On Saturday 8th June 2025 Hannah Sankey conducted a survey of insects in The Close. Hannah spotted the following; Asian Ladybird larvae; Common Marble moth; Fourteen-spotted Ladybird larvae; Common nettle-tap moth; Three spotted nettle bug; Cricket-bat orbweaver spider, hoverflies, shield bug nymph and aphids. We are very grateful to Hannah for conducting the survey and… Continue reading Insects in The Close
Category: The Close
The Close Information Board
We are very grateful to Tom Judd who has designed, made and installed a wonderful information board for The Close. This is a fantastic addition to The Close and will help passersby understand how the area is being managed to increase biodiversity. The board highlights the support we have received from the Wessex Water Foundation,… Continue reading The Close Information Board
No Mow May
No Mow May is a campaign started by the wild plant conservation charity Plantlife to encourage people to refrain from mowing their lawns during the month of May to allow wildflowers to bloom and support pollinators like bees and butterflies. It’s a simple way to increase biodiversity and contribute to a more sustainable ecosystem. Even… Continue reading No Mow May
Orchard Trees & Hedgerow Planted
March was a very busy month for Pitton Nature Trust (PNT), with significant activities in The Close and the Community Orchard & Nature Reserve. In the autumn a range of native bulbs were planted in The Close and it is rewarding to see that some of the snowdrops and crocuses have emerged. Our next… Continue reading Orchard Trees & Hedgerow Planted
Orchard Trees in The Close
A wonderful tree planting event took place on 12th March. Part of the grant funding from the Coronation Living Heritage Orchard fund, which celebrates the coronation of King Charles III, enabled us to purchase five trees to create a small orchard in The Close. The saying is that you plant trees for future generations, so… Continue reading Orchard Trees in The Close
The Close – Bughouse
A bughouse has now been installed in The Close with the aid of Pitton Guides who collected materials to be put into the structure. Bughouses are great for increasing biodiversity. They benefit lots of different types of invertebrates such as ladybirds, bees, spiders and woodlice. They are able to overwinter, or breed or spend their lives… Continue reading The Close – Bughouse
The Close – Annual Report
As part of The Close long-term management agreement Pitton Nature Trust has with Pitton and Farley Parish Council we provide an Annual Report on the work we have conducted to create a biodiverse habitat in The Close. The 2024 Annual Report was presented to the Parish Council at their meeting on Wednesday 22nd January 2025.… Continue reading The Close – Annual Report
The Close Management Plan
We have developed a five year management plan for The Close which is regularly updated. If you would like to help us deliver this plan or to volunteer with the charity please get in touch by emailing us on contact@pittonnaturetrust.org.uk Here is the latest version of the plan which can be viewed and downloaded.
Native Bulb and Wildflower Planting
On a autumnal day at the end of October some trustees and volunteers gathered on The Close to do a bit of tidying up before the onset of the winter. A few weeks earlier most of the long grass was topped with some areas of Knapp Weed left for the birds to feed on the… Continue reading Native Bulb and Wildflower Planting
Butterflies in The Close
During 2024 local resident Carole Smith has been conducting regular surveys of the butterflies in The Close. Here are some of her pictures and details of what she has seen. Meadow Brown (Red List – Threatened) The Meadow Brown is a very common medium sized butterfly. Male and female are similar though the male is… Continue reading Butterflies in The Close