicines Directorate who funded the research, there are 66
licensed veterinary products containing fipronil in the UK, and 21 containing
imidacloprid, either alone or in combination with other parasiticides. These
include spot-on solutions, topical sprays and collars impregnated with the
active ingredient.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: black;">The paper,
published in Science of the Total Environment, notes that the highest
levels of pollution were found immediately downstream of wastewater treatment
works, supporting the hypothesis that significant quantities of pesticide may
be passing from treated pets to the environment via household drains.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: black;">Also, how
often does your adorable mutt love a little swim in your local river, stream or
pond – especially in the hot summer months? An action that could be directly
impacting on the health of the wildlife that lives there. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p></a></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"> </span></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiisI4ZAMqu1r3s20ChRtU9UbP_kCXeJHFzPFy_1-8AvMkcwF1BmccJCCj_xMcguKvQJyjlkiwGfr7nU_aS72YG5FiI83nDVDxpIz6cz54dJ4Ez0rAaWxVjlVjfsO3xii4Du10IByk-ov8/s500/Dog+swimming.jpeg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: left;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiisI4ZAMqu1r3s20ChRtU9UbP_kCXeJHFzPFy_1-8AvMkcwF1BmccJCCj_xMcguKvQJyjlkiwGfr7nU_aS72YG5FiI83nDVDxpIz6cz54dJ4Ez0rAaWxVjlVjfsO3xii4Du10IByk-ov8/w400-h266/Dog+swimming.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> <p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"> </span></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><p><br /></p><p> </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"> </span></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"> Many dogs love a swim!</span></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">So, what are
the alternatives to using pesticides for the treatment of fleas and ticks? This
is some advice I have found on-line:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Vacuuming is
highly effective at removing fleas in any life stage from their favourite
haunts: carpets, cushioned furniture, floor cracks and crevices, and pet play
structures. Because vacuuming collects fleas but does not kill them, put some
tape over the end of the vacuum cleaner hose to prevent fleas
escaping from the bag, or transfer the bag to an outdoor waste bin.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Hot, soapy
water acts as an effective means to kill fleas in all life stages with no
health risk to pets or people. Wash pet bedding weekly to treat an
infestation. Whenever you are handling
pet bedding that may contain flea eggs, fold it up carefully so the eggs do not
fall out of the bedding and land on the floor or furniture.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Flea combs
are made to remove adult fleas, flea dirt, and dried blood from your pet’s skin
and fur. They are highly effective, and pets often enjoy the process. Focus on
head and neck but groom your whole pet if possible. Pull the fleas out of the
comb and drop them into soapy water before they have a chance to jump away.
During active flea infestations, grooming twice daily may be needed; otherwise,
several times per week just to check for fleas.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">A thorough
bath using regular pet shampoo and hot water, kills adult fleas as effectively
as flea shampoos and dips that contain pesticides and is safer for you and your
pet. Before you fill the tub, start by putting a ring of concentrated
soap around your pet’s neck, so they cannot escape from the bath water by
crawling onto the pet’s head. Cats prefer grooming to baths, but for dogs or
long-haired cats, bathing is a superior control technique.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Finally, ask
your vet about oral medications for fleas. In general, oral medications are
preferable to spot treatments or flea collars. And do not treat your cat, or
any dog that lives with a cat, with any pyrethroid or pyrethrin compound as
they are extremely toxic to felines. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><br /></p><p> </p>Peter Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350865571811975257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110628011468976825.post-64028558917563534962021-01-08T09:23:00.004+00:002021-01-08T09:59:32.531+00:00Gene Editing<p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I was
interested to read a press release today with the headline “Gene editing
creates potential to protect the nation’s environment, pollinators and wildlife”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Consultation
on future of gene editing was launched by the Environment Secretary, George
Eustice, at the Oxford Farming Conference today.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A section of
the released statement reads:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The way
that plants and animals grow is controlled by the information in their genes.
For centuries, farmers and growers have carefully chosen to breed stronger,
healthier individual animals or plants so that the next generation has these
beneficial traits - but this is a slow process.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Technologies
developed in the last decade enable genes to be edited much more quickly and
precisely to mimic the natural breeding process, helping to target plant and
animal breeding to help the UK reach its vital climate and biodiversity goals
in a safe and sustainable way.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Gene
editing is different to genetic modification where DNA from one species is
introduced to a different one. Gene edited organisms do not contain DNA from
different species, and instead only produce changes that could be made slowly
using traditional breeding methods. But now, due to a legal ruling from the
European Court of Justice in 2018 gene editing is regulated in the same way as
genetic modification.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The consultation announced
today will focus on stopping certain gene editing organisms from being
regulated in the same way as genetic modification, as long as they could have
been produced naturally or through traditional breeding. This approach has
already been adopted by a wide range of countries across the world, including
Japan, Australia and Argentina.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Government
will continue to work with farming and environmental groups to develop the
right rules and ensure robust controls are in place to maintain the highest
food safety standards while supporting the production of healthier food.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Potentially,
I recognise that gene editing could be a powerful tool within agriculture,
offering breeders the potential to wipe out genetic disease, improve drought
resistance, boost nutrient efficiency and prolong shelf life, to name but a few
benefits.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But as Peter
Stevenson, chief policy adviser at the campaigning group Compassion in World Farming
said, “the ways in which livestock had been bred for profitable traits in the
past suggested the development of gene editing would be harmful to animals. He
pointed to genetic selection for broiler chickens, whereby the fast growth
rates gave rise to leg abnormalities and lameness, and in laying hens,
selecting for high egg production caused osteoporosis, leaving the hens vulnerable
to bone fractures”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Patrick
Holden, of the Sustainable Food Trust, said gene editing would “further
accelerate the devastating narrowing of the gene pool which has been a feature
of post-war farming”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I would
highlight a non-agricultural example to make the decision makers think long and
hard before finalising their judgment. Remember, the following has nothing to
do with feeding the world, but simply a human trait for what some see as “pleasing
to the eye”. Can humans really be trusted with gene editing?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A number of
dog breeders have a lot to answer for in my opinion. For instance, Pug dogs are
one of the most inbred of all dog breeds. Knee disorders, stomach problems,
larynx collapses, elongated soft pallets and breathing problems brought about
because of its squashed face are just some of the issues that affects pugs.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Other
problems which pugs must put up with are, curvature of the spine and a propensity
to suffer from eye injuries, largely caused by a lack of facial structure which
would normally protect the dog. The spinal problems are caused by dog breeder’s
desire to have a curled tail called a ‘screw tail’.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFim9lHkEVZ7kvQyORQMPe1J_CPiEW_8Q_T80PBAUGMmTs-07ecmp44I-Arol3LqWwhdLjULqsuZadNh5C4JYVJGJYKC-dD93L6SromwaMhNrLB5_sYGrROxF3qp8YlYJY9U1i7j9KWGs/s1300/pug+exels-photo-4921991.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1300" data-original-width="867" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFim9lHkEVZ7kvQyORQMPe1J_CPiEW_8Q_T80PBAUGMmTs-07ecmp44I-Arol3LqWwhdLjULqsuZadNh5C4JYVJGJYKC-dD93L6SromwaMhNrLB5_sYGrROxF3qp8YlYJY9U1i7j9KWGs/w266-h400/pug+exels-photo-4921991.jpeg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pugs have been radically changed through selective breeding</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Another
example, found in a recent study, is that 70% of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
had syringomyelia by the age of six years. Syringomyelia is the formation of
fluid filled cavities in the spinal cord because of abnormalities in the
pressure of cerebrospinal fluid due to a mismatch between the size of the brain
and the skull or with abnormality of the skull shape. This has been brought on
because of the desire by dog show judges for an ever-smaller head size. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Dogs with
syringomyelia can show severe signs of pain around their head, neck, and
forelimbs and may whine, yelp or cry and contort their necks, become withdrawn,
develop a weak or wobbling gait, such that walking becomes increasingly
difficult.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Now bear in
mind, these problems have been brought about by selective breeding, quite a
