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It's a bit of a myth that ponds need to be deep unless you want to keep fish. The best organisation for giving advice on ponds is Pond Conservation. They recommend that a pond needs to be no deeper than 30cm. Shallow areas are good for wildlife and this depth shouldn't cause problems with oxygen levels or the whole pond freezing. It should also be filled with rain water and washed gravel or play sand can be used to cover the liner. My own pond is this depth and even though it is only in its second year has been really successful and looks very natural. The highlight so far has been 2 pairs of Large Red Damselfly mating and egg laying in it.

http://www.pondconservation.org.uk/advice/makingpondsforwildlife

http://www.animalphotos.me/moth/moth-jer.htm


A Jersey Tiger (identification, thanks to the above site) in the hollow of a foxglove leaf this morning, a jewel against the green. The site remarks on "a small population in Southeast London" -- otherwise, the Channel Islands, as the name suggests. At least in 2013, the small population persists.

Alex, I saw one very briefly a week or two ago - in the heatwave, at the top of Underhill Rd. It sought shelter in the Old Cemetery trees.

For anyone interested, this species has an orange underwing. http://www.uksafari.com/jerseytigers.htm


please send sightings in to the Butterfly Count project, here http://www.bigbutterflycount.org/

There seems to be an epidemic of these this year. I usually see maybe two or three a year. Putting a black light UV tube out in the garden the other night, there was at one time no fewer than eight of these beauts at one time landed on the white reflector.

We will be hosting another Moth night in early September for anyone interested. Details to be posted here.

We're seeing more of them because of the weather & wherever JT caterpillars food plants are allowed to flourish.


Insects in cities are currently doing better than in the countryside, as townspeople aren't spraying pesticides as much as farmers do.

Wildlife areas reward us, although at first glance big clumps of nettles or dandelions mightn't seem like beauties.

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