THRIVING biodiversity at Ryton Pools Country Park has resulted in one of its best ever years for rare and surprising moth discoveries.
Over 650 different species were found at the Warwickshire park, which has been the subject of a moth survey for the past 12 years.
The elusive Dusky Clearwing was spotted at Ryton Pools last July – just the fourth ever seen in Warwickshire.The main highlight was the recording of the northernmost modern-day record in the UK of the elusive Dusky Clearwing – a species previously thought extinct in the UK since 1924, until one was recorded in the county in 2021.
A male was spotted at Ryton Pools last July – just the fourth ever seen in Warwickshire.
The Warwickshire Country Parks team says the discoveries highlight the importance of their ongoing conservation efforts – such as their decision to maintain and improve stands of the nectar-rich shrub Broom, which has helped the scarce Light Brocade moth to flourish at the park.
The scarcely recorded Obscure Snout, another Broom-feeding moth, was recorded for the second year in a row.
Other notable larger species seen for the first time in 2023 included the first Lesser Cream Wave seen in Warwickshire for 23 years, and species currently spreading due to climate change such as Cypress Carpet, Nut-tree Tussock and the Dark Crimson Underwing.
Some 24 new micro-moths were also uncovered, including only the third sample of the Treble-spot for Warwickshire and the unusual Poplar Gelechia, the first example seen in Warwickshire for 123 years.
Following a site visit, the Chair of Butterfly Conservation Warwickshire said the work of the Ryton Pools team was ‘outsdtanding’.
Volunteer Conservation Officer Mike Slater said: “To say that they exceeded my expectations would be a gross underestimation of their exemplary work. The work that they are doing to turn around the county’s – and country’s – bio-diversity loss is well above the norm.”
Warwickshire County Council’s environment spokeswoman Coun Heather Timms added: “The council’s Country Parks service works tirelessly to make our green spaces the best they can be for both wildlife and visitors.
“It’s wonderful to see the positive effects of their efforts on biodiversity, and to have these recognised by multiple partner organisations.
“I look forward to hearing more about their conversation work and habitat creation, and hope there will be many more exciting discoveries as a variety of species is able to flourish.”
Visit www.countryparks.warwickshire.gov.uk for more information about Warwickshire’s Country Parks.