slow process. Gene editing can fast-forward animal and plant traits extremely
quickly. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
If you want to find out more and have your say - go to:
https://consult.defra.gov.uk/agri-food-chain-directorate/the-regulation-of-genetic-technologies/ Peter Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350865571811975257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110628011468976825.post-89901252167090721472020-07-20T13:20:00.001+01:002020-07-20T13:20:52.997+01:00Suckers!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It is interesting,
but also quite scary, how we are now regularly seeing introduced species
bringing in their own associated introduced species with them! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In my garden,
I came across these “swellings” on a Bay tree in the back garden. Well, it’s
not actually my tree, but a large one that leans over the garden fence with my neighbour
– very useful for cooking purposes!! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A quick
Google search revealed the culprit behind these swellings to be formed by a Psyllid
species called a Bay Sucker (Lauritrioza alacris). Psyllids are also known
sometimes as plant lice and are tiny, sap-sucking insects with very
host-specific feeding preferences, often resulting in them feeding
exclusively on a single type of plant. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7bYI8DMxuF8D-rINKJ8ZRaibw5ZHOQ2WzmWVAiWbjQYENAZe7AqMRyVV1bpzAzsY7lVdk9sQZUyoEqCArumobZ4WTXSUCq9Ykz-HnPkJSSQwnY1xapHEHrYoORrmpUK9-J5jQ9IBx8Ow/s1600/Bay+Sucker+-+Lauritrioza+alacris.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7bYI8DMxuF8D-rINKJ8ZRaibw5ZHOQ2WzmWVAiWbjQYENAZe7AqMRyVV1bpzAzsY7lVdk9sQZUyoEqCArumobZ4WTXSUCq9Ykz-HnPkJSSQwnY1xapHEHrYoORrmpUK9-J5jQ9IBx8Ow/s640/Bay+Sucker+-+Lauritrioza+alacris.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Growths produced by the Bay Sucker</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Bay
(Laurus nobilis) is one of the oldest shrubs in cultivation and has been grown
in the Mediterranean region since Roman times. It was of course used as an
addition to cooking, adding its own unique flavour to a range of dishes. It was
introduced into this country around the 1650s and is now widely grown, certainly
in the milder southern parts of the country anyway. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The little
Bay sucker arrived at some point too and is now widely distributed across the
country, wherever Bay grows, as this is the only plant that it feeds on. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So, no
bother then as the Bay tree is an introduced species and this little sucker is
host specific. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Just a
thought though. At least 400 insects are known to transmit about 250 different plant
viruses, and this is growing all the time. Maybe an introduced virus, carried
by an insignificant host such as the Bay sucker, may not be quite so specific
and spread to a really important food crop?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It might
then become apparent that we are the suckers, for showing so little attention
to the wide range of non-native species being brought into this country. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Peter Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350865571811975257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110628011468976825.post-36338787966746268112020-06-28T16:21:00.005+01:002020-06-28T16:26:41.899+01:00Tidy, tidy, tidy .........AAAAAAAAH!<span style="font-size: large;">Blimey, how fed up am I with the constant noise of strimmers, hedge cutters, mowers and even chain saws. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The majority of the garden hedges in my village have had their summer trim to make them look tidy. Sod the myriad of insects and caterpillars living there, as well as of course, all those nesting birds. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Oh, but our garden must look neat and tidy at all times. We don't want anyone in the village to think that we are letting the side down. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Unfathomably, these nesting birds are of course the same ones that we fed and cared for all through the winter months. Tales are told in the pub of the delight at seeing so many squabbling Goldfinch and handsome Greenfinch feeding on the bird table. How we loved the song of the sweet little Dunnock in spring, the handsome Blackbird that waits each morning to be fed and of course "our" Robin which has become so tame, it will snatch a meal worm from the hand!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Well guys, tell me where those little birds, yes, those that you enjoy so much from the comfort of your sitting room or kitchen window during the winter months, all come from? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I will tell you, because it appears that not many of you have given it any thought whatsoever.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Many are currently little babies, sitting in nests, tucked away in hedges and grassy banks. These sites are chosen specifically by the parent birds, because the nests are hidden away by the summer growth canopy. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">That is until you come along and remove that protective green cover, leaving the nest exposed at best, (thanks say the Magpies - so much easier to spot now - yum, yum) or actually smashing the nest up completely with your latest new shiny garden tool.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">What about that lovely bank, full of Cow parsley and waving grasses, that has the Robins nest hidden away and where the Slow worm lives? Well that was getting far too scruffy, so a trim was an absolute must. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I know Slow worms live there, because the owner told me that he "strimmed one up" last year! But despite that - strimmed it was again this year.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Meanwhile, did you know that farmers (the same folk that constantly get blamed for the massive declines in wildlife) are not allowed to cut hedges between March 1st and August 31st? Only areas where growth from a tree or hedge would impinge on health and safety, such as a road junction are allowed to be trimmed. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I think the same should apply to ALL hedges and trees, wherever they happen to be.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxhPHBUDUYfBoEsja8hdH_0Tb3uLzW2rYioBF_6lmMuQAHGpXxWjqAmSN27NFtVUFkGG6nHYVxORoOwm3yVHW49m5nxN3apD35oOryYGjdkkbAYd_vIW-r-Lv4GLiJdAbKlt30Jl8_73Y/s1600/Hedge+cutting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxhPHBUDUYfBoEsja8hdH_0Tb3uLzW2rYioBF_6lmMuQAHGpXxWjqAmSN27NFtVUFkGG6nHYVxORoOwm3yVHW49m5nxN3apD35oOryYGjdkkbAYd_vIW-r-Lv4GLiJdAbKlt30Jl8_73Y/s640/Hedge+cutting.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Farmers are not allowed to cut hedges during the summer months</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So, come on gardeners and local councils - loosen up on the tidiness fetish, before our country's wildlife becomes even more impoverished. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Peter Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350865571811975257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110628011468976825.post-48735463181853201942020-06-20T13:47:00.001+01:002020-06-20T13:47:09.478+01:001 million<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Congratulations to everyone who signed the NFU petition - it has now gone over the 1 million mark.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We will see if MPs take any notice - they bloody well should! </span>Peter Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350865571811975257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110628011468976825.post-47101223544937750512020-06-08T09:52:00.000+01:002020-06-08T09:52:04.978+01:00National Farmers Union Petition<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I have written twice about UK food standards in connection with future trade imports (See below - 16th & 27th May). </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Well, now the NFU has brought out a petition which has already reached 750,000 votes. It would be fantastic to hit one million, so please go to the link below and caste your vote, unless of course you are not particularly fussed about animal welfare. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.nfuonline.com/news/latest-news/food-standards-petition/">https://www.nfuonline.com/news/latest-news/food-standards-petition/</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Thanks.</span>Peter Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350865571811975257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110628011468976825.post-44706899182075746902020-06-04T17:59:00.001+01:002020-06-05T09:12:31.177+01:00Sexton Beetles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Although a
bit of a novice at this, I am getting really fascinated with the family of
beetles known as Silphidae – their common names often being Sexton beetles,
burying beetles or carrion beetles. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There are 21
species in the UK and the name “Sexton” literally means a person who looks
after a church and churchyard, typically acting as bell-ringer and gravedigger.
Well, they do the last bit anyway!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Sexton
beetles have an exceptionally good sense of smell and can smell a carcass up to
a mile away. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I have recently
been setting pitfall traps around something “smelly”. A pitfall trap is simply
a plastic beaker or pot sunk into the ground, which the beetles then hopefully stumble into and cannot climb
out of because of the slippery sides. The smelly thing can be anything allowed
to go off somewhat, such as chicken giblets, fish or roadkill! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The offering
can be something quite small, such as a mouse, which brings me onto something
else of interest. Many sexton beetles carry tiny mites which
apparently do them little or no harm. These mites use the Sexton beetles to
hitch a lift to these dead food sources.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When both
the beetle and mites arrive at a given body, the mites do not eat the dead body,
but instead eat fly eggs and larva of anything that is not a carrion beetle.
