Wednesday 18th June 2025 - Bodster Equine, Godshill GG #1035

 Terry's photos

A local resident

Common Cockchafer (melolontha melolontha)

Oak Apple Gall Wasp Gall*

Southern Marsh-orchid

This week we were at Bodster Equine Assisted Learning Centre, on the outskirts of Godshill.  This is a centre for equine assisted learning where people develop skills, improve their self-esteem and awareness of behaviours. 

We were asked to help knock back the growth of bracken along the margins of a field.  In today’s heat this was quite a task.  A pathway was cleared through nettles to a field shelter.  The rest of the team (or those exhausted by bracken bashing) pulled ragwort from the rest of the field.  The sacks of ragwort were subsequently stored within the field shelter.

It was an extremely hot day and there were many butterflies in flight over the grasses – mainly Meadow Browns.  We also spotted quite a few Marbled Whites and possibly a Skipper.

* Oak galls (see photo above) have been historically used in the production of iron gall ink - from the Middle Ages to the early 20thC it was the main medium used for writing in the Western world (Wikipedia). 

Thank you to Terry for the photos.