Gisborne's gorse, Charnwood Lodge - 25/07/2008

Charnwood Lodge is one of my favourite reserves in VC55. It's a mixture of moorland, acid grassland and mixed woodland with the added bonus of a tall heathy hill, patches of sphagnum donimated wetland and a small reservoir. The species diversity here is great. The site also holds precambrian rocky outcrops with bomb rocks of great interest to geologists. Probably. The site is designated both a SSSI and a National Nature Reserve.

The map below roughly shows the key points on the reserve:
orange dot - bomb rocks close to reserve entrance
red dot - entrance to Gisborne's Gorse
yellow dot - Gisborne's Gorse (mixed woodland planted in late 19th century)
light blue dot - Colony Reservoir
dark blue dot - Marl Field
green dot - Timberwood Hill
purple dot - Heather Field



Over the years most of the above points have been trapped, but away from the main tarmac driveway requires a robust 4x4 or brute strength and perserverence. I tend to leave traps running overnight in Gisborne's Gorse due to ease of access, no disturbance from the hardy cattle that graze the open areas, and generally there are interesting species in the wood. The Marl Field and Timberwood Hill areas are well worth the effort occasionally though, with prime targets being Glaucous Shears and Fox Moth.


View from the entrance to Gisborne's Gorse, looking back into the reserve toward the woodland around Colony Reservoir.


The other side of the reserve viewed from Gisborne's Gorse entrance.


Geologically significant precambrian rocky outcrop with bomb rocks. Apparently.

I left 3 x 125W MV traps running overnight on 25th July, spread along the main ride through Gisborne's Gorse.



The total catch was a very respectable 1015 of 113sp., with by far the main highlight for me being my first Clouded Magpie.


Clouded Magpie - superb.

Highest counts included a ridiculous number of Buff-tips - never seen so many in one session.

Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 118
Common Footman (Eilema lurideola) 61
Blastobasis adustella 55
Buff-tip (Phalera bucephala) 53
Light Emerald (Campaea margaritata) 45
Small Fan-footed Wave (Idaea biselata) 40
Buff Footman (Eilema depressa) 40

Full list available on VC55 Moth Group for subscribers.

A few images of species recorded - click on them for bigger size.


Small Yellow Wave


Ypsolopha parenthesella


Leopard Moth


Muslin Footman


Narrow-winged Pug


Ghost Moth


September Thorn


Barred Red


Common Lutestring


Buff Footman


Dingy Shell


Dotted Clay