They help to clean the carcass of the potential competitors, so that the Sexton
beetle's larva can have the body largely to themselves. That could be important
if the food source is no bigger than a mouse!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Here are a
few photos showing some of the beetles that I have discovered. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpGu5296VuOFoomHcMT3EmJxw2KVGvqaW0TSyZqDqZfvS7cH4KfW19mX2Jm4LvwoxXm5DY5H2OpZvSZ9dh8oXFOxhSA2IeNMr5XPjI_H_Hufi1zTESopOQJk24RktlDiQnTBv_rKQdaE/s1600/Black+Sexton+Beetle+-+Nicrophorus+humator.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1249" data-original-width="1600" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpGu5296VuOFoomHcMT3EmJxw2KVGvqaW0TSyZqDqZfvS7cH4KfW19mX2Jm4LvwoxXm5DY5H2OpZvSZ9dh8oXFOxhSA2IeNMr5XPjI_H_Hufi1zTESopOQJk24RktlDiQnTBv_rKQdaE/s640/Black+Sexton+Beetle+-+Nicrophorus+humator.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #0f2c3b; font-family: open-sans, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Black Sexton beetle - Nicrophorus humator - showing a number of mites hitching a lift</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4USDsFBxeUU0D1KULWPnVknNuVC0ppIRperh4NpNp9HMd5eNXheDibAJL1-CHz3WaXqORfnWeEmB4WLRq-x3QvwTYqIW8jSuWUwptp053ZO4idQe-eHEO18wsRfHob29iIVAJ64Idtg/s1600/Nicrophorus+vespilloides.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1223" data-original-width="1095" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4USDsFBxeUU0D1KULWPnVknNuVC0ppIRperh4NpNp9HMd5eNXheDibAJL1-CHz3WaXqORfnWeEmB4WLRq-x3QvwTYqIW8jSuWUwptp053ZO4idQe-eHEO18wsRfHob29iIVAJ64Idtg/s640/Nicrophorus+vespilloides.jpg" width="572" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 class="listicle__title heading-3" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #0f2c3b; font-family: jubilat, Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: 500; line-height: 2rem; margin: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: center;">
<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sexton beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides</span></em></span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZEZvmsWCcZttvFa_K31k0iOZkWCzZyJ7kDh_MNvicU-XLWtz78xmxpV6jAD1bN8TH96AHlvzKlpt04TTiCZxZu9KSNbVD7r2CXY1FKr8ifgxN4VwGcBr_9wisNnbJWWdJvasiEOJ2cQ/s1600/Oiceoptoma+thoracicum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1290" data-original-width="1600" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZEZvmsWCcZttvFa_K31k0iOZkWCzZyJ7kDh_MNvicU-XLWtz78xmxpV6jAD1bN8TH96AHlvzKlpt04TTiCZxZu9KSNbVD7r2CXY1FKr8ifgxN4VwGcBr_9wisNnbJWWdJvasiEOJ2cQ/s640/Oiceoptoma+thoracicum.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 class="listicle__title heading-3" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #0f2c3b; font-family: jubilat, Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: 500; line-height: 2rem; margin: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: center;">
<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Oiceoptoma thoracicum - these beetles can sometimes be found sitting on </span></em></span></h3>
<h3 class="listicle__title heading-3" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #0f2c3b; font-family: jubilat, Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: 500; line-height: 2rem; margin: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: center;">
<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Stinkhorn fungus, attracted by the smell</span></em></span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Peter Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350865571811975257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110628011468976825.post-72547577920350253642020-05-27T20:57:00.002+01:002020-05-27T20:59:42.654+01:00We must not allow politicians to negotiate our high standards of animal welfare in Britain away. <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Since I
wrote about an amendment to the Agricultural bill being voted down in the
Commons (See Blog below - May 16th), I have delved a little deeper into why
this amendment was defeated. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It appears
that the International Trade Secretary, Liz Truss (A former Secretary of State
for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) believes that the UK needs to accept
lower standards to strike a deal before the US presidential election in
November. Truss believes that the Americans are unlikely to accept any trade
deal which does not include complete liberalisation of trade in food. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So, what are
the facts about food produced in the USA, and what sort of food may soon be
arriving in the UK if Truss gets her way? Let us take a look.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The sale of
antibiotics to American farms jumped from 5,559 tons in 2017 to 6,036 tons in
2018 – a 9% rise (latest figures available). Meanwhile over the same period,
antibiotic sales in the UK fell by 9% from 248 tons to 226 tons. Experts warn
that the routine use of antibiotics on American farms (not allowed here without
Veterinary recommendation) risks making once effective medicines for us useless,
as bacterial resistance builds. It is reckoned that the US uses a whopping 5
times more antibiotics per animal than in the UK. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">US cattle
farmers can use steroid hormones to speed growth by up to 20% - a practice that
has been banned in the EU since 1989. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The biggest
US intensive beef farms, known as “Feedlots”, have up to 150,000 cattle kept in
out-door pens with little or no shelter, while the largest US mega-dairies
boast 30,000 cows. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There are at
least two pig farms that each have an astonishing 800,000 animals. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The biggest
chicken farms can house a million chickens in vast hanger-like facilities. You
can perhaps begin to see why many need to be washed in chlorine to make them OK
to eat! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There is no
federal US legislation governing the welfare of animals while they are on the
farm, and only weak and patchy regulations at State level. The rules governing slaughter
are even less detailed and do not exist at all for poultry. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As a result,
only 10 States have banned pig sow stalls (banned in EU since 1999) and battery
cages for egg laying hens (banned in the EU in 2012) are still widely used.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Since 1997,
animals have been recognised within EU law as “sentient” animals – which means
that it is acknowledged they are able to feel pain and suffer. In the States there
is generally a resistance to acknowledge sentience in farm animals. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Now let us take
a look at plant-based agriculture in the States. Just three words might make
you think a little – Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). GMOs are heavily
restricted in the EU but are widely used in the States. For instance, currently
94% of Soybeans and 80% of Maize grown there is genetically modified.
Staggeringly, this does not have to be declared on labels. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I could go
on about the way that the USA produces food but will leave it there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In post
Brexit trade negotiations, we will of course be dealing with many other countries
besides the USA. I can only start to imagine what I might find when I delve
into food production in China for instance! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">UK farmers
are truly dismayed at what could happen over the next few years.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUD2zEh6iAzCbQZHsgvhrolemetbCnizTlbhQ8AJhFpIaxJpwLr9hNyl-0QQjB-3aodI0zn4V8mO25iz5-46ozVOCNyDHQq6nId85h01WQ6Zz0qVLwBoqxko8ueORT9aKxcaAYVXIH-Eg/s1600/Phil+Jarvis+and+lamb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1322" data-original-width="1600" height="528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUD2zEh6iAzCbQZHsgvhrolemetbCnizTlbhQ8AJhFpIaxJpwLr9hNyl-0QQjB-3aodI0zn4V8mO25iz5-46ozVOCNyDHQq6nId85h01WQ6Zz0qVLwBoqxko8ueORT9aKxcaAYVXIH-Eg/s640/Phil+Jarvis+and+lamb.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">UK farmers care deeply about how their animals are raised</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Minette
Batters, the National Farmers Union (NFU) president said, “Brexit was meant to
be about the creation of a bigger, better Britain, not turning us into a pariah
state with no consideration for animal welfare”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Another NFU
spokesman said “UK farmers would be asked a question they would never want to
have to answer: Do they just let themselves go out of business or do they just
lower their standards. In other words – a race to the bottom”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What do the general
public think about all of this? Well, the first thing to say is that most do
not know what is happening, because the ONLY news currently being provided is
about Covid 19. How convenient for the Government.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">However, according
to a Which poll, 93% of Britons want our high food standards to be protected in
post-Brexit trade deals. So naturally, one would imagine that our elected politicians
would follow the will of the public and vote accordingly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">DON’T BE NAIVE.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Tories were
totally to blame for this amendment failing. It is obvious that pressure is
being applied from on high as even George Eustice, Defra secretary and MP for
Camborne and Redruth and Defra farm minister Victoria Prentis, who is
Conservative MP for Banbury, voted against the amendment. Ms Prentis attempted
to allay fears that UK farmers will be undermined in any future trade deals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Ms Prentis
said: “I was elected on a very clear manifesto commitment – one that the prime
minister has reiterated since – that in all our trade negotiations we will not
compromise on our high environmental protection, animal welfare and food
standards. This government will stand firm in trade negotiations to ensure that
any deals live up to the values of our farmers and consumers.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">That last
line says it all. As wishy washy as they come. If they meant what they said,
they would have no hesitation whatsoever of supporting this amendment. But of
course, they do not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What can you
and I do about this dreadful situation? If, like me, you feel that the
Government is betraying the British public and perhaps more importantly, our
farmers and farm animals, then we need to shout out our disgust – very, very
loudly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">You are most
welcome to forward this blog (and the one on the 16<sup>th</sup> May) to
whoever you feel might be interested (93% of Brits apparently!). Also contact
your MP and write letters to newspapers etc.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Bill will be voted on in the
Lords on the 10th June, before going back to the Commons for a final vote. Post
Brexit, these trade deals are obviously hugely important, but sometimes the
cost is too high and we need to stand up for what is right.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Over to you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />Peter Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350865571811975257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110628011468976825.post-44610454864114030512020-05-19T10:05:00.002+01:002020-05-19T10:18:00.063+01:00Phragmidium rosae-pimpinellifoliae. Now that's a name and a half! <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I came across this outstandingly orange fungus yesterday. I could see it way ahead of me as I walked along the path, and immediately thought that someone had thrown their discarded orange peel in the hedge! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">On closer inspection though, I found that it was in fact a rust fungus, that goes by the snappy name of Phragmidium rosae-pimpinellifoliae, which occasionally infests the wild Burnet
