Chalk Grassland Moths of the Surrey Downs

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1 JH B July 2018 Fri Sun 240 Sole 220 Shared 180 Non-resident Chalk Grassland Moths of the Surrey Downs In a quiet wooded valley in an unspoilt area of the chalk North Downs, Juniper Hall is a superb country house dating from the 17th century, complete with a butterfly garden and surrounding woodland. Course Overview This new course will be based at Juniper Hall, which nestles in a valley of the North Downs close to Box Hill, with a backdrop of woodland and rolling chalk grassland habitats. The centre is ideally situated for trapping moths of this habitat. It is aimed at anyone who would like to learn more about identifying moths from chalk and limestone grassland habitats. Their ecology and habitat needs will also be discussed, particularly looking at what makes these habitats important to a specialist group of moth species. It is aimed at total beginners wishing to study these moths, as well as people with more advanced knowledge, but whatever your skill level it will be designed to stretch you. Moth traps will be run each night of the course in nearby chalk grassland habitats of the North Downs, so that participants will get the chance to identify and study these species up close. Skills learnt on this course will of course be transferable to studying moths in gardens or in other habitats. You will be learning identification skills in a beautiful landscape setting and with likeminded fellow participants for company. Pyrausta nigrata

2 Beginners Moth Identification Course Details Course Activities A daily itinerary for the course is difficult to predict in advance as we will be dependent on the weather conditions for trapping and the moths trapped each night as to which groups we study. However the planned programme will be as follows: Friday evening brief introduction to course and setting up moth-traps out on Box Hill National Nature Reserve near the Field Centre. Saturday - checking through moth traps out on the reserve first after breakfast to collect live moths to take back to the classroom. Moth-trapping will concentrate on the excellent chalk grassland areas of this National Trust Box Hill reserve which surrounds the Field Studies Centre. Next on the first morning the tutor will show a slide presentation about the ecology and habitat needs of chalk grassland moths. The rest of the day will be spent identifying live moths in the classroom using available field guides, and handouts with the help of the tutor. Further informal moth identification tutorials may be arranged during this period if it fits in with the needs of participants and moths caught. Saturday evening will include setting up moth traps out on the reserve as on Friday and a continuation of the Saturday afternoon session. Sunday will be a repeat of Saturday s programme but without the slide show. The course is projected to finish around 4pm, but at a time to fit in with participants and their transport needs to travel home. With all moths caught, where possible, time will be allowed for participants to photograph them at the end of each day of the course. The following moths might be among chalk grassland species seen on this course if weather conditions are good: Teleiodes sequax, Crescent Plume, Thyme Plume, Acompsia schmidtiellus, Pelochrista caecimaculana, Festoon, Delplanqueia inscriptella, Hypochalcia ahenella, Pyrausta nigrata, Paratalanta hyalinalis, Wood Carpet, Royal Mantle, Shaded Pug, Chalk Carpet, Hoary Footman and Small Purple-barred,

3 Course fees Sole occupancy: 240 Shared occupancy: 220 Non-resident: 180 Paratalanta Hyalinalis What is included within the fee? Up to 10 hours of tuition a day Full board accommodation including a cooked breakfast, packed lunch, homemade cakes and an evening meal. Vegetarian and other dietary options are available All bedding and towels are provided Tea and coffee making facilities Use of Wi-Fi internet, bar/lounge, library Excursions during the course will mostly be on foot. However, if longer excursions are to be made then these will be by Centre minibus or by private cars. Arrangements will be made to reimburse petrol costs if cars are used Non-residential fees include all of the above except breakfast and accommodation Start and finish times Residential guests are welcome to arrive, register and settle into rooms any time between 3.30 pm and 5.30 pm on Friday. Non-residents need not arrive so early but should aim to be here by 5.30pm. Afternoon tea will be served at 4pm. A short welcome talk will take place at 6.30pm. You will then be shown into supper at 6.45pm. The course will begin with a classroom session after supper and will finish with afternoon tea at approximately 4.00pm on Sunday.

4 About the Tutor Dave Grundy is an experienced naturalist and wildlife consultant specialising in bird, butterfly and moth surveying. He has a particular interest in micro moths and regularly leads training courses throughout the UK, with both beginners and more advanced participants. Subjects for training courses he runs elsewhere include: micro moths, leaf-miners, beginners introduction to moth-trapping and habitat based courses studying moths of Breckland, woodland, wetland and grassland, etc. He also carries out professional moth and butterfly surveys averaging over 100 nights per year in the field, giving him the essential background field knowledge for moth identification. From 2003 to 2013 he organised and administered the Garden Moth Scheme, which now covers over 300 gardens across Britain and Ireland. The scheme monitors changes in the fortunes of common moth species and uses the data as indicators of environmental change. What to Bring Please bring the following with you if you can: Casual Warm & waterproof outdoor clothing Stout shoes or boots Sunglasses, sun hat and sun lotion Small haversack or day bag Camera if you wish Lunchbox and drinks bottle / flask Any personal moth books and in particular, Sterling, Parson and Lewington Field Guide to Micro-Moths of Great Britain and Ireland if possible this will be the main reference book used on this course as well as Waring, Townsend & Lewington - Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain & Ireland as well as the other title? Any other moth field guide you might have such as Manley British Moths Second Edition Laptop, tablet or mobile phone if this helps you to look up moth ID on the internet, wifi will be available in the classroom Hand lenses, notebook, moth-collecting pots and moth / butterfly net (if you have them) Torch, as we may visit the moths traps in the evening Insect repellent is recommended for evening visits to the moth traps Notebook The Tutor will also provide a variety of other moth identification books for reference during the course (Bedding and a bath towel provided)

5 How to Book Bookings can be made online at Alternatively, please telephone or Juniper Hall (contact details below) to make a provisional booking. We will then hold your place for 7 days. If the course is already full you may wish to be put on a waiting list; we will then inform you if a vacancy becomes available. To confirm your booking please complete a Booking Form and return this to the Centre with your deposit. Cheques should be made payable to Field Studies Council. Fees are payable before commencement of the course and we will invoice you for the balance approximately 4 weeks before the course starts. Please note our accommodation is currently not en-suite. All bedrooms do have a sink and are close to private bathrooms. If you prefer en-suite you may prefer to book as a non-resident and find accommodation locally and centre staff will be happy to advise. Chalk Carpet