Devon SSSI nature reserve and eco lodges - Maggie's Blog
31 July
Butterflies on the thistles...
There's a patch of creeping thistle that has run away with itself in the lodge field. All spring I meant to get on top of it. But now it has finally flowered. It looks fabulous - for now - and the mown path runs right by it. And it is just alive with bees, hoverflies, and butterflies. They are simply loving the flowers. Today in about 5 mins I saw silver washed fritillary (not common here - so that made my day), ringlet, green veined white, small white, peacock, gate keeper, small copper and some amazing-looking flies and bees which I can't identify. So here are some pictures, in defence of thistles.
It was just the day before yesterday I was standing in front of the patch, discussing controlling them with ecologist Claire Collier from the Wild About Devon project. "Cut in June, a month too soon. Cut in July, sure to die" she said. Well, maybe we'll cut them back when most of the flowers are gone and before the thistledown really gets going...
Meanwhile, they're making a really accessible wildlife habitat right in front of the lodges and the children entranced by all the insects on them.