We’ve had a few new species in the Garden during April, and the following two have very little in common, one being a True Bug and the other a Beetle. Apart, that is, from their vernacular name being Tortoise. The Tortoise Beetle, recorded on the 20th April 2025. These odd but very pretty looking beetlesContinue reading “A couple of Tortoises”
Tag Archives: nature
It’s time to start another year
Another very wet winter is almost at an end and as mentioned in previous updates, we tend to stay off the Garden during winter to avoid compacting the soil. In fact it’s been such a misserable winter we haven’t done much in the Garden at all. Thankfully spring is almost here, although the weather remainsContinue reading “It’s time to start another year”
Ivy Flowers
Hedera helix In 2006 we planted Ivy next to the top of the large retaining wall in our Garden, and during this time it has spread to the smaller retaining wall below this, as shown in the centre of the image below taken in April 2023. Indeed, if left unchecked, it would have probably spreadContinue reading “Ivy Flowers”
Limoniidae species & a new spider record
We could only identify the following insect down to family level. The family being Limoniidae (we think), close relatives of the true Craneflies. The main difference (that is easy to observe) between true craneflies and limoniidae when viewed in the Garden, is that they hold their wings differently when at rest. Our short species accountContinue reading “Limoniidae species & a new spider record”
New moth species Case-bearing Clothes Moth
We say new species, but in truth it’s only new in so far as we’ve seen them in the house before on many occasions, but never recorded one in the Garden. Even this one was recorded on the patio doors and came from inside. They are extremely common and widespread. A so called micro-moth fromContinue reading “New moth species Case-bearing Clothes Moth”
New Garden Species – Pseudeuophrys lanigera…
…otherwise known as the Jumping House Spider. According to Britains Spiders*, this species was first recorded in England in 1930. An online search supports this view, with several sites saying this initial record was in Devon. All sources agree that the species has spread across the country and into Scotland since this time. With distributionContinue reading “New Garden Species – Pseudeuophrys lanigera…”
Another species of Springtail
Our Springtail species list hit double figures with the following species, we think belonging to the genus Isotomurus, recorded yesterday. We suspect it may be Isotomurus maculatus, but there is just enough doubt in our minds not to record it to species level. It was recorded heading towards a large clump of moss. Moss beingContinue reading “Another species of Springtail”
Big Garden Bird Count
Last weekend we decided to take part in this years Big Garden Birdwatch, an RSPB survey conducted every year at the end of January. The general idea being that for each species you record, you note the maximum number of that species you see landed in your garden at any one time. This hour canContinue reading “Big Garden Bird Count”
Another Coprinellus species (or the same one?)
The weather was mostly dry today so a quick nose in the Garden was in order and whilst shifting some cut branches about we came across the following… …which we can only describe as a fungi doing an impression of an acorn. But fungi they clearly were, however being only partially emerged we didnt expectContinue reading “Another Coprinellus species (or the same one?)”
Daddy Longlegs
In most parts of the country the insect we refer to as a Daddy Longlegs is one of a number of similar looking flies called Craneflies. Although some people also call Harvestmen, arachnids rather than insects, by the same title. We very recently (24th December 2023) uploaded a video to you tube showing what aContinue reading “Daddy Longlegs”
Wildlife Garden 