This July we held a BioBlitz to celebrate the Downs Restoration Project. Wildlife experts and members of the public descended on Westonbirt to hunt for the remarkable animals, plants and insects that have made their homes in Westonbirt's grassy downland.
With themed talks, guided walks, and a myriad of amazing discoveries, it was a fantastic day celebrating the diverse wildlife at Westonbirt Arboretum.
With hundreds of different species uncovered, experts are still working on the final count, but here's a good look at the fantastic array of flora and fauna we have identified so far.
Clouded yellow butterfly (Colias croceus) Is a buterfly that migrates to the UK each year from Southern Europe, being usually unable to survive our winters. The BioBlitz record was the first at Westonbirt and locally this year, though they do arrive earlier further south.
Lichen (Parmotrema reticulatum) A fine grey lichen that oſten grows on trees and rocks in the south and west of the UK.
Downland Villa Bee-fly (Villa cingulata) Was considered almost extinct in the UK but has been seen again recently. It was recorded at Westonbirt last year, and in the Cotswolds in general. It is probably a parasite of solitary bees, laying eggs on the ground. When the larvae hatch, they crawl in to the hosts nest where they eat the hosts eggs and larva.
Earthworm (Dendrodrilus Rubidus)
An under recorded earthworm was found in a decaying log at Beech Bank just beyond Waste Gate.
Garden Tiger Moth (Arctia caja) A beautiful paterned moth. It is in decline and numbers have fallen by approx 90% in the last 30 years. Its caterpillars are very hairy.
Spreading Bellflower (Campanula patula)
Is widespread in Europe but in the UK, it is restricted to the Welsh borders and Severn Valley and is listed as nationally scarce. At Westonbirt, we have an unusually good population with 21 plants found during the BioBlitz period.
WESTONBIRT AUTUMN 2017 43
Species we found Birds: 29 Mammals: 7 Inverts: Damselflies: 3
Inverts: Buterflies/moths: 267 (including over 98 macro and 78 micro moths)
Inverts: beetles/bugs: 24 Inverts: spiders: 39 Inverts: other: 44 Earthworms: 8 Fungi: 15
Lichens: around 78
Mosses/liverworts/ ferns: 25 Flowering plants: 199 Bees/wasps/ants: 56 Slime mould: 1
Total: 795! and counting...
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