This month we focus on two well-known groups of flying insects: hoverflies and dragon- and damselflies, why they are the gardener’s friend, and how we can encourage them in our outdoor spaces.

HOVERFLIES

These are among the most important of our beneficial insects, pollinating plants (they are the second most important pollinators after bees) and keeping pests (eg aphids) under control. Sadly, like many other important pollinators, they are in trouble, with numbers declining by 44% from 1980-2022 due to intensive agriculture, urban development and climate change. Some hoverflies have great names like grey-backed snout, superb ant-hill hoverfly and orange-belted leaf-licker! Others are impressive mimics, particularly of wasps and bees, eg the bumblebee plumehorn, the hornet hoverfly and the common dronefly.

To date, nearly 300 species of hoverfly have been recorded in the UK and, as their name indicates, their main behavioural characteristic is their ability to hover with a darting flight. All of them are nectar feeders, and they are especially fond of umbellifers (plants with many tiny flowers on stalks like cow parsley and ammi). Their larvae occupy a wide variety of habitats and include predators, scavengers and vegetarians.

To illustrate the wide range of hoverfly behaviour, here are some examples:

The bumblebee plumehorn: a great bumblebee mimic, lays its eggs in bumblebee nests where the larvae feed on dead bee larvae.

The ant-hill hoverfly: the larvae of this superb hoverfly develop inside ant nests, eating aphids and being tended by the ants.

The batman hoverfly (named for the mark on its thorax): its larvae live in water-filled containers including holes in trees.

TWO WAYS TO ENCOURAGE HOVERFLIES

Make a hoverfly lagoon

Some hoverflies breed in stagnant puddles, and one way to mimic this is to fill a small container with lawn clippings and leaves. This won’t look pretty (and will smell) but it is an effective breeding grounds for hoverfly larvae. (Information from Dave Goulson).

Grow hoverfly-friendly plants

Viburnum opulus (guelder rose), Rubus fruticosus (blackberry), Phacelia (fiddleneck), heather and ivy are all good sources of nectar and pollen for hoverflies. (Information from the RHS.)

DRAGONFLIES AND DAMSELFLIES

Wherever there is fresh water, dragonflies (anisoptera) and damselflies (zygoptera) abound. Their two main distinguishing features are that dragonflies rest with their wings fully extended whereas damselflies often rest with their wings closed vertically above their bodies. Both have two sets of wings, whereas hoverflies have one. Damselflies tend to be weaker fliers with relatively slender bodies and smaller eyes. Frequently seen damselflies are the large red, blue-tailed, common blue and banded demoiselle.

There are three main categories of dragonflies: hawkers, darters and chasers. Hawkers remain airborne for long periods often patrolling a particular beat such as a hedgerow or stream. Some of the most encountered hawkers are the emperor, the southern, common and brown hawkers.

Darters spend much of their time on a perch – darting out when prey approaches.

Chasers also spend much of their time on a perch and have the broadest bodies of the dragonfly family. Commonly seen darters and chasers are the common darter (striking red body) and the broad- bodied and four-spotted chaser.

The life cycle of both dragon and damselflies requires water, which is one of the reasons why the addition of a pond, however small, is key to creating a wildlife-friendly garden.

Courtship and copulation are too complex to explain here but some readers may have observed the contorted positions which mating pairs assume (copulation wheel and tandem position). Eggs may be simply dropped into the water or washed off as the female dips her abdomen in flight. Some damselflies go right down into the water to lay their eggs on plant stems.

The nymphs mature in water and are voracious eaters consuming a wide range of other aquatic creatures by impaling them on spines at the end of an extremely extensile lower jaw known as the mask. Most damselflies complete their life cycle in one year, but dragonflies can take anything up to five years, especially in cooler regions. Bill vM

Two ways to encourage dragonflies and damselflies

Create a garden pond, however small. Even a small washing-up bowl or similar will attract both insects.

Fill it with a variety of native aquatic plants. Dragonflies particularly welcome oxygenating plants to provide oxygen for their larvae and floating plants to conceal them. Tall plants like flag iris will provide perching, roosting and egg-laying sites. (Information from WWT.)

WRIGGLY WONDERS, July newsletter

‘It may be doubted whether there are many other animals which have played so important a part in the history of the world, as have these lowly, organised creatures.’ Charles Darwin on earthworms, 1881

Our soil is home to half of Earth’s species, from beetles and springtails (tiny wingless insects), to worms, spiders, nematodes, and billions of other microorganisms. These creatures are part of a diverse ecosystem and help keep soils healthy. Healthy soils are vital for combatting climate change, feeding the planet’s population, and stopping flooding and drought.

