News from the Commons
28th July 2026
Lets talk moths!
Poor moths. They really don’t get very good publicity. They’re blamed for holes in our favourite woollen jumpers, dismissed as ugly brown blobs that flap around lamps and windows at night, and are generally seen as the less attractive cousins of butterflies. But is that reputation really deserved?
Michael Blencowe, our favourite naturalist, popped along to Rusthall Common over the Summer holidays to help dispel the myths. He set two moth traps near the Common overnight and invited the community along, early the next morning, to survey the results at our very first “moth breakfast” event. (And, given its huge success, it certainly won’t be our last!).
Moth Breakfast success
A fountain of knowledge, Michael explained that the UK is home to around 2,500 species of moths, compared with only about 60 species of butterflies. And in fact only a handful of moth species are responsible for damage to clothing, and it’s actually their larvae (caterpillars), not the adult moths, that do the eating.
Moth traps are designed to attract moths with light and provide them with a safe place to rest until they’re identified and released. And instead of ugly brown blobs, we were wowed by the variety and beauty of the moths waiting inside. Among the species recorded were black arches, light crimson underwing, ear moth, brimstone, lobster moth, rosy footman, blood vein and the most beautiful of all (in my opinion), the elephant hawkmoth….who seemed to enjoy sitting on people’s noses!
What a beauty, the elephant hawkmoth
No moths were harmed or eaten during the moth breakfast event, although we did discover that they were very partial to doughnuts.
All of our fantastic events are available to book on our website here: EVENTS, I may be a little biased, but I can’t recommend them highly enough for the whole family, the young and young at heart.
And finally we have our volunteering session on Rusthall Common on Saturday (1st August) between 10am and 12 noon, meeting at the entrance to Happy Valley, just off the A254, please do come along if you can.
Love it. Care for it. Volunteer!
Can you see me?
