Nature Notes
Nature Notes for October/November A
s this appalling summer finally draws to a close, we can reflect on the
© Doug Stannard
fact that its impact will probably be felt again next summer in reduced numbers of insects such as bees and butterflies as the spring and early summer species had a terrible year. indeed, the apple crop is well down due to the lack of pollinators and my
Fast Rabbit Farm
Garden created in sheltered valley with natural stream. Several ponds and lake, partially wooded, rockery, extensively planted, extends to 12 acres plus new woodland planting and walks. Car park. Some level walks
beauty of bath tree which normally has hundreds of fruit barely had twenty apples this year. However the upswing in weather during late August and September has resulted in plenty of the late summer butterflies being on the wing, most notably small
butterflies....do in fact migrate
Open Sundays 11am-5pm March to November Bank Holiday Mondays
Admission £3.50, Children 50p
Parties welcome by appointment. Disabled: Please phone prior to visit
www.fastrabbitfarm.co.uk
PLANTS FOR SALE
Ash Cross, Dartmouth Tel: 07813 504490
BTD033
tortoiseshell, peacocks, large whites, red admirals and the occasional brimstone, normally associated as being the first butterfly of the year to hatch. we tend to think that butterflies are sedentary local species and, whilst in the main, this is correct, some species do, in fact, migrate. A prime example of this is the Painted lady a close relative of the red Admiral and being seen in small numbers at the moment. the butterflies we are seeing are relatives of migrants from north Africa that have moved north across the Mediterranean sea and bred in Spain or France and then the offspring have come across the english Channel to reach our shores. two years ago there was a massive influx of them so much so that they reached the furthest northerly outpost of the british isles at Muckle Flugga and a few individuals even made iceland! However, the most spectacular and well-known migrant is the Monarch butterfly of north America. Come September and October these bright amber and black veined leviathans of the butterfly world migrate all the way down through the United States to winter in just 5 favoured areas of rainforest
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