Earthworms play an incredibly vital role in recycling nutrients, improving soil structure, and providing a food source for other species in the food chain. They eat up to their own body weight in food every day, feasting on dead plants, fallen leaves, fungi, bacteria, and even dead animals, breaking down and recycling organic matter in the process. This naturally fertilises the earth and packs it with vital nutrients. Wormcasts (worm poo) have five times more nitrogen, seven times more phosphorus, and one thousand times more beneficial bacteria than the original soil.

Worms loosen, mix, and oxygenate the soil as they burrow channels, leaving space for water to be drained away from the surface and stored. In the process, they help clean up contaminated land by detoxifying polluted environments and provide a protein-rich source of food for other species such as birds, hedgehogs, and frogs. Many birds rely on earthworms as a food source, but hotter, drier summers reduce the availability and the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) link the decline in thrushes, starlings and waders to long-term changes in their food.

But sadly, earthworm populations have reduced by a third in the last 25 years. Some reasons for the decline are poor agricultural practices, extensive drainage, pesticide use, inorganic fertilisers, climate change and lack of monitoring. If earthworm populations continue to drop, the BTO suggests that the decline in numbers would sit alongside ‘insectaggedon’ and the wider biodiversity crisis.

Fortunately, there are things we can do to help the worms. We can adopt ‘no-dig’ methods, leaving organic matter on the surface (chop & drop), adding manure and compost, ditching chemicals, and using a blanket of organic mulch to keep the soil moist and cool for our earthworms.

Celia D

HEDGEROW WALK REPORT AND SURVEY

Around 15 people took part in the Cradley Wild hedgerow on a sunny day in May. We started by looking at the hedges at Lutian House and discussing the value of the shape and structure of the hedges and the various trees and shrubs, in particular the benefits of using indigenous plants such as Oak, Blackthorn, Hawthorn and Field Maple. We then explored the hedges of the lower end of Vines End Lane, looking not just at the hedgerow, but the margin between the hedge and the road. This is an area that supports small mammals such as mice and shrews. We found that on the whole, the hedges were in good condition with a good variety of plants in both the hedges and the margins.

There is a lot more to do to get a measure of the quality of each hedgerow, and we are planning to start surveying in earnest this summer, while leaves are present to make plant identification easier. Please email flemings5@googlemail.com if you would be interested in taking part.

Patrick F

DO YOU HAVE A PLANTER FOR POLLINATORS?

It is really pleasing to walk around the village and see the 110 planters full of pollinator-friendly plants and watching them bloom and flourish. It’s even more exciting to see insects feasting on the nectar in these wayside food-stations.

If you have planted up a pot or container as part of the campaign, don’t forget to take a photograph of it when it is at its loveliest. This will serve not just as a record but will enable you to enter the village Produce Show in September and win a handsome trophy.

These are the categories to keep in mind:

1. Best planter planted by 11-year-olds and under.

2. Best planter for insects (photograph your favourites on the planter).

3. People's Choice (voted for by visitors to the show on the day)

Please make sure your planter number is clearly visible. All entries to be submitted electronically. More details to follow.

HOORAY FOR HORNETS, June newsletter

Mentioning the word ‘hornet’ is probably enough to put shivers up many peoples’ spines. Their sheer size plus the knowledge that their sting packs a wallop is enough to trigger this reaction, but hornets don’t deserve this fearsome reputation. They are no more aggressive than bumblebees and will only sting to defend their nests.

Some years ago, a friend discovered a hornet nest at the entrance to his woodland workshop and was deliberating what, if any, action to take. I suggested he read up about them and, once he had, he decided not to interfere. To enter his workshop, people had to cross the hornets’ flight path and the only ‘person’ who got stung that entire summer was his dog who unwisely stuck her nose in the nest entrance! We quickly discovered that like moths, hornets are attracted to light. After a day’s work, we would sit under canvas with lanterns on the table watching several bobbing up and down under the canvas awning.

The UK (European) species of hornet is vespa crabro. Some years ago, a new species, the Asian (vespa velutina) sometimes known as yellow-legged, arrived in Europe and has now spread to the Channel Islands. It has a reputation for being much more aggressive than our native, but this isn’t true. The Asian hornet is easy to distinguish from our native which has a yellow abdomen and is significantly larger. The abdomen of the Asian is almost entirely dark as is the thorax and head.

The main problem with the Asian is its predilection for honeybees. They can loiter outside a hive picking oﬀ worker bees and eventually decimating the colony. This presents a real problem for bee keepers and we are to report any possible sightings of an Asian hornet nest.

