Powdermill Trust
For Nature Conservation
Registered Charity No. 1121510
Registered Company No. 3841637
For Nature Conservation
Registered Charity No. 1121510
Registered Company No. 3841637
For more information or an application form please contact Owen Johnson at
79a Vale Road, St. Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex.. TN37 6PX
Tel 01424 426986
www.powdermilltrust.co.uk
Powdermill Trust National Moth (and Bat) Night
15th + 16th May 2010
National Moth Night is the UK’s annual celebration of moths and moth recording. Originally launched in 1999, the date varies each year to focus recording effort on different parts of the season. Atropos founded the event and it is now run jointly with Butterfly Conservation. This year the theme is moths and bats.
Although there are about 2,500 different types of moth found in this country, the numbers of individuals flying have declined by a third over the last 40 years - a situation not just bad for moths, but also a problem for all the other wildlife that feed on them such as bats.
We are holding two special open sessions to observe these wonderful, yet rarely seen insects at the Powdermill Wood Reserve on 15th and 16th May in the company of Ralph Hobbs, Chairman of the Powdermill Trust and experienced moth recorder. We also hope to welcome members of the Sussex Bat Group, as we try to find out which species of bat are feeding on the moths, and which species of moth are being eaten the bats.
First there will be an evening session on Saturday 15th May starting at 8pm with the setting up of the light trap in time to witness the first moth arrivals. A bat sound detector will be demonstrated all evening as we listen out for bats trying to catch their prey before we do! The following morning at 8.00am there will be a full examination of the night’s catch with opportunities for moth photography.
Light traps will be set up all over the country on National Moth Night weekend, and our results will be collated into the national report and also published separately in the Powdermill Trust members' newsletter.
Members, friends, and children accompanied by an adult are all welcome, but sorry dogs and moth traps don't mix. There is no need to book either the Saturday evening or the Sunday morning sessions. Visitors for the evening session will need to bring a torch, and appropriate footwear for walking in woodland is advisable.
Meet in the Powdermill Reserve Car Park (Grid Ref TQ735144) at each start time. The location of the trap will be obvious or well sign- posted for late arrivals. Only in the event of heavy or persistent rainfall might the event be cancelled at the last minute. For further information in advance or on the night, Ralph may be contacted on 07748 180240.
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