The Habitat Group encourage people to plant Nottingham Catchfly to save White Spot Moth

Some of you may remember that last year The Habitat group encouraged us to plant the beautiful, night-flowering Nottingham Catchfly in our gardens. The idea springs from the Devon Local Nature Partnership, who have drawn up a list of threatened plants and animals that we in Devon might have some chance of helping survive.

The UK is, believe it or not, one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world and although that thought is depressing and a little overwhelming, there are small things we can all do.

It has been recently discovered that moths may well be as important, or even more important than bees as pollinators. The plan lists several moths but we are chiefly concerned here with the White Spot moth for whom Nottingham Catchfly is the sole food plant. The White Spot moth is on the verge of extinction in the UK but Devon is one of the areas where small populations are thought to cling on.

The Habitat Group are trying to rear (and encourage people to buy and grow) the Nottingham Catchfly plant and distribute it to as many willing gardeners as possible in the South Hams and beyond. If you would like to receive some of these plants, please contact suehadow@gmail.com. 

If you’d like to join the Habitat Group, please email coordinator John at jsanightingale@gmail.com

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