Cotton Grass Eriophorum angustifolium, is a perennial (meaning re-occuring year after year) plant native to the blanket bogs of the British isles and found all over the northern fells. It often covers large expanses of moorland turning them white with its characteristically cotton-like seed heads, which can be an amazing sight in the height ofContinue reading “Cotton Grass”
Tag Archives: #Caterpillars
Hazel
The Hazel, Corylus avellana, has smooth silvery bark, brilliantly green downy leaves, and early in the year forms bright yellow Catkins which dangle and sway in the wind, giving a welcome hint of spring yellow to the otherwise barren hedges and trees of winter. Quick out of the blocks It is particularly quick out ofContinue reading “Hazel”
The December Moth
The December Moth, Poecilocampa populi, (Poecilo is Ancient Greek for ‘varied’ or ‘spotted’, campa meaning ‘field’ and populi meaning ‘common’) is a very aptly named moth, being one of the few, if not the only moth flying in the cold depths of winter. Active when others are asleep It is a medium sized moth, withContinue reading “The December Moth”
The Dog Rose
The Dog Rose, Rosa canina, is a deciduous shrub native to the British isles, it is found in a wide variety of habitats but prefers hedgerows and scrubby patches of woodland, where it grows in a sprawling manner, its stems arching over each other and getting entangled with other briars and shrubs. It usually reachesContinue reading “The Dog Rose”
The Merveille du jour and some notes on moth-trapping
Wonder of the day The Merveille du jour Griposia aprilina, ‘wonder of the day’, is out and about at the moment. This attractive, black and white patterned, emerald green moth, reckoned as one of the most beautiful to be found in the British isles, is aptly named as it is a little wonder to behold.Continue reading “The Merveille du jour and some notes on moth-trapping”
Ermine Moth Colonies
There are eight species of Ermine moth in the British isles with the Bird Cherry Ermine which, as you might have guessed, prefers Cherry trees, being the most common, the adult moths can look very similar and some can only be differentiated by the food plants they are found feeding upon. Explodes in numbers EveryContinue reading “Ermine Moth Colonies”
The Brimstone Butterfly
The Brimstone Butterfly Gonepteryx rhamni, is one of our largest butterflies and quite often the first to be seen as it languidly flaps across the landscape after emerging from its winter hibernation. It is thought to be the original butterfly after which the common name for this type of insect came from, as its wingsContinue reading “The Brimstone Butterfly”
The Alder
The Common alder Alder glutinosa, is a very hardy species of tree found all along the cloughs, streams and riverbanks of the Northwest, with some areas of Alder woodland traditionally referred to as ‘Carr’. As it does not usually suffer from late spring frosts and is hardy to early autumn frosts it has been plantedContinue reading “The Alder”
Northwest Nature and History 