Hello John, we understand that you set up a moth trap in St. Mary’s graveyard the night before your event. Can you tell us more?
Although many people overlook them, moths are numerous and widespread, with over 2,500 species in Britain living in a wide range of habitats. They are a major part of our biodiversity and play a vital role in the ecosystem, affecting many other types of wildlife. Sadly, moths are declining in the UK, and studies have found that the overall number of moths has decreased by 28% since 1968. The situation is particularly bad in Southern Britain, where moth numbers are down by 40%. These alarming decreases in moth populations are not just bad news for the moths themselves but also have worrying implications for the rest of our wildlife. Moths and caterpillars are important food items for many other species, including amphibians, small mammals, bats, and many bird species. Moth caterpillars are especially important for feeding young chicks, including those of familiar garden birds such as the Blue Tit, Great Tit, Robin, Wren, and Blackbird.
On the evening of Tuesday, June 11th, I set up a moth trap in St. Mary’s graveyard. The trap consisted of a UV lamp suspended over a box into which the moths fly. Tuesday evening, weather-wise, was not ideal—wet and windy rather than warm and calm. Nevertheless, with the help of my book on moths, Oak Class was able to identify six different species that I had collected and placed in glass jars for the children to examine and identify up close. The children were so taken with the experiment that they are hoping to set up their own moth bucket trap at school!
Jan Burditt talked to the children about the ancient yew trees in St. Mary’s graveyard. How did that go? What makes these trees so special?
Trees, and the yew in particular, symbolize nature’s power of renewal, the cycle of the seasons, birth, death, and new birth. The yew remains a symbol of eternity in Christianity. There are four yew trees in St. Mary’s graveyard, and in 2008, the Ancient Yew Group designated the most ancient yew as a Great Tree of Devon with the following comment:
“The yew is thought to be of similar age to the church tower, giving it an estimated planting date of c.1300. There is no reason why this should not be so, though it cannot be proved. What we do know is that several feet of soil piled up against the tree in 1825 conceals the original base, which might be much larger in girth than today’s 14-foot measurement.”
Jan talked to the children about yew trees in literature, showing them a photograph of the north porch door at St. Edward’s Church, Stow-on-the-Wold, reputed to be Tolkien’s inspiration for the Doors of Durin in ‘Lord of the Rings.’ Jan then explained to the children how to measure old trees to estimate their likely age.
Billy Leach led a session on medicinal plants, which seems like a fascinating topic. How did the children respond?
They were incredibly curious! We explored the medicinal and folk properties of common plants like daisies, herb Robert, elderflower, dandelions, self-heal, and ribwort plantain. The children were amazed to learn that these plants could be used for healing. Billy also emphasised the importance of being well-informed before collecting and using any herbs. The children compared hogweed, elderflowers, and cow parsley flowers to see how difficult it is to tell some plants apart.
