Welcome
to the Cam Valley Wildlife Group
Cam
Valley Wildlife Group is an independent, volunteer-run, wildlife
group based around Midsomer Norton and Radstock. The area
covers the towns and villages of Cameley, Camerton, Carlingcott,
Chelwood, Chewton Mendip, Chilcompton, Clapton, Clutton, Coleford,
Combe Hay, Dunkerton, Emborough, Farmborough, Farrington Gurney,
Faulkland, Foxcote, Hallatrow, Haydon, High Littleton, Hinton
Blewett, Hinton Charterhouse, Holcombe, Kilmersdon, Litton,
Midford, Midsomer Norton, Norton St Philip, Paulton, Peasedown
St John, Priston, Radford, Radstock, Shoscombe, Southstoke,
Ston Easton, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, Temple Cloud, Timsbury,
Tunley, Welton, Westfield, Wellow and Writhlington.
Our
aims are the conservation of local biodiversity, the promoting
awareness and understanding of local wildlife, and the encouraging
the enjoyment of wildlife. Our activities include a varied
events programme, talks, walks, field trips, workshops, social
events, survey projects and practical conservation projects.
We
produce a newsletter four times a year and have an online
discussion group for members. Membership is open to anyone
who supports our aims and an annual fee of £5.00 covers
all members in one household.
Feel
free to browse around our website.
What
To Look For in... August
Another
good month for insects and flora, with berries starting to
appear. Still a quiet time for birds.
Flora
- Yew
fruits ripen.
-
Bramble berries appear.
-
Elderberries, haws, Rowan berries, sloes, Dog Rose
hips and Guelder Rose fruit develop.
-
Alder trees bear their green cone-like fruits and
Beech nuts appear.
-
Cuckoo-pint (Lords-and-Ladies) berries ripen.
-
Japanese Knotweed in flower!
|
Insects
-
Burnet Moth caterpillars feeding on legumes.
-
Garden Tiger Moth caterpillars (hairy Marys or woolly
bears) feeding on docks and dandelions.
-
Second generation: Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Comma,
Common Blue and Holly Blue on the wing.
-
Butterfly caterpillars include: Marbled White, Gatekeeper,
Ringlet and Small Skipper.
|
Mammals
- Badgers
collect bedding.
-
Bats are actively feeding, with pups becoming independent
feeders too. Males beginning to search for a mate.
|
Birds
- Tawny
Owls start calling to establish next year’s
territory.
-
Swifts and Blackcaps start to depart.
|
Reptiles
& Amphibians
-
Adder and Slow-worm young are born.
-
Grass Snake eggs hatch.
|
From
'The Wildlife Year' - a month
by month guide to the things that may be happening in the
Cam Valley Wildlife Group area.
|
