Welcome to Minchinhampton Walking and Wildlife Group
The group was formed to share knowledge about the unique wildlife habitats in the parish of Minchinhampton and to enjoy the local environment in the company of like-minded people. We also monitor and investigate local habitats in conjunction with conservation organisations. Knowledge that we gain is shared on this website and by creating documented walks around the parish.
Public Moth Survey Event: Minchinhampton Churchyard
A local naturalist, Denise Gibbons, will be setting up a moth trap in Minchinhampton Churchyard around dusk on Friday 16th September. All are invited to drop by and learn to identify some of the local flying fauna.
- Details
- Written by Michael McEllin
- Category: Activity
Autumn Lady's Tresses
We counted over 120 spikes of Autumn Ladies Tresses on Minchinhampton Common last week, spread over three different locations (of which one was a location of which we had previously been aware). It is looking like a reasonably good year and this seems to be the peak of abundance.
- Details
- Written by Michael McEllin
- Category: Flora
Autumn Lady's Tresses and Broad-leaved Helleborines
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Our first sighting of Autumn Ladies Tresses this year! We found a single specimen on Minchinhampton Common at a north-side location that generally produces a good crop. (The photo above right is one of last-year's crop - this morning's photograph proved to be blurred.)
In contrast, Broad-leaved Helleborines can still be found on Rodborough Common on grass verges close to Rodborough Fort, though now starting to go over. (We located several a couple of weeks ago, and this morning found that three had somehow managed to escape the local council's mania for road verge trimming.
- Details
- Written by Michael McEllin
- Category: Flora
Chalkhill Blue Butterfly
Over 33 degrees centigrade today on Jakob's Knowle and the first of the Chalkhill Blues on the wing. If the weather stays fair expect to see numbers slowly increase over the next few weeks. They will be at their most numerous by the end of the month. Another good site is at Swells Hill.
Join the walk on the 31st July to see Chalkhill Blues, Adonis Blue along with other grassland species
- Details
- Written by Tony Metcalfe
- Category: Butterflies
Glow worms are glowing
Three of us recorded 43 Glow worms on Bear Hill tonight (13 July) - the best count for many years. Can anyone beat us?
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- Details
- Written by Karen Colebourn
- Category: Activity
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