rose. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The Burnet rose (Rosa pimpinellifolia) can be seen in flower in Britain and Ireland
from May until the end of August and are the thorniest of all the wild roses. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">They have five-petalled white flowers, sometimes splashed
with a little pink. They can look a little like wild Dog Rose, but later in the year, their hips are coloured purple, unlike other wild roses which have red or
scarlet hips.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcOJH-K_bipjko-YirHN44XM_nQG6bep4pQQTvl1EiMvcj9hsyRvo5_oADcG99DPBQbfIBnjL8eVDwDEP2jGU8Lb0NGjLWpvihp3us9XJs5AkBQQ622x8H4nB3e2C-ZttHIfLpyg58k4/s1600/DSC_6238a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1218" data-original-width="1600" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcOJH-K_bipjko-YirHN44XM_nQG6bep4pQQTvl1EiMvcj9hsyRvo5_oADcG99DPBQbfIBnjL8eVDwDEP2jGU8Lb0NGjLWpvihp3us9XJs5AkBQQ622x8H4nB3e2C-ZttHIfLpyg58k4/s640/DSC_6238a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The strikingly coloured Burnet Rose rust</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm glad that I do a written Blog rather than a spoken one, as I would have to practice how to say the scientific name of this fungus for some time to get it right!</span><br />
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<br />Peter Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350865571811975257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110628011468976825.post-62919508171066838972020-05-18T10:37:00.001+01:002020-05-18T10:37:45.803+01:00A walk in the sun produces three very different insects! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I took an enjoyable walk through my local wood yesterday, camera in hand! This is a small selection of what I saw.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Figwort weevils seemed to be on about 8 out of 10 Figwort plants! They are often not that much larger than an apple pip, so you have to look quite hard for them! Having found one, you then can't be too clumsy as you approach them, because, if they think that they are in danger, they just "let go" and fall to the ground. A good tactic, as they are then very difficult to spot again! </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-cjsOI0pdlpU0UjO2lnJJ0PRQytU1TwhMU4HCzxVvivD0gxRT3hr5sELxrCjMAXLXka6N1psKBoZkLHi9d1pFJSb3un5p36B351sHbUk9hcmBhe0mnF2g0C_O1vEDStXkccOtaLEqOc/s1600/DSC_6452a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1128" height="562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-cjsOI0pdlpU0UjO2lnJJ0PRQytU1TwhMU4HCzxVvivD0gxRT3hr5sELxrCjMAXLXka6N1psKBoZkLHi9d1pFJSb3un5p36B351sHbUk9hcmBhe0mnF2g0C_O1vEDStXkccOtaLEqOc/s640/DSC_6452a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">What a design! The Figwort Weevil.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Then I came across this stunning little Froghopper - a Red & Black Froghopper. They happily sit out in full view of everyone as their colouration of red (or maybe orange?) & black, warns anything looking for a meal that they taste horrible! </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz506NSn9uVyos18pYvt1LmwdHURTHTV1Ak1r5dEoEflwSFyWUl_lyLjVg6yFstuOCXiy28LqLqr25PAbHS3Y68lOUF2PVt1zkrnjkSZILmOrS42cGeIKvzUVoRUL3c-W8QStkP3kq2DU/s1600/Red-and-black+Froghopper+-+Cercopis+vulnerata+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1077" data-original-width="789" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz506NSn9uVyos18pYvt1LmwdHURTHTV1Ak1r5dEoEflwSFyWUl_lyLjVg6yFstuOCXiy28LqLqr25PAbHS3Y68lOUF2PVt1zkrnjkSZILmOrS42cGeIKvzUVoRUL3c-W8QStkP3kq2DU/s640/Red-and-black+Froghopper+-+Cercopis+vulnerata+1.jpg" width="468" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Red & Black Froghopper - Cercopis vulnerata</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">As the sun started to warm up the day after quite a cold night, then Speckled Yellow moths started to fly around. I counted well over dozen or more, many of which I followed trying to get a photo of them once they had landed. They are very jumpy and launch into flight at any sudden movement, or should you happen to caste a shadow across them. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Eventually, one obliged and stayed still for long enough for a few shots!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Three striking little insects - and all so different from each other. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLu2ufPAnBZmEi23-sF1P7FSRnaF2z8xxnyp1Y23o4dfIg1gNn6Yqc2qMoQrLCnq4USOtA7C-pIKaNQY5wkJMcRW-4sP-cdwiTOWkDdpE2mBuEJWhOPkOTfNbkuD1YOG20vbzsyFKgW_U/s1600/Speckled+yellow+on+grass+stem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1343" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLu2ufPAnBZmEi23-sF1P7FSRnaF2z8xxnyp1Y23o4dfIg1gNn6Yqc2qMoQrLCnq4USOtA7C-pIKaNQY5wkJMcRW-4sP-cdwiTOWkDdpE2mBuEJWhOPkOTfNbkuD1YOG20vbzsyFKgW_U/s640/Speckled+yellow+on+grass+stem.jpg" width="536" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A Speckled Yellow - a day flying moth</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Peter Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350865571811975257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110628011468976825.post-80024134137494817722020-05-16T13:39:00.001+01:002020-05-16T13:45:10.354+01:00Are you concerned about animal welfare and how the food you eat is produced? Our elected MPs don't appear to be. <br />
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">British
farmers have amongst the highest farm animal welfare standards in the world.
That is not to say that they could not be improved, as we should always be
striving to raise standards.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">Brexit has
given us an ideal opportunity to manage not just our animal welfare standards, but
<u>ALL</u> our farming practises, strengthening them more and more so that we
become, without question, the best in the world. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">The National
Farmers Union (NFU), headed up by the excellent Minette Batters, has pushed
extremely hard for this, saying “British farming can be the envy of the world”.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">At the end
of January 2020, she wrote a letter to the Prime Minister which included a
paragraph as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">You have
pledged “not to in any way prejudice or jeopardise our standards of animal
welfare or food hygiene”, and the Secretary of State for Defra recently
promised to “defend our national interests and our values, including our high
standards of animal welfare.” Along with your party’s manifesto commitment
that, “in all of our trade negotiations, we will not compromise on our high
environmental protection, animal welfare and food standards,” we are increasingly
reassured that you are as committed as us to making the UK a world leader in
food, farming and environmental standards.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkArvpci8kh7C1oL3biaVWTSrqiHmC4qG_ZuMZsQBTj437Kv-VIMRvNTR0StEHLObrgmVOk9J9q_-P-57eTL78sksruu_EJXBgqLs6XxLk1DW5EVTDt5UlSRR853oS6eBdKwVPt1v4SI4/s1600/DSC_6271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkArvpci8kh7C1oL3biaVWTSrqiHmC4qG_ZuMZsQBTj437Kv-VIMRvNTR0StEHLObrgmVOk9J9q_-P-57eTL78sksruu_EJXBgqLs6XxLk1DW5EVTDt5UlSRR853oS6eBdKwVPt1v4SI4/s640/DSC_6271.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Aberdeen Angus in the UK - a scene just three fields away from my home in Wiltshire. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">So, when the
Agriculture Bill - the biggest reform of British farming since 1945 - was put
before MPs last Wednesday (13 May), for the final time, as it had reached the
Report Stage and Third Reading, we hoped that all would be confirmed as stated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">To
absolutely make sure of this, an amendment was tabled by Tiverton and Honiton
MP Neil Parish, who is also chairman of the House of Commons Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs Committee “to protect farmers from lower-standard food
imports”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">He said “I
want to have great trade deals – I am not a Little Englander that will defend
our agriculture against all imports – quite the reverse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">However, despite
the government's previous commitments to safeguard the industry, the amendment
was defeated by 328 votes to 277 and then the whole Agriculture Bill later
passed its third and final reading by 360 votes to 211. So, it now goes on to
the Lords.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">Mr Parish
said it was 'disappointing' and that many in the Commons' now have 'grave
concerns' over the direction of travel the Bill is going in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">NFU Cymru
president John Davies said, "The bill should ensure that agri-food imports
are produced to at least equivalent environmental, animal welfare and food
safety standards as those required of producers in the UK.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">There now
could be a 'very real risk' that British farmers are undermined by agri-food
products produced to standards which would be illegal in the UK. The UK cannot have
a trade policy which requires farmers to compete against food produced to lower
standards”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">To me this beggar’s
belief. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">Are we as a
nation saying two things here? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">On the one
hand we demand that “all UK farmers must treat livestock (and all Agri-food
products) to very highest standards, always following best practice and the
letter of the law”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">Meanwhile,
on the other hand we are also saying to importers “do not worry too much about
how food is produced abroad, just bring it on in. We can easily turn a blind
eye to the fact that the way it was raised, would be illegal here”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">I will leave
you to decide if this is in any way an ethical way to behave. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Peter Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350865571811975257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110628011468976825.post-81586236584961264802020-05-13T15:23:00.000+01:002020-05-13T15:29:25.826+01:00Butterflies galore!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">One problem with having a run of consecutively warm and sunny days, is that the photos you take tend to sit on the laptop, without being "sorted out"! I struggle to remain indoors at the best of times, so things have to wait until a day dawns that is grey and not particularly inviting! Then I can go through photographs and sort out the wheat from the chaff. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Hence these photos are from last week!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">There was one day when the weather was particularly warm and sunny, so I took a walk to a lovely little area of Chalk Downland that I know. Spring butterflies abounded, and these following pictures are of some of the species that I caught up with. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The Green Hairstreak is a stunning butterfly, which always rests with its green wings shut, so that you really only ever see the under-side of the wing.</span></div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkCjkr6ACWnlnoC5qqLHvGs13YG7BfmCohVfw4jPtGFzCP4fQLlHvbRHQH8dT7-m5Z0aNvwdtFmvXvdqpj-lNz1ZTKjw3mrPXv2KLx_EVs9L3jpAlPvluJZm6M1Tv5OcxSn7z4_VzHzsE/s1600/DSC_5887aaa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1131" data-original-width="1120" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkCjkr6ACWnlnoC5qqLHvGs13YG7BfmCohVfw4jPtGFzCP4fQLlHvbRHQH8dT7-m5Z0aNvwdtFmvXvdqpj-lNz1ZTKjw3mrPXv2KLx_EVs9L3jpAlPvluJZm6M1Tv5OcxSn7z4_VzHzsE/s640/DSC_5887aaa.jpg" width="632" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Green Hairstreak</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I always think that Grizzled Skippers are feisty little butterflies, always alert and ready to do another sortie of the immediate area. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-zHAnEYr1Q_xabFsn1EewPfVgFatdro8TGVFqIwfZIYyNM85V5f32Itf9KC7potngT3IWvL843ah3wny-EP4ybzDzpx6PD2Ns7A6MIVDyCY-XLGcJo5GkRdvtT-QS_jrE-y_SjvFuUw/s1600/DSC_5949aa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1552" data-original-width="1600" height="620" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-zHAnEYr1Q_xabFsn1EewPfVgFatdro8TGVFqIwfZIYyNM85V5f32Itf9KC7potngT3IWvL843ah3wny-EP4ybzDzpx6PD2Ns7A6MIVDyCY-XLGcJo5GkRdvtT-QS_jrE-y_SjvFuUw/s640/DSC_5949aa.