Northern Update

The jewel in the crown here is Chambers Farm Wood, Lincolnshire, from which good numbers have been reported in the last two weeks. In particular, Toby Ludlow saw upwards of 26 there a couple of days ago, and his sighting of a magnificent lugenda ab has already been posted on this site. Richard Smyth has been following iris in Cotgrave Wood for a number of years, and, for the first time,  recorded double figures there. The Brownleys discovered iris in Sherwood Forest last summer: the last records were from about 40 years ago. They were able to follow larvae and pupae through this season, including observing emergences. We have only seen up to two or three adults each day, but this is such a vast forest, that we may well be missing some territories and assembly and breeding areas. Recently, the Brownleys found several eggs. The species is holding its own in Wellow Wood, although never more than three are seen in  a day.  Three more new habitats have been discovered in Nottinghamshire, bringing the number of known sites to six.  Lacking in this report is data from Leicestershire and Rutland, but this will be rectified soon. We still await a Derbyshire sighting!