Jan 022008
Paul is having a well earned break from removing tree guards from young oak trees. Two members of this work group remember collecting acorns from the existing wood and growing them on in pots. The oak whips were planted out about 10 years ago. The oak and bramble scrub is now full of breeding whitethroats in the spring. Many insect species are attracted by oak. Recently a study of a species of moth that feeds on oak leaves was carried out on these young trees at Northward Hill. The moth is quite common but during the study a rare parasitic hymenopteran wasp was found attacking the moth caterpillars. These trees are only the second known location for this species in Britain!
By the way. Paul would like it to be known that he is not responsible for the damage to the RSPB truck.