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Grizzled Skipper</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A freshly emerged Brown Argus is a lovely butterfly. They can turn up in all sorts of places, so it is always worth keeping a lookout for them. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB2_Yfmt2avelw7BeiTgf1UAi1Lc6dMlj404VDngY6H8jEYrWYGK85KjPkcy57TWHN3c71OFTuVM8jngRQCwj0sSf4XiZzw0Bdqx6SDN4yHwehyTTrl_Zm2pSn61Yb2R9XwZesbbH3bDY/s1600/DSC_5954a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1266" data-original-width="1328" height="610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB2_Yfmt2avelw7BeiTgf1UAi1Lc6dMlj404VDngY6H8jEYrWYGK85KjPkcy57TWHN3c71OFTuVM8jngRQCwj0sSf4XiZzw0Bdqx6SDN4yHwehyTTrl_Zm2pSn61Yb2R9XwZesbbH3bDY/s640/DSC_5954a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Brown Argus</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The Marsh Fritillary is a butterfly of high conservation priority, as it has not fared well in the UK (or indeed across Europe). It's caterpillar's main foodplant is Devil's-bit Scabious, a plant which itself is not that common. But when you do find them - what a beautiful butterfly - rather like a living, jazzy stain-glass window! </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_IeW-DvRX11l2E_86EgerbajuFO12kYYYCemu2B8z7f2cz7lnQaJ1obgnSeb6aMGVSWdQf3JN6IyYpXNtk207PYEER4_z0PR2-1ZB58IslHOeOgrR3deUWf_eanltIytGYS5s8hlTNw/s1600/DSC_6009aa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="985" data-original-width="1153" height="546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_IeW-DvRX11l2E_86EgerbajuFO12kYYYCemu2B8z7f2cz7lnQaJ1obgnSeb6aMGVSWdQf3JN6IyYpXNtk207PYEER4_z0PR2-1ZB58IslHOeOgrR3deUWf_eanltIytGYS5s8hlTNw/s640/DSC_6009aa.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Marsh Fritillary</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It's a shame to have to go through life being described as "dingy"! I suppose it is a little, when compared to the other members of the Skipper family - but the Dingy Skipper gets the thumbs up from me - I think that they are great little butterflies! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJTsYx22J2HvTnPYD3TbKt5KLToWmklugHrMhSCuE-cFp5z-dM_6DR8z5R6PJo0KVUmRSYSYRSIWQlOE-orF60tyP77vj_Ah8gKy8hKyMwAODYbbUhAgdNf8g_6Mda6RpYCdRjAKeZHc/s1600/DSC_6018a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1540" data-original-width="1600" height="614" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJTsYx22J2HvTnPYD3TbKt5KLToWmklugHrMhSCuE-cFp5z-dM_6DR8z5R6PJo0KVUmRSYSYRSIWQlOE-orF60tyP77vj_Ah8gKy8hKyMwAODYbbUhAgdNf8g_6Mda6RpYCdRjAKeZHc/s640/DSC_6018a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dingy Skipper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And finally, one of my favourites! What a vibrant colour combination the Small Copper has, bringing a flash of brilliance to the countryside wherever it chooses to settle!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTuSkIFLapBCqaBpiEHlBpYKzGu_hJX-Rq70eGlcA7IGnC_QrlcNJtOZFNBl8ShdWIU017cyfaqUuHwj910272vDOGi8MKEZiFB5MG2ddSO_YsydxJCtyfa6WukFcxwUw7lu6yV-2prx4/s1600/DSC_6043a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1494" data-original-width="1600" height="596" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTuSkIFLapBCqaBpiEHlBpYKzGu_hJX-Rq70eGlcA7IGnC_QrlcNJtOZFNBl8ShdWIU017cyfaqUuHwj910272vDOGi8MKEZiFB5MG2ddSO_YsydxJCtyfa6WukFcxwUw7lu6yV-2prx4/s640/DSC_6043a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Small Copper</span></td></tr>
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<br />Peter Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350865571811975257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110628011468976825.post-36124304764364685842020-05-12T13:08:00.000+01:002020-05-12T13:11:50.677+01:00Bugs, Spiders & Flowers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Some finds that I have come across in the last few days. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I found this Cinnamon bug, pootling around on a Dandelion seed head. I love delving down into their world a little, as the picture becomes much more than just a wonderfully coloured bug! The seed head is amazing in its own right. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-N53rCJmgaEn5u6_6pBvybz98VIjGs5Hau4XU_w0N8ntw7RUbBbroXGjk9BBYrwf_s1YmpU3dnK1KyRHcG5PGyWTPluRLNoT4iWxjM_O96jKWXYuRMLLbwPPtwWrY-Syr657gd85mt4/s1600/DSC_5748aa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1044" data-original-width="1038" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-N53rCJmgaEn5u6_6pBvybz98VIjGs5Hau4XU_w0N8ntw7RUbBbroXGjk9BBYrwf_s1YmpU3dnK1KyRHcG5PGyWTPluRLNoT4iWxjM_O96jKWXYuRMLLbwPPtwWrY-Syr657gd85mt4/s640/DSC_5748aa.jpg" width="636" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A Cinnamon bug</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then my eye was drawn to this superb little Wild Strawberry flower, which seemed to have a particularly orange centre. I pass many of these small plants as they are fairly common here in Wiltshire, but once they are viewed up close, they perhaps have an even greater beauty. I rather like the slight blemishes on the white petals, as none of us are perfect!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7EwAxhPlC69XZZ_-bG_4YbbTSBXCvEbp-eL0BS2mJ1tOhJkyzP9vUilkAHcMDxPg7el4p7brjvMgW9Cdr6H5yN197u3Ta1YaIifNEYedvpb69O8S96wUBdwgGdm3aUjSgrp8EIb8qeGo/s1600/DSC_6025aaa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1099" data-original-width="1098" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7EwAxhPlC69XZZ_-bG_4YbbTSBXCvEbp-eL0BS2mJ1tOhJkyzP9vUilkAHcMDxPg7el4p7brjvMgW9Cdr6H5yN197u3Ta1YaIifNEYedvpb69O8S96wUBdwgGdm3aUjSgrp8EIb8qeGo/s640/DSC_6025aaa.jpg" width="638" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The lovely little flower of Wild Strawberry</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Quite a common spider, but an exotic looking one nevertheless! The name is fun too - the Common Cucumber Spider!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqxD2h_BRr50qlTbAgHp6zwpwBF0-Yre_8gZ2NDYh97w0kmSYgk0SZtH67OSIIsjQ5Lc9QzFlg9wBHC1F-IsunAhbNHGLq8n5ii-7vo9I5y75N5jL-HFWRzbjwX_H8WEOHhxq4AGJeC1Q/s1600/Common+Cucumber+Spider+-+Araniella+cucurbitina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="893" data-original-width="1038" height="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqxD2h_BRr50qlTbAgHp6zwpwBF0-Yre_8gZ2NDYh97w0kmSYgk0SZtH67OSIIsjQ5Lc9QzFlg9wBHC1F-IsunAhbNHGLq8n5ii-7vo9I5y75N5jL-HFWRzbjwX_H8WEOHhxq4AGJeC1Q/s640/Common+Cucumber+Spider+-+Araniella+cucurbitina.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Common Cucumber Spider</span><br />
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<br />Peter Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350865571811975257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110628011468976825.post-16847744147992198852020-05-05T09:35:00.000+01:002020-05-05T09:43:57.682+01:00Whitethroats<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Absolutely not scientific in any way, but I think that the Whitethroat seems to be doing well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Last year, a section of a track way, with bits of hedge and scrubby areas on each side, that takes me about 10 minutes to walk, revealed 3 Whitethroat. This year, the same walk seems to be holding 7 singing males.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the winter of 1968/69, Whitethroat numbers suddenly crashed due to a severe drought on their wintering grounds, which are just to the south of the Sahara desert. Since then a slow but relatively steady recovery has taken place. It demonstrates how, just a one year severe weather change can radically affect a species - sometimes in a positive way, but also in a devastating manner.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimSdkFnDDvtaKK2PwSFUbniT5rHg0508kvojP9UOZevGS-TYLW_e7_nTAPhkXtpOckYQvhaI-qOaHbCRf7-yZEsvqyIfjV-XOkoE1gKrpP13tjFRchOz_8xcF5ERolngm9MvN24wIHsjw/s1600/Whitethroat+singing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1600" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimSdkFnDDvtaKK2PwSFUbniT5rHg0508kvojP9UOZevGS-TYLW_e7_nTAPhkXtpOckYQvhaI-qOaHbCRf7-yZEsvqyIfjV-XOkoE1gKrpP13tjFRchOz_8xcF5ERolngm9MvN24wIHsjw/s640/Whitethroat+singing.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Whitethroat singing its short burst of scratchy notes<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Whitethroat are fairly easy to spot, as often the male will sit on a vantage point right at the top of a bush, to shout out his rattling, rather hoarse song. Occasionally, he will also take off and fly up vertically, then drop back down to his perch, singing away throughout the display. This is undoubtedly a performance to impress the girls and also to confirm that this area is HIS territory! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Whitethroat can be seen and heard throughout the UK, especially on farmland with an abundance of hedges and scrubby areas. Although the male is easily spotted, the female and her nest is a different matter. The nest is usually on or close to the ground, hidden away in in thick grass or low bramble. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My sister, who lives in Worcestershire, told me that she thought that there were not quite as many Whitethroat around as last year. So, who knows, we will obviously just have to wait and see what the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) figures show us at the end of the year. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Anyway, in the meantime, I will thoroughly enjoy walking my "Whitethroat track" in the mornings this summer! </span></div>
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Peter Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350865571811975257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110628011468976825.post-56506336502223712222020-05-01T16:19:00.001+01:002020-05-01T16:28:53.176+01:00Looking back over the making of the British landscape<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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I am currently reading a fascinating book called “The making
of the British landscape” by Nicholas Crane, which kicks off way back in the
Ice Age and runs through right up until the present day. <o:p></o:p><br />
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I have learnt so much by reading this book. For instance, take
the reign of king Ine - the king of Wessex between 689 – 726 AD. His kingdom actually
covered a lot more than the Wessex we know today, in fact most of southern
England came under his influence. <o:p></o:p></div>
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At this time, small, informal congregations of people, who
felt that their food security could be increased by sharing and managing an
acknowledged neighbourhood area, started to work together, encouraged by the
king. Clusters of farmsteads decided to manage common crops, woodland, hire
oxen, avoid local conflict between each other and collectively pay church dues
and so on. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Now, those of you have read my Blog for a period of time,
will know that I was actively involved in helping to get farmers to work
together across a landscape, so as to collectively try to improve their soil,
water and wildlife.<br />
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Farmers have embraced this idea and it has really taken off
across England, with well over a hundred “farmer clusters” now in existence,
all working together and funded to do so by Government.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We all thought that we were clever to do this - forging a
new way ahead. Little did we know that this brilliant idea of ours was common
practise around 700 AD!! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Two more little snippets from this book that I would like to share with
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John Leland, (1503 - 1552) who has often been described as
"the father of English local history and bibliography", wrote about a
little place called Bremischam in the Midlands. “A good market towne, with many
smithes that make knives and all maner of cuttynge tooles, as well as a greate
many naylors”. </div>
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He judged that most of Bremischam’s economy was based on smiths.
