Wildlife Photos In The Parish
NATURE NOTES
Wildlife Photos In The Parish
Those who follow us on Facebook will have seen the large numbers of photos of wildlife taken in the parish. Many are coming from gardens, others from the countryside, as more adults and families are walking the footpaths around the village. Species sent in include moths such as the Cabbage, the Silver Ground Carpet and Grass Wave; beetles including the Red-headed Cardinal and Wasp beetle; a rare form of Early Purple Orchid known as ‘var. alba’ and fungi such as Dryad’s Saddle. The Cockchafer beetle has been snapped – Thomas Gray referred to this in his Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard – ‘Save where the beetle wheels his droning flight’. A Dormouse was believed to have been seen up Pound Lane – we are not aware of any formal records of this in the parish although it has been identified near Wrinstone on the parish border. Gardens have revealed everything from the modest Vine Weevil (not great news for gardeners) and the Grey Squirrel, which can attract all sorts of reactions.
First imported from America between 1876 and 1929, they proved to be great colonisers and can be found all over Great Britain. Unfortunately the spread of the Grey coincided with the retreat of the Red Squirrel which, despite claims that they have been seen locally (probably Greys with a bit of russet colouring) cannot be found anywhere near here. The nearest Red Squirrel populations to Wenvoe are around Llyn Brianne reservoir in mid Wales with populations also established on Anglesey and elsewhere in North Wales. In the south of England they can be seen on Brownsea Island near Bournemouth. The Isle of Wight has also stayed Grey-free and Reds are surviving. Most people find the Red attractive and lovable but it is worth noting that the Squirrel Hunt (and this was before Greys ever set foot on the island) was part of the Boxing Day or St Stephens Day celebrations.