One thing that has proliferated this year has been Box Tree moth and oak Processionary Moth. The box tree moths I drown. The Oak processionary moths, the Forestry commission came and vacuumed off two nests, I caught 15 adult moths in a light trap last month. (frozen then went off to be checked) Both alien invaders bought in on plants imported from the continent. As OPM only eats oaks, I am at a loss as to why we import Oaks from the continent when they grow from acorns perfectly well here. If the current outbreak in South Derbyshire gets up to Sherwood Forest, its stuffed.
We haven't been able to import Oaks from the continent since 2018.
There are many UK growers of Quercus but this is usually small trees for the commercial market. Its the semi-mature trees that we like to import as continental NW Europe has much more favourable growing conditions. Top of the list is Quercus Palustris or Robur Fastigiata for their obvious architectural attributes.
There's no doubting the OPM issue (and PPM - Pine Processionary Moth) was exacerbated by the import market, and DEFRA were slow to implement a ban, however its pretty widely accepted that it was on its way here one way or another. The strait of Dover is only 20miles wide at its narrowest after all.
I know, lucky you, down south we have those little things, easily jumping over the fences and eating the plants. I don’t know if they’re on Dartmoor though, I suppose they must be down south as the venison shop in Lyndhurst was always a busy shop.
We have the big reds here. They don't come into the garden much, but we see them regularly in the woods and the fields behind the house. There's a big herd of them that lives around us - at least 40 or so animals. I assume they are part of the Exmoor herds. The stag hounds were out last weekend, which always means we see them more in daylight as they try to escape. Mostly you just get glimpses in the shadows. like these (you may need to zoom in)
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
@februarysgirl - a long delay getting our mower sreviced this year meant no mow May began in January and by the time it was returned in early May most of our plot was strim it or leave it. I asked OH to strim me a few paths and the rest was left long and grew a wide variety of wild flowers.
I didn't notice a great influx of insects myself but I assume that when the they see or hear me coming they go quiet or hide. However, we've had loads more birds this year and the swallows and martins certainly went forth and multiplied so there must have been plenty to eat.
Only roe deer around here as well as badgers, foxes, hares, rabbits, wild boar and coypu which are not native but well established.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
@februarysgirl - a long delay getting our mower sreviced this year meant no mow May began in January and by the time it was returned in early May most of our plot was strim it or leave it. I asked OH to strim me a few paths and the rest was left long and grew a wide variety of wild flowers.
I didn't notice a great influx of insects myself but I assume that when the they see or hear me coming they go quiet or hide. However, we've had loads more birds this year and the swallows and martins certainly went forth and multiplied so there must have been plenty to eat.
Only roe deer around here as well as badgers, foxes, hares, rabbits, wild boar and coypu which are not native but well established.
It's amazing to have that much wildlife around though, I've never seen wild boar so that must be cool to see.
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There are many UK growers of Quercus but this is usually small trees for the commercial market. Its the semi-mature trees that we like to import as continental NW Europe has much more favourable growing conditions. Top of the list is Quercus Palustris or Robur Fastigiata for their obvious architectural attributes.
There's no doubting the OPM issue (and PPM - Pine Processionary Moth) was exacerbated by the import market, and DEFRA were slow to implement a ban, however its pretty widely accepted that it was on its way here one way or another. The strait of Dover is only 20miles wide at its narrowest after all.
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
I didn't notice a great influx of insects myself but I assume that when the they see or hear me coming they go quiet or hide. However, we've had loads more birds this year and the swallows and martins certainly went forth and multiplied so there must have been plenty to eat.
Only roe deer around here as well as badgers, foxes, hares, rabbits, wild boar and coypu which are not native but well established.