Barry Probin -“A Celebration of Insects of the Mosses” (Sun)

“A Celebration of Insects of the Mosses”

Barry Probin, Amateur Naturalist, Photographer, and Natural England Volunteer.

An illustrated Talk, describing many of the insects to be found on Whixall, Fenns, and Bettisfield Mosses. The Mosses represent Britain’s third-largest raised Peat Bog, which is now a rare and important ecological site. The site was rescued from commercial Peat Cutting some 40 years ago by Natural England.

From Dragonflies, Damselflies, Beetles, to Moths and Butterflies, and more, the Talk illustrates some of the species of that can be found. Take a look into the world of Moth trapping as well as rearing one of our most spectacular daytime flying Moths. Look at the life cycle of one of our rare Dragonfly’s and what awaits the unfortunate! Join me spending a year on the Moss finding some of the more common species, some unusual and some that are nationally scarce or even very rare or even one insect you never expect to find.

We will end by taking a brief look at how the Moss is being restored by “re-wetting” which is encouraging the re-growth of Sphagnum Moss.