He concluded that Bremischam was doing well; small and beautiful. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Bremischal would become Birmingham. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birmingham today has a population of 1.2 million!</td></tr>
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By 1550, London had reached a population of 75,000. </div>
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Set against
European cities, London was not numerically remarkable. Naples was nearly three
times larger at 212,000, Venice had a population of 158,000 and Paris 130,000. The
world’s biggest city at the time, Beijing, had already passed the half-million
milestone.<o:p></o:p></div>
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By 1600, London was some thirteen times bigger than Britain's next largest city, Norwich. </div>
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One of the most desirable places to live near London was a
riverside village called Chelshithe, which was close to roman roads heading
west and very convenient for access into London. Thomas More built himself a
red brick house here, with bays, a porch and flanking casement windows, set in a 14-hectare
(35 acre) estate with access to the river. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It was a good address. There were views across the water to
the woods and fields of Battersey and from a rise in his garden, More could see
the distant roofs of London and St.Pauls. It was also positioned upwind of the
city and so Chelshithe was famed for its clear airs. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Imagine if you still owned a 14-hectare estate in Chelsea
today! <o:p></o:p></div>
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I am only two thirds of the way through this book, so I will
probably share some more great snippets with you over the next week or
so. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Peter Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350865571811975257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110628011468976825.post-11865492977442166142020-04-29T14:29:00.000+01:002020-04-29T14:32:06.485+01:00A few recent finds!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Walking in the local woods the other day, I came across a number of these little webs along one particular sunny ride in the wood. After seeking help from a spider expert, she identified them as a species called Agelena labyrinthica - quite a common funnel-web spider.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMiAZK-iBgQfG-Xfc2fEZ-igxz1QCZwvm1rS0uf0_Aflh-yTKGoJgS-2XSZjIplMXHt-nmduECAB_UWG2DsNCxOgLTd_wPRFWAges_ZAG5FSkYe2P7ejdbuc6pLSBsCVg2WdBd4sFPZys/s1600/Agelena+labyrinthica+web.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMiAZK-iBgQfG-Xfc2fEZ-igxz1QCZwvm1rS0uf0_Aflh-yTKGoJgS-2XSZjIplMXHt-nmduECAB_UWG2DsNCxOgLTd_wPRFWAges_ZAG5FSkYe2P7ejdbuc6pLSBsCVg2WdBd4sFPZys/s640/Agelena+labyrinthica+web.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The web of a funnel-web spider on the ground</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdmGR_Uc9lqsObEUR_2xMf8af9Z4M_xPrlTlBNRQNh8u1aJnrx3Gy9Q-zQfDnYbrZbqvw8-sck8VRfIg0kLoCAOvederMNfalMBnvbODUOCP1CPaF8bBLR7ntIM_AQUN1UetdXx0HnUpw/s1600/Agelena+labyrinthica.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1522" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdmGR_Uc9lqsObEUR_2xMf8af9Z4M_xPrlTlBNRQNh8u1aJnrx3Gy9Q-zQfDnYbrZbqvw8-sck8VRfIg0kLoCAOvederMNfalMBnvbODUOCP1CPaF8bBLR7ntIM_AQUN1UetdXx0HnUpw/s640/Agelena+labyrinthica.jpg" width="608" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The owner of the above web - a young Agelena labyrinthica funnel-web spider</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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In another part of the wood I found a day flying moth with ridiculously long antennae! I knew that this species is Adela reaumurella, which is also reasonably common. This one is a male, as they have the very long antennea - the females are somewhat shorter!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-hTgZoXLVMAdIf-ODJkYG2ywdzqEw-F1giG3t60JICmc-9X7H8gAPFznIVhyphenhyphen3I1gRA-3sXAZw6fp4qUKxIum6v4qaFdHIL7zjz0qwR4n7WGMX_6RhbS5H9IDG6VH6-XjcvkBdOLap3I/s1600/Adela+reaumurella.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1396" data-original-width="1600" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-hTgZoXLVMAdIf-ODJkYG2ywdzqEw-F1giG3t60JICmc-9X7H8gAPFznIVhyphenhyphen3I1gRA-3sXAZw6fp4qUKxIum6v4qaFdHIL7zjz0qwR4n7WGMX_6RhbS5H9IDG6VH6-XjcvkBdOLap3I/s640/Adela+reaumurella.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adela reaumurella</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Back home and a look in the moth trap revealed 3 very different moths - they really do come in all shapes and sizes! </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi09qoUZNYT3nD7533Lj-VE2QfKzrwn8noVhKjbdQgllTqxQ8Hqe-_RlVcAZuvxky_-x3fdR826tCNow9_AODmgsZnnIrp8bQ0yJFfPE1dRXamNIzJGJPTexMvXpHJXGkRqZJ_UaFdr4p0/s1600/DSC_5568aaa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1263" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi09qoUZNYT3nD7533Lj-VE2QfKzrwn8noVhKjbdQgllTqxQ8Hqe-_RlVcAZuvxky_-x3fdR826tCNow9_AODmgsZnnIrp8bQ0yJFfPE1dRXamNIzJGJPTexMvXpHJXGkRqZJ_UaFdr4p0/s640/DSC_5568aaa.jpg" width="504" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Pale Prominent moth - reminds me of some sort of American weapon of war!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0s1yBClwGMGdoviYO9pgb8Ho12T62QEzdcxDNGwc2SVkaxihF51zcyIehETC6x_VvuZnPtePIE-50puSBhxXvd0-lSF0hM5X6LfZQ4y591CR5_QF59wjfOb7MMAppSvjGqr6PTl9c-YQ/s1600/Oak+tree+pug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1399" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0s1yBClwGMGdoviYO9pgb8Ho12T62QEzdcxDNGwc2SVkaxihF51zcyIehETC6x_VvuZnPtePIE-50puSBhxXvd0-lSF0hM5X6LfZQ4y591CR5_QF59wjfOb7MMAppSvjGqr6PTl9c-YQ/s640/Oak+tree+pug.jpg" width="558" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Oak Tree Pug - such a delicate little moth with fabulous camouflage. The larvae do feed on Oak leaves - but also sometimes on Hawthorn.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl9Ku0ZIhQ7SGRI35BXzHJsna29rLnfzrdcH2sKeK4J3SS7PGm1XHFHmicoFgmH9o2bBlg2uFssw0-0L5U6MpDdzfLTnPNg616XcgHAClokILMR1ysZaNo3nDEze_bczmXz0TL22556QY/s1600/Tinea+trinotella.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="611" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl9Ku0ZIhQ7SGRI35BXzHJsna29rLnfzrdcH2sKeK4J3SS7PGm1XHFHmicoFgmH9o2bBlg2uFssw0-0L5U6MpDdzfLTnPNg616XcgHAClokILMR1ysZaNo3nDEze_bczmXz0TL22556QY/s640/Tinea+trinotella.jpg" width="456" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a tiny little moth - only about 7mm in length and is called Tinea trinotella. Love the punk orange hair do! Also, liking to be a bit different, its larvae feed on old birds nests! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />Peter Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350865571811975257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110628011468976825.post-53535476112102790432020-04-26T17:00:00.000+01:002020-04-26T17:00:55.840+01:00So rewarding - an early morning walk<div style="text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9yBl0vgChG5DEMIzMYJSKjk9AOrq7RbOKJR8TWyQVT2oaDC7-GIFDDVi5CznSnus_8bVhM9Se-M7rdz22niIyDDL5J9m4QkLBk9FW7465pnDBm8-6KJf3JdTN8F8-Dadum-kFcin8fk/s1600/Grovely+avenue+in+early+morning+spring+sunshine.