A recent outdoor event was an evening moth count in Swell Wood, with the help of the RSPB and the Somerset Moth Group. The event was part of the Girl Guides Centenary Celebrations and a dozen of the Guides with Jane Brooke and her team of Leaders were able to see the equipment set up and spend an hour or so watching and listening to an introduction to this night time wildlife investigation. 

It was too windy for a good display but we still managed to record a rare species as far as Somerset is concerned. We will repeat the event next summer, we hope with better conditions. With wildlife patience is always necessary. 

Since we started our group four years ago we have had several illustrated talks in the village. We also meet in Langport and Somerton, and talks have been on subjects as varied as dragonflies, farming and wildlife, spiders, wild flowers and butterflies. Wildlife gardening is very important for the Trust and we hope to encourage more people to make room for this way of supporting wildlife. Especially bumble bees, butterflies and where there is room for a pond, to encourage dragonflies.  Gardens are becoming increasingly recognised as a starting point in the natural food chain thus attracting more birds for instance. Plant pollination both in our gardens and in the farming community is helped by a healthy insect world. 

We had a tour of the West Sedgemoor Nature Reserve with the RSPB Ranger who was very knowledgeable on all aspects of wildlife conservation, not only birds.

In a walk along droves we saw numerous butterflies and a meadow full of Green Winged Orchids and he explained the management techniques used on the moor. A couple of years ago, we ran a garden party in Wiltown and invited friends and local members. Earlier this summer we organised   a walk in a local commercial orchard for a social get together with a ploughman's lunch and a glass of cider. 

All our events are open to members and non-members and through this new web site we hope to keep everyone informed of wildlife in and around Curry Rivel and to learn as much as possible from every day experiences of local wildlife.

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