The next time you have an encounter with a hornet, try to manage/suppress your fear

remembering they are no more aggressive than bumblebees and enjoy them for what they are and for the work they do as pollinators.

Bill vM

WILDFLOWER WALK REPORT

Jack-in-the-hedge, greater and lesser Celandine, wild garlic, stitchwort, dog’s mercury… These were just a few of the wildflowers spotted on a walk around the village with Ian Perry in May. Armed with a useful print-out of plants to identify, 20 wildflower enthusiasts set off on a voyage of discovery along Cradley’s verges, with Ian outlining botanical information of each, plus a scattering of folklore, along the way. With sun shining and the village’s hedgerows bursting with new growth, it proved to be a most enjoyable and informative way to spend an hour or so.

LET’S HEAR IT FOR OUR TOADS, May newsletter

‘The clever men of Oxford, know all that there is to be known but they none of them know one half as much as intelligent Mr Toad.’ Kenneth Grahame

It is rare for a toad to described adoringly or positively – they have long captured our imagination as warty, witches’ companions and used in spells – ‘ugly and venomous’ as Shakespeare said. But on these mild, Spring evenings along hedges, woods, gardens and marshes, common toads are marching to their breeding grounds. Unfortunatley, as with most wildlife, toads are struggling in our current hectic and fragmented world.

Toads need a healthy, undisturbed landscape where the soil is rich with worms and insects: where they can shelter throughout their lives and travel safely to their breeding ponds. Housing developments, road building, wetland drainage, over tidying, road traffic, soil and water pollution are just some of the challenges they face.

Wildlife corridors and inter-connectivity are key to success for all our wildlife, including the common toad. Toad paradise would be a mix of pools and wetlands, hedgerows, grasslands, shrubberies and woodlands with healthy soils and corridors of undisturbed habitat where they can travel undisturbed and safely. We notice them more in early Spring as they travel to their breeding grounds. Sadly, however, many become road casualties – we have lost two thirds of the toad population since 1985. High kerbs and drains cause additional problems.

This all sounds grim, but Froglife (a national charity) run local toad patrols and help around 130,000 toads cross safely to their breeding grounds each Spring. If you know of a toad crossing place locally and would like to help – please contact them www.froglife.org. The fortunate toads that make it to adulthood also need food and shelter. Log piles, allowing areas of long grass and vegetation to grow will help, as will a wildlife pond. This type of habitat will also encourage a much wider range of wildlife – orange tip butterflies breed on lady’s smock and dragonflies will colonise in ponds. Any of these things that you can do in your garden will help our depleted wildlife.

Jessie Moorehouse

Source: Brett Westwood, Worcestershire Wildlife Magazine

BIOABUNDANCE: a new term to help us understand species loss (and gain)

Most of us are familiar with the term ‘biodiversity’ and are aware that there are considerable concerns regarding its decline globally and particularly in the UK. But how many of us have heard of ‘bioabundance’? In some respects ‘bioabundance’ may be a more useful term than ‘biodiversity’. Let’s illustrate with an example.

Over 20 years ago, a well-regarded ecologist warned the Duke of Norfolk, whose estate borders on the South Downs, that he had recorded only 11 grey partridges and was concerned that the species was in serious decline. The Duke was determined not to let this happen on his watch. He significantly changed the way his estate is managed and today there are over 1,000 grey partridges. This is ‘bioabundance’ – the realisation that high numbers (always relative – think bitterns) indicate a thriving environment of a particular species. If one grey partridge had been seen it would have ticked the biodiversity box without providing any insight into the health of the population.

On a different but related subject it was gratifying to watch a recent episode of TV programme Countryfile which highlighted the successful reintroduction of some species (European beaver and crane) and efforts to curtail the decline of others (water voles, white clawed crayfish and sea grass).

Bill vM

Cradley Wild news April 2025

The recent glorious weather has had us all heading outside. As flowers start to open and blossom appears on trees, pollinators are also stirring, although their numbers are in serious decline. This month, Cradley Wild continues to work with Cradley WI on its Planters for Propagators campaign (see elsewhere in the Newsletter) and will be distributing starter kits at the school on 12 April from 10.30-12.30. If you can pot up a planter with pollinator-friendly plants, drop us a line at plantersforpollinators@gmail.com to register (no charge!).

