Yesterday, 21/03/25, was a record breaking evening for the Coombe Road Toad Patrol. After a prolonged cold dry spell, which kept the toads from moving, we had a damp mild evening. A total of 221 toads were found and moved to the breeding pond: 143 males, 70 females, 8 dead. We also found 4 palmate and 3 smooth newts. This has greatly boosted the numbers compared with last year’s figures.
There is a good display of snowdrops on Frogmore Lane at the moment. Spring is coming!
Attached are the East Meon Rainfall Figures for 2024. They are included in the figures from 2010 to 2024 and include the yearly and monthly averages.
Pamela Peacock, who lives in East Meon, has some interesting visitors in her garden. There are two elephant hawk moth caterpillars that are particularly enjoying her late flowering fuchsias.
The first work party of the autumn carried out a major clearance of foliage at the EMN Wildflower patch next to the sports pavilion today. The plan is to strim down the remaing foliage, clear it and then work on pulling up as much of the invasive the invasive brambles as possible.
Below are the final Hyden Hill Butterfly Transit results for 2024. These have been gathered by members of East Meon Nature, weekly from April 1st to September 28th 2024, on behalf of the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme. They are a massive disappointment, and reflect nationwide results this year. Attached are the 2023 results for comparison.
Evening sun at the East Meon Nature wild flower garden. Still some colour left.
The Churchyard hay meadow has been cut. The hay is currently being turned everyday and will be bailed later this week ready for distribution.
An East Meon Nature member took this super picture of cinnabar moth caterpillars eating ragwort. The ragwort was sited on Hyden Hill, East Meon. After a very wet spring and early summer, ragwort is making a big showing this year!
A good number of greater butterfly orchids (Platanthera chlorantha) are growing alongside common spotted orchids beside the wide track in Hen Wood. These are a relatively rare species. They are a tall and upright orchid and are found in meadows and open woodland, and are fond of chalky soils. They have a sweet smell in the evening.