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9yBl0vgChG5DEMIzMYJSKjk9AOrq7RbOKJR8TWyQVT2oaDC7-GIFDDVi5CznSnus_8bVhM9Se-M7rdz22niIyDDL5J9m4QkLBk9FW7465pnDBm8-6KJf3JdTN8F8-Dadum-kFcin8fk/s640/Grovely+avenue+in+early+morning+spring+sunshine.JPG" width="427" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early morning sunshine through a Beech tree canopy. A walk first thing can be a most rewarding experience, especially at this time of year</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqvTqdVin4ka8q1AWnX_q9-u316_EHqs5vO7UTRUScsaqg0rhgaDDBq6nhOyaO51xhceE6HBRVGMDFVq1CJsRrriL1P6VPVx4seeFcwmzoPFI9AtAN6AMNTrR01hxPG_gSLkYFzT2Nejc/s1600/DSC_5528a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1523" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqvTqdVin4ka8q1AWnX_q9-u316_EHqs5vO7UTRUScsaqg0rhgaDDBq6nhOyaO51xhceE6HBRVGMDFVq1CJsRrriL1P6VPVx4seeFcwmzoPFI9AtAN6AMNTrR01hxPG_gSLkYFzT2Nejc/s640/DSC_5528a.jpg" width="609" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We often (me included) rush to photograph a mass of Bluebells, but occasionally it is good to study the beauty of just one flower</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEOeSMmfRKeFUGSI5aQ82ynUqjovLtmF1eJmupEGQbFVKfkFXqbMlyhaIHqbDQiTwcoXYGHRi9lBCDvIFkADL1CtkaVCL9pHCEPBjX47Vo1GPEl-FWR2c9vWsKFGMCTBhan9MCj0SmdQ/s1600/Muntjac+in+undergrowth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1007" data-original-width="1055" height="611" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEOeSMmfRKeFUGSI5aQ82ynUqjovLtmF1eJmupEGQbFVKfkFXqbMlyhaIHqbDQiTwcoXYGHRi9lBCDvIFkADL1CtkaVCL9pHCEPBjX47Vo1GPEl-FWR2c9vWsKFGMCTBhan9MCj0SmdQ/s640/Muntjac+in+undergrowth.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You are much more likely to spot deer early in the morning. Above, a Muntjac watches me pass. Once I have gone, it will no doubt resume munching Bluebells, a plant they love to eat!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Peter Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350865571811975257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110628011468976825.post-46345652717708493092020-04-22T10:22:00.001+01:002020-04-22T14:32:11.580+01:00Bee-Flies<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_CujOVWLDrymzFhDf5HIr72tGYno0jviEG3E3XxIebzIJkYUZNCdmyV9FuUt199kqE7qZ6T95Q-PLPbKnWNAk597LeWalBsIoZSNToeOoehkBatisgybNn4NEnwoNUZ1_7NtwNFfOLHY/s1600/DSC_5009aaa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1189" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_CujOVWLDrymzFhDf5HIr72tGYno0jviEG3E3XxIebzIJkYUZNCdmyV9FuUt199kqE7qZ6T95Q-PLPbKnWNAk597LeWalBsIoZSNToeOoehkBatisgybNn4NEnwoNUZ1_7NtwNFfOLHY/s640/DSC_5009aaa.jpg" width="474" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The two Bee-Fly species that you are most likely to see. The less common Dotted Bee-Fly at the top and the fairly common Dark-edged Bee-Fly below.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It has been
a brilliant spring so far for Bee-flies. Or, as my other half often says "I've just seen a Flybe in the garden"!) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If you see what looks like a furry bee
hovering in front of you and then, suddenly it has gone, it was probably not a bee at all, but a
Bee-fly! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Next time
you come across one, especially if you should see it land, look more closely
and you will notice its needle-like proboscis sticking out in front of it. Also,
unlike bees, which have four wings, bee-flies have only two that they hold out
at an acute angle when they settle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Bee-flies
are dependent on Solitary Bees. The female bee-fly hovers in front of suitable Solitary
Bee ground burrows, darting forward and flicking her body rapidly downwards to
release her eggs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Although she
lays hundreds of eggs, they weigh next to nothing and are at risk of not landing
in the burrow itself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">However, the
female Bee-Fly has a special technique to ensure this does not happen. She dips
her abdomen onto the ground, collecting soil particles in a small chamber at
the end of her abdomen. Then, as she lays each egg, it is coated in a fine
layer of soil and dust, giving it the extra ballast to help it reach its target
– the Solitary Bee’s tunnel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If successful,
the larva enters and locates a bee grub, and fastens on to it, gradually
draining the bee of its fluids. The bee-fly larva spends winter in the bee’s
chamber alongside the husk of its victim, emerging as an adult bee-fly the
following spring.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Looking at
the large number of Solitary Bees in my garden this year, the Bee-Fly
population does not seem to be having an impact on its “host” species. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So, yet another amazing relationship taking place in my garden - and across thousands of other gardens across the country. See if you can find Bee-Flies in your garden, local park or nearby countryside!</span></div>
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<br />Peter Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350865571811975257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110628011468976825.post-73734258516139113532020-04-21T13:56:00.001+01:002020-04-22T08:58:28.937+01:00Deceased Orange-tip butterflySad to find a dead Orange-tip butterfly in my greenhouse today, despite both the door and window being left open. Orange-tips are one of my favourite butterflies and the underneath of the wings - especially of the male (only the male has the orange tips to the wing) - is stunning.<br />
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As this individual was in such good condition, I could not let the chance of photographing the under-wings pass by.<br />
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Although it is not in the land of the living any longer - it's delicate beauty continues, while of course, it still castes its own shadow.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNc003nONE9k610wiQDjhd3PyscrS6hg5kwJQpLfspwqZFFU20jwU1guWkTceG12_MgpOSjWajWKvAkmXwqgbkGMxTXNnaWbOSqjzZ036GzFeCfumxlIFi3aLGkZve_uu9Ix5lEkP_xjU/s1600/DSC_5341aa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1284" data-original-width="1600" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNc003nONE9k610wiQDjhd3PyscrS6hg5kwJQpLfspwqZFFU20jwU1guWkTceG12_MgpOSjWajWKvAkmXwqgbkGMxTXNnaWbOSqjzZ036GzFeCfumxlIFi3aLGkZve_uu9Ix5lEkP_xjU/s640/DSC_5341aa.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beautiful underside of the Orange-tip butterfly</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Peter Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350865571811975257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110628011468976825.post-85100242540880195432020-04-20T09:41:00.000+01:002020-04-20T09:41:52.508+01:00Bluebells in the woods<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBIxgkEB9K4s3BmLaZm0ixE2-Yeb_WRVOyjBvipAT7qw_2CbPkKMorW7LdCvUuP-2_N3vbCQhqCsmuIhcM-g3v-blgMcMyeDttHFlv7qHNt9-PhZWdFHdAgeBadzKD-6EvWvrXczeilAY/s1600/DSC_5232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBIxgkEB9K4s3BmLaZm0ixE2-Yeb_WRVOyjBvipAT7qw_2CbPkKMorW7LdCvUuP-2_N3vbCQhqCsmuIhcM-g3v-blgMcMyeDttHFlv7qHNt9-PhZWdFHdAgeBadzKD-6EvWvrXczeilAY/s640/DSC_5232.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Springtime in the woods - a haze of bluebells</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
For those of you who cannot currently get out - this may bring you some joy. Nature is carrying on as normal!Peter Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350865571811975257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110628011468976825.post-39095630001971092252020-04-19T10:15:00.000+01:002020-04-19T16:36:11.122+01:00More moths and a butterfly!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I have said it before and I'm quite happy to say it again! Don't let anyone tell me that moths are boring little brown jobs! Sure, one or two are a little dull, but in amongst the 2,500 species of moth in this country, there are some spectacular ones too! </div>
