Author Archives: Roger Gaynor

Wildlife Under the Garden Radar

Posted on September 12, 2020 by Roger Gaynor

How can one of the UK’s largest and most distinctive moth caterpillars go under the garden radar at home for so long without being seen until Sue found it feeding on her prize fuchsia.  This is one of Britain’s largest … Continue reading →

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Raindrops and Ringlets

Posted on July 5, 2020 by Roger Gaynor

Not deterred by the unsettled weather at the end of June, I planned to start the new month with a walk using footpaths around the village of West Bretton avoiding the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, which remained closed due to the … Continue reading →

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Getting into the Groove

Posted on June 4, 2020 by Roger Gaynor

These days I am doing the same local walk so often I can imagine I am cutting a groove in the tarmac along Jerry Clay Lane, Wrenthorpe.  This lane is my gateway to a small island of surviving countryside around … Continue reading →

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Getting Ready for Summer

Posted on May 24, 2020 by Roger Gaynor

The Corvid-19 outbreak lockdown rules have recently been relaxed.  Even so at the moment I continue to be loyal to my local walks all taken within one and half or so miles from home rather than travelling further away.  This … Continue reading →

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Not going far – seeing more

Posted on May 11, 2020 by Roger Gaynor

On the 12 April I noticed a small tortoiseshell butterfly egg laying on the garden patch of nettles.  These have now hatched and, characteristically, the caterpillars have formed a communal silken web around the uppermost leaves for protection whilst they … Continue reading →

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Swallows and Apples

Posted on April 30, 2020 by Roger Gaynor

Studies increasingly show us that just looking at pleasant landscapes and watching wildlife can significantly improve our personal health and well- being.  It is sometimes referred to as Nature’s Health Service especially in terms of helping to manage the stress … Continue reading →

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Comma returns to garden egg laying site for another year

Posted on April 13, 2020 by Roger Gaynor

Yesterday I watched several peacock and small tortoiseshell butterflies making their now regular visits to the garden.  Most are just passing through, but yesterday I noticed a comma circling around a sheltered corner containing a small, well established patch of … Continue reading →

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Flowers before foliage in spring

Posted on April 12, 2020 by Roger Gaynor

Over the last week my permitted outdoor exercise with some variations has been based on a walk from Wrenthorpe via the nearby Wakefield Junction 41 Industrial Estate, Lawns Lane, Brandy Carr Road and along Troughwell Lane back home.  The industrial … Continue reading →

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Spring butterflies

Posted on March 30, 2020 by Roger Gaynor

While in the garden on Tuesday 24 March I spent some time watching two buzzards soaring higher and higher above me in a beautiful clear blue sky.  Only when I looked down I noticed three very mobile butterflies – peacock, … Continue reading →

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The Big Butterfly Count 2018

Posted on July 28, 2018 by Roger Gaynor

The big butterfly count 2018 is now well underway with records from all parts of the UK being invited. The count is organised by Butterfly Conservation and runs until the end of August and is open to everyone and is … Continue reading →

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