Page 5 - Lydden News Letter 2025

NATURE NOTES

The spring has been a remarkably dry one in the village with an almost record-
breaking amount of sunshine and a constant east to northeast wind. Not the normal
wet south westerly winds. With the dry weather it is helpful for the local wildlife to
provide a source of water, even if it is a bird bath or a tray of water on the edge of the
garden. The blue tits and robins have been enjoying our improvised old preserving
pan bird bath. For some species of bird, it is an early season and I have already seen
newly fledge long tailed tits and song thrush.

Green tortoise beetles are small green insects that with a bit of
imagination could be thought to look like a tortoise. Their lime
green colour that helps to disguise them from predators. If they
are attacked, they can clamp down onto the leaf and become
difficult to remove. They are associated with white dead nettles and mints.

Running a moth trap in the garden not only attracts moths
but also some other insects. One of my favourites of which
may bug or cockchafers. These large brown scarab
beetles fly in May, having spent up to three years
underground as a larvae feeding on plant roots. As adults
thy are thought to live for about six weeks.

Currently along Jubilee path green alkanet is in
flower. This plant is a native of southwest Europe
and was brought to the UK in the 1700's since
when it has spread out across the whole of
England. It has attractive blue flowers and thrives
in areas of shade. Greater celandine can also be
seen at the Canterbury Road end of the path.
Despite its name it belongs to the poppy family
but with thin papery yellow petals.

Enjoy the Spring,

Paul
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