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Here are a selection of moths that I have caught in my garden over the last week and one butterfly. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHc9ohyphenhyphen4o7qpqn7B65H7r1IqFUAQsB7M2wIz0G_GH2LHSztdpVOHMCfiX959bX9Eqy72P-gj8nquWzft9KZxdraC_je4ljUZhmpTH0Iksm9Viwiq02vc_1UF1svyxe9C1n2qSbFvd4PbI/s1600/Brimstone+moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1433" data-original-width="1600" height="572" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHc9ohyphenhyphen4o7qpqn7B65H7r1IqFUAQsB7M2wIz0G_GH2LHSztdpVOHMCfiX959bX9Eqy72P-gj8nquWzft9KZxdraC_je4ljUZhmpTH0Iksm9Viwiq02vc_1UF1svyxe9C1n2qSbFvd4PbI/s640/Brimstone+moth.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A stunning Brimstone moth - actually a fairly common species</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_6QKk8ljia7DNqVpOZtTa0cuoy1DOuCI1QLdVqs2rHBQxYkVklhKEKSUrqC7oAs0GE_kA0_Rw1n64CL0dsctmdvAlD2os7Yptog7UpQdVoP8SkZGYxvyMG6qxHgACsCQCBkZRkEgfX8/s1600/DSC_5300aa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1451" data-original-width="1434" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_6QKk8ljia7DNqVpOZtTa0cuoy1DOuCI1QLdVqs2rHBQxYkVklhKEKSUrqC7oAs0GE_kA0_Rw1n64CL0dsctmdvAlD2os7Yptog7UpQdVoP8SkZGYxvyMG6qxHgACsCQCBkZRkEgfX8/s640/DSC_5300aa.jpg" width="632" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Chocolate Tip moth, photographed from above</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirShjYP3LSCV-IcxbQkoUYED-9ha8s7kUwzL49v8xhB_rK3GB7e1w0mjsWjXe1UgmYK-edZ1Clp_IHMLbDgteOTFaS1kpD1UlALzMNFWwV3ZK09lbnQB6AQp6VnBi3B_yMxFy5KRcFwfY/s1600/DSC_5311aa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1422" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirShjYP3LSCV-IcxbQkoUYED-9ha8s7kUwzL49v8xhB_rK3GB7e1w0mjsWjXe1UgmYK-edZ1Clp_IHMLbDgteOTFaS1kpD1UlALzMNFWwV3ZK09lbnQB6AQp6VnBi3B_yMxFy5KRcFwfY/s640/DSC_5311aa.jpg" width="568" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And the Chocolate Tip again, but this time photographed from the side. Note the chocolate tip! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjSeI1MTLxI79VGFAnPaR4ctHUrgvkBs57RlUx7IvWdbxeufV7aXYwFZllt_aZBalK96hgbFDcE4sdWJzZrJRSHhVK7tkzGdFZquZVsJR6BOE2wzkgKiT-cHFRYOx2H5ATvJAgY-_BOgQ/s1600/Scorched+carpet+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1474" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjSeI1MTLxI79VGFAnPaR4ctHUrgvkBs57RlUx7IvWdbxeufV7aXYwFZllt_aZBalK96hgbFDcE4sdWJzZrJRSHhVK7tkzGdFZquZVsJR6BOE2wzkgKiT-cHFRYOx2H5ATvJAgY-_BOgQ/s640/Scorched+carpet+2.jpg" width="588" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Scorched Carpet moth showing off its intricate patterns</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWv_veTxIGO9tVicWqaHVnvjCv0Hrlxvt0ijBB10Z8xC_dWrBxfmTgDS5fPmEP6FU7v2OPW0d_8oVnm1SxA-kB_H2tD7GjuUdahAb_hg8JoM0BWoFmfi5xJFRnPx0xdecVGLkooaKwqI4/s1600/Swallow+Prominent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1103" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWv_veTxIGO9tVicWqaHVnvjCv0Hrlxvt0ijBB10Z8xC_dWrBxfmTgDS5fPmEP6FU7v2OPW0d_8oVnm1SxA-kB_H2tD7GjuUdahAb_hg8JoM0BWoFmfi5xJFRnPx0xdecVGLkooaKwqI4/s640/Swallow+Prominent.jpg" width="440" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Swallow Prominent</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyryPw5ZjUO4cYqivW22sNAkvzKzGcpRoNifImDkd3VUcY9vWmxSGL6ZBoc4e-reHohOl7mkmJGKb-JtGOa3UQtAscDVSC5HMO1DHwdvkvXSanv_VYxpVBZ_0RjIihHrqDYSaBQ3Dsg9g/s1600/Yellow-barred+Brindle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1543" data-original-width="1600" height="616" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyryPw5ZjUO4cYqivW22sNAkvzKzGcpRoNifImDkd3VUcY9vWmxSGL6ZBoc4e-reHohOl7mkmJGKb-JtGOa3UQtAscDVSC5HMO1DHwdvkvXSanv_VYxpVBZ_0RjIihHrqDYSaBQ3Dsg9g/s640/Yellow-barred+Brindle.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Yellow-barred Brindle</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhhNcXvxPxI-EIaLanMbogzV3BqaGvj1mRdB7mUlmWKrjib_98ADVMMztxRpw-uiJ4j_g_kPU96uX-qe_VvcCVBvqq0-n-mT9kjZCF9h5qX_J2prf4-UXdJ_BTelTcm-djBPrD5j8TPE/s1600/Eyed+HM+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhhNcXvxPxI-EIaLanMbogzV3BqaGvj1mRdB7mUlmWKrjib_98ADVMMztxRpw-uiJ4j_g_kPU96uX-qe_VvcCVBvqq0-n-mT9kjZCF9h5qX_J2prf4-UXdJ_BTelTcm-djBPrD5j8TPE/s640/Eyed+HM+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first Hawkmoth species of the year turned out to be a spectacular Eyed Hawkmoth. When they think they are in danger, they open up their fore-wings to flash their hidden eyes underneath, in the hope that this will frighten you away! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMxnKMLIeAOcjgXCGXgIJc5QZECq0kKO5OEYZsR_t77Mcw66Sc4t_drowWXow9dBngB8cxRGBfsQ6gdyEIZ7hpkYflyNtefIEWyanmfNlmT-J9sCe1wavn9P6MRj2dp8vOgHsU64IYx0/s1600/Peacock+on+Cherry+blossom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="1454" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMxnKMLIeAOcjgXCGXgIJc5QZECq0kKO5OEYZsR_t77Mcw66Sc4t_drowWXow9dBngB8cxRGBfsQ6gdyEIZ7hpkYflyNtefIEWyanmfNlmT-J9sCe1wavn9P6MRj2dp8vOgHsU64IYx0/s640/Peacock+on+Cherry+blossom.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So the butterfly family don't feel left out, I thought I would add this photo of a Peacock, which I found resting in the sun amongst a mass of Cherry blossom. Spring at its showy best!</td></tr>
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<br />Peter Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350865571811975257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110628011468976825.post-58771381708662400342020-04-14T12:12:00.002+01:002020-04-19T16:26:34.274+01:00A small selection of moths recently caught in my garden<br />
I thought you might like to see a selection of the moths that I have caught in my Wiltshire garden over the last couple of weeks. I use a moth trap that has a bright light which attracts the moths. Hopefully then, as they fly around the light they collide with some baffles which sends them into the trap, where they hide in the dark amongst old egg boxes.<br />
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In the morning, I record what I have caught, taking pictures of some of them, before releasing them unharmed back into the wild.</div>
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I hope you enjoy them!! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSm616ofscgP2A2FnH6rSGnC4BWBVdIiq77OMH4gUjsvJ3SjWRTm2Qw9DgEWK4L6fn17BV1AI8Bk2N2UzcQ248Usp33FBlB7YwH7JNdQkeQIYuxgYBF6qIpNM1fYTeMI3XS9_0I-BNBHw/s1600/Brindled+beauty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1340" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSm616ofscgP2A2FnH6rSGnC4BWBVdIiq77OMH4gUjsvJ3SjWRTm2Qw9DgEWK4L6fn17BV1AI8Bk2N2UzcQ248Usp33FBlB7YwH7JNdQkeQIYuxgYBF6qIpNM1fYTeMI3XS9_0I-BNBHw/s640/Brindled+beauty.jpg" width="536" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Brindled Beauty moth - what a great name! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn9rkUc_xq3BxwXXUoWU3vwYQKeIOvHhfdeNubkE0PWv5YYv1W0QzASTTdNkteFIMUAaM-lloj3IPhWG2A2SkqebpIUHFqvWbtFPZKL5lKBoyv1kbc-OvckmSI_elGe9-R7T5oL5OQSyA/s1600/DSC_5050a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1276" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn9rkUc_xq3BxwXXUoWU3vwYQKeIOvHhfdeNubkE0PWv5YYv1W0QzASTTdNkteFIMUAaM-lloj3IPhWG2A2SkqebpIUHFqvWbtFPZKL5lKBoyv1kbc-OvckmSI_elGe9-R7T5oL5OQSyA/s640/DSC_5050a.jpg" width="510" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Bee moth. The larvae of this species feed on the comb inside bee and wasp nests</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTIua3YqCwd8oQUJWzj-nNn0BE8z3eb0zKu2QRjALQxzFJtaAuKGdBcVdYKPGBSXOc6BSXSm4Q8l-IlXB81g9ueEvOQHVqg9mMMgSfMgptx5u41cVCA_Hpy4UkzkqpzlQldJ14KtkCWq4/s1600/Pebble+prominent+on+stem+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1555" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTIua3YqCwd8oQUJWzj-nNn0BE8z3eb0zKu2QRjALQxzFJtaAuKGdBcVdYKPGBSXOc6BSXSm4Q8l-IlXB81g9ueEvOQHVqg9mMMgSfMgptx5u41cVCA_Hpy4UkzkqpzlQldJ14KtkCWq4/s640/Pebble+prominent+on+stem+2.jpg" width="622" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Pebble Prominent moth</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHvCa8WuIfZgw0jCqAuGwFmE2mB1m6-9qWMRYTlQrQA97KMTiIr3DmeRG2uFmutciiQuuIYWt5IgZ6_t93LQUErnLJb0sIFftE3Z29_yMlI2tfP7t-20q4k2ihofp2yQlqhMpTJkxxDaY/s1600/Streamer+on+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1293" data-original-width="1600" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHvCa8WuIfZgw0jCqAuGwFmE2mB1m6-9qWMRYTlQrQA97KMTiIr3DmeRG2uFmutciiQuuIYWt5IgZ6_t93LQUErnLJb0sIFftE3Z29_yMlI2tfP7t-20q4k2ihofp2yQlqhMpTJkxxDaY/s640/Streamer+on+tree.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Streamer moth blending in well with the surrounding lichens</td></tr>
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Peter Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350865571811975257noreply@blogger.com0