Tattingstone and Alton Water

rare migrant in the county with the larvae feeding on primarily Norway and Sitka Spruce and also Noble Fir. There is always the outside possibility that this species could be establishing itself in the area, as there would appear to be suitable habitat in the area. 'Moth of the night' status was rapidly reassigned co this species - we should learn co wait until the lase trap is packed away before making our choice.

Eighty-one species were recorded by myself with Ethmia dodecea, Helcystogramma rnfescem, Phalonidia manniana, Agapeta hamana, Celypha Lacunana, Hedya pruniana, Epib/ema uddmanniana, Eucosma cana, Chrysoteuchia cu/mel/a, Crambus pascue//a, Crambus per/e//a, Catoptria pinel/a, Dipleurina /acustrata, Pyrausta despicata, Eurrhypara hortulata, Perinephela /ancea/is, Udea olivalis, Pleuroptya rura/is, Pempelie//a dilute/la, Peach Blossom, Buff Arches, Common Emerald, Lesser Cream Wave, Riband Wave, Large Twin-spot Carpet, Royal Mantle, Common Carpet, Wood Carpet, Purple Bar, Barred Straw, Fem, Sharp-angled Carpet, Cloaked Pug, Toad.flax Pug, Green Pug, Double-striped Pug, Clouded Magpie, Clouded Border, Peacock Moth, Tawny-barred Angle, Brown Silver-line, Peppered Moth, Mottled Beauty, Clouded Silver, Pine Hawk-moth, Poplar Hawk-moth, Elephant Hawk-moth, Small Elephant Hawk-moth, Buff-tip, Rosy Footman, Four-dotted Footman, Scarce Footman, Ruby Tiger, Heart & Club, Heart & Dart, Flame, Flame Shoulder, Large Yellow Underwing, True Lover's Knot, Shears, Grey Arches, White Colon, Dot Moth, Bright-line Brown-eye, Broom Moth, Brown-line Bright-eye, Clay, Smoky Wainscot, Common Wainscot, Grey Dagger, Brown Rustic, Small Angle Shades, Light Arches, Slender Brindle, Tawny Marbled Minor, Marbled White Spot, Beautiful Golden Y, Spectacle, Beautiful Hook-tip, Straw Dot and Fan-foot.

Tattingstone and Alton Water, 17th July

by Alan Johnson

One of this summer's very hot days saw

fourteen of our members meet in the car park at

the southern e~d of Lemon's Hill Bridge, Tattingstone. Here we were greeted by Mike Ewart, our host for the morning and who was to show us around the nearby Nature Reserve, located at the rear of his and neighbouring houses, overlooking the southern shore of Ang1ian Water's Alton Water Reservoir.

During our 'tour' Mike explained how the reserve, originally 5¼ acres of farmland was purchased by himself and two neighbours, eight years ago. Originally left to 'do its own thing', an area of meadow land has now been created, supporting a wide variety of wild flowers, a tribute to all the hard work chat has obviously been put in over the recent years.

We were also shown the adjacent wood which has grown up in the past 40 years, on the site of the 'paupers graveyard', which served the then Taningscone Workhouse. This wood is held in Trust as a 'Wildlife area'.

Our thanks to Mike, also his wife, for giving up their time co make this such an interesting morning.

Common Blue

by Douglas Hammersley