Upcoming Events

Friday 3rd July - A Bat Walk at Great Elm

Wednesday 8th July - Botany excursion to Priddy Mineries and Stockhill

Saturday 11th July - Conservation morning at Paulton reserve

Thursday 16th July - Evening Visit to Elm Farm, Burnett

Saturday 25th July - Work Morning at Goosard reserve

CVWG News

Camerton Heritage Committee - Green Fair [Tue, Jun 23]
The Green Fair will be the next event at Camerton Batch on Saturday 4th July. This is celebrating all the work that has been carried out thanks to the Breathing Places grant - and it will be our biggest yet! We have a Green Fair in the afternoon followed by music and an outdoor cinema in the evening. Hope to see you there!
Miriam Woolnough

Red Kites near Stoney Littleton [Thu Jun 18]
We spotted three Red Kites circling above the fields, and around the trees near Stoney Littleton, at about 6-7pm in the evening. The location wasin the fields near the bridge over the Wellow Brook on Dairy Hill between Stoney Littleton and Faukland. The red kites were circling above that field, landing in the trees, then taking off again - and evidently hunting in the field above and behind the trees. We
watched them for about 20 mnutes - during which time one kites caught some prey (no binoculars, so we couldn't see what it was). They appeared to be a family group - possibly parents and an offspring, or perhaps mother and two offspring.
avebury.geo

Flora

• Hop in flower – quite common in the hedgerows around Paulton where Bristol brewery had hop fields.
• Lots of plants come into flower including: Tansy, Burdock, Willowherbs, Perennial Sow-thistle, several Thistle species, Scentless Mayweed, Teasel, Hemp Agrimony, Bindweeds, Wild Angelica, Pyramidal Orchid and Fat-hen.
• Traveller’s Joy and Sweet Chestnut are in flower.
• Field Maple keys appear.
• Bird Cherry fruiting.

Birds

• Most birds are going quite now as they begin their moult and become secretive at this vulnerable stage. They mainly stop singing now but their calls can still give away their presence as they move almost invisibly in the fully leaved trees and bushes.
• Swifts scream overhead.
• Cuckoos start to depart for Africa already.

Mammals

• Roe Deer are rutting.
• Bats are very actively feeding now and suckling young.

Insects

• Single generation Marbled White and Gatekeeper on the wing.
• Single generation Peacock and Brimstone (which will overwinter as butterflies) also flying.
• Second generation: Speckled Wood, Brown Argus, Small Copper, Large White, Green-veined White.
• Butterfly caterpillars around include: Meadow Brown, Small Tortoiseshell, Comma, and Large Skipper.
• Late pupaters: Peacock, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Brown Argus, Holly Blue, Orange-tip and Brimstone.
• Elephant Hawk Moth caterpillars feed on Willowherb and Puss Moth caterpillars on Willow or Poplar trees.
• Look for groups of yellow and black Cinnabar Moth caterpillars feeding on Ragwort.
• Migrant Hawker dragonfly might be seen.

Reptiles, Amphibians and Fish

• Grass snakes lay their eggs.
• Common Lizard young are born.
• Newts start to leave the ponds.