Open Gardens for Wildlife in Wellesbourne 2026
Open Gardens for Wildlife in Wellesbourne 2026 had a ‘Moths and Butterflies’ theme. Over the weekend of 16 and 17th May, 15 residential gardens were Open, including one front garden. Historic Chedham’s Yard and 7 plots at Wellesbourne Allotments were also Open. Proceeds came to over £900 and £450 of this was donated to the Warwickshire Branch of Butterfly Conservation; the rest will stay in Wellesbourne for use in local Nature and Future Friendly Projects. Visitors enjoyed seeing the wide range of bio diverse and beautiful gardens, with many saying how they had been inspired by what they had seen to try some of our ideas at home!
We had a follow up Moth Morning on Sat 23 May when David Brown, local County Moth Recorder and Conservation Officer opened three light traps, which had been left in three different gardens over the night before. Included in the traps where some amazing Hawk moths, a Silver Cloud – a moth of National rarity and significance as it has spread north in recent years and we are one of the northernmost parts it is now being seen. Very exciting too, was the White Spotted Pinion, which was thought to be extinct in Warwickshire since 1979!! The reason for this extinction is most likely Dutch Elm disease. The moth needs mature Elm and can only travel up to 15km without Elm.