Litter pick report

On Sunday 9 March, a group of us, litterpicks aloft, set off to collect litter from Cradley’s verges. Starting from Fincher’s Corner, we spread out along Chockbury Lane, up to Pixiefields and Malvern Oaks, along Bosbury Road and down to Poundbridge. An hour later, our purple bags were almost full of a mixture of rubbish including doggy bags, empty drink cans and old pizza boxes (70% of litter is food packaging, with more than two million pieces dropped in the UK every day). Look out for details of our next litterpick and join us to help keep Cradley free of unsightly and environmentally damaging rubbish.

Upcoming events

Wildflower walk, Saturday 26 April

Spring has sprung after a long, damp, grey winter. Few can fail to have noticed the nodding heads of snowdrops and the chorister ruffs of winter aconites which were then joined by some early daffodils and primroses. Some of these are ‘escapees’ – plants which have been introduced by humans – but some have been here far longer and are indicators of ancient landscapes; plants such as the delightful wood anemone that spreads at no more than six feet in a hundred years.

As spring continues to advance, there are more and more flowering plants to be seen. Many of these were welcomed as a source of food and nutrients at times when Waitrose was just a pipedream of Wallace Waite and Arthur Rose. Wild garlic is a good example and has a myriad of uses for the forager. Other useful and interesting plants flowering in spring include cowslip and garlic mustard (no relation to wild garlic). Join us on a short walk around the village verges when we hope to find all of these and more. Ian P

Don’t forget moths, March newsletter

Butterflies with their colourful wings and day-time flutterings, are such scene-stealers that it is easy to overlook their dowdier night-time cousins, the moths. Often dismissed as jumper- and carpet-destroyers, their poor rep is undeserved. They are also important pollinators and provide a vital food source for birds, spiders and bats. Some are even spectacularly lovely.

Moths are also relatively abundant (although their numbers are inevitably dwindling): the UK has around 2,500 species. Even a small garden can support over a hundred species if it has the right plants. Most gardeners are knowledgeable about the importance of growing plants for bees and butterflies, but many of us are unaware of the larval food plants of caterpillars (frequently native plants often dismissed as weeds such as nettles and Lady’s Bedstraw), or what nectar-rich flowers give moths enough energy to fly. Moths and their caterpillars also need fallen leaves, old stems and plant debris to help them hide from predators – another reason not to be too tidy in your borders.

What to grow to help the moth

As intensive agriculture has limited the habitat options of moths, it is more important than ever for gardeners to step up. Moths pollinate night-flowering plants and crops, taking up pollination duties when butterflies clock off. Most feed on flowers that open in the evening or become more heavily-scented at that time of day. There are plenty to choose from and if you grow a wide variety of plants, you will encourage a wider range of moths.

Nicotiana: adult moths access the tubular flowers with their long proboscis.

Evening Primrose: moths flock to their scent released at dusk.

Honeysuckle: a favourite of the Elephant Hawk-moth and the Twenty-plume moth

White campion: pollinated by the Lychnis moth.

Sweet rocket: attracts a wide range of moths.

Leaves for the caterpillars:

Foxgloves: loved by the Lesser Yellow Underwing and Angle Shades moths.

Lady’s bedstraw: food for caterpillars of the Hummingbird Hawk-moth, Elephant Hawk-moth and Bedstraw Hawk-moth

Mullein: irresistible to the caterpillar of the Mullein moth

Mint: munched by the caterpillars of the Mint moth and Plume moth

Planters for Pollinators: will you help make Cradley bloom this summer? February newsletter

As mentioned in last month’s Newsletter, Cradley Wild is collaborating with the WI to create 110 planters around the village to celebrate 110 years of the WI in the UK. The aim is to raise awareness of the loss of insect-friendly plants locally, and to work towards remedying this by filling 110 planters with pollen- and nectar-rich flowers.

We can’t do this alone so are calling on local people and local groups to pitch in to make Cradley bloom with flowers and buzz with insects. We are still in the initial stages of the campaign but would love to hear from any individuals or organisations willing to have a planter filled with pollinator-friendly plants in their front garden or on the roadside. Planters could be as small as a plant pot, a hanging basket, or a window box or something grander and more spectacular. Participants are to provide their own planters, but we hope to provide a starter pack and compost to help people get started. (If you don’t have a planter handy, still get in touch, we may be able to help.) Each planter will be numbered, and prizes for the best will be awarded at the Food and Produce Show in September. More details to follow as they are confirmed.

We are really excited about this project and would love to get as much of the local community involved as possible. Ideally, every road and every corner in Cradley will burst into bloom! If you are interested, drop us a line at

plantersforpollinators@gmail.com and help us to help nature.

Next Cradley Wild event: 13 February: Sally Webster, Verging on Wild

We are delighted that Sally has agreed to come and talk to us about the valuable work she and her team of volunteers are doing to protect and manage Herefordshire’s roadside verges. Roadside verge flora, including plants like harebell, field scabious and ragged robin, is vanishing. The way verges are cut, and the increasing fertility or roadside soils means that they are disappearing and weed species increasing. This is bad news for wildflower species and the populations of bees, beetles and butterflies that depend on them, and for the birds who eat these invertebrates.

Sally will explain what Verging on Wild is doing to reverse the decline, talk about the successes so far, and give us pointers on what we can do to boost our verges in Cradley. She started Verging on Wild with two friends and the way it has grown and the effect it had is inspirational, as is she! Looking forward to seeing you there.

Fantastic Mr Fungus, January 2025 Newsletter

For a number of years, I was one of the experts on Radio Shropshire’s gardening show. Being both a keen organic gardener and wildlife enthusiast was a good combination to answer most listener questions. Every autumn there were questions like, ‘there are mushrooms on my lawn/tree/greenhouse – how do I get rid of them?’

Hmmm. Public understanding of fungi is limited at best, often it’s blind fear – they poison us and surely will decimate the garden. While this might be true in limited cases, without fungi we are lost.

Helping plants grow

Virtually all plants (it’s estimated over 90%) rely on fungi. In, on and around plant roots are fungal threads that are masters of absorbing soil water and nutrients, which they share with plants. In return, plants’ superpower is to make sugars from photosynthesis, very handy for a hungry fungus!

Nature’s recyclers

Nature operates a ‘circular economy’ to use a modern buzz phrase. No resource is ever wasted, it is reused repeatedly. Plants and animals contain vital nutrients that need to be reprocessed after their death to feed new generations. This comprises everything from cattle turning grass into cow pats to feed insects, to worms disposing of leaves underground.

Fungi are exceptional recyclers, particularly of ‘hard to reach’ nutrients. Take trees. Not very many creatures can digest wood, except fungi. Without the ability of fungi to decompose wood, evolution would have come to a grinding halt.

A good time to die

Even the way fungi kill things can be a positive. This is most apparent in woodlands; in a thriving population it is best to have vigorous, healthy trees. If they are stressed through drought or age, some fungi can act as pathogens to quickly kill the tree allowing new ones to grow.

The answer’s in the soil

Fungi of all sorts thrive in uncultivated and unfertilised soil. What Arthur Hollins realised at Fordhall was that nature makes soil an excellent growing medium without human involvement. Over millions of years, it has evolved to be a perfect mix of minerals, bacteria, algae, microscopic animals and fungi best suited to the locality.

So, when mushrooms appear in your garden, rejoice! They are a clear sign of a healthy environment helping your plants to thrive; they are also saving you money on fertilisers.

Let’s hear it for fantastic fungi, the unsung heroes of the natural world.

John Hughes

John Hughes, formerly of the Shropshire Wildlife Trust and Radio Shropshire, has been a voluntary board member of charitable organisation Fordhall Community Land Initiative in Market Drayton for many years. The FCLI, England’s first community farm, was formed in 2006 and comprises about 8,000 shareholders. Shares (£50) are still available and help support the organisation’s many activities and community-benefit projects including the Farm Kitchen cafe, the Youth Project, Care Farm, school visits, volunteering, conservation works, farm trails, tours, yurt clamping, family parties, weddings and seasonal community events. To find out more please visit: fordhallfarm.com

Nature Quiz

It was great to see so many at the Nature Quiz on Thursday 9th January 2025. A big thanks to Paul M for his splendid quiz master work, even if it did expose many gaps of knowledge! And congratulations to the team with the unpronounceable Finnish name who were the glorious victors.

Planters for Pollinators:

The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness of the loss of insect-friendly plants locally, and to work towards remedying this by filling 110 planters with pollen- and nectar-rich flowers. We are still in the initial stages but would love to hear if you can fill a palnter with pollinator-friendly plants in your front garden or on the roadside. Planters could be as small as a plant pot, a hanging basket, or a window box or something bigger. We hope to provide a starter pack and compost if needed to help people get started. (If you don’t have a planter handy, we may be able to help with that, too.) Each planter will be numbered, and prizes for the best will be awarded at the Food and Produce Show in September. More details to follow as they are confirmed.

We are really excited about this project and would also love to get as many of the local community involved as possible. Ideally, every road and every corner in Cradley will burst into bloom! Tell your neighbours! Let us know if you can take part at plantersforpollinators@gmail.com

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