Creatures of the Night

 

Most stories that begin with darkness falling over a cemetery lead into a tale of the supernatural, after all it is a scene seen in countless horror movies. Choosing the name, Creatures of the Night for the first event to be held by Falmouth and Penryn Nature Wanders in Falmouth’s Victorian cemetery in part gave a nod to this connection. However it also aptly described the evening activities than ran from 1930 until 23.00.

The idea for the event came from Madeleine Fabusova who is researching moths at the nearby University of Exeter’s campus at Tremough. She was assisted during the evening by five friends from the university’s Ecology Society.

Preparation entailed hanging a special blue light on one of the white side walls of the chapel and placing a moth trap nearby. As the start time approached people started to arrive and soon a crowd had gathered by the chapel’s entrance. It was a drop in event and new people joined us throughout the evening and overall the event was very well attended.

Madeleine began the evening with a description of the evening events and a short introduction to moths. I followed this with short talk on nocturnal parasitic wasps with occasionally will be found in moth traps. This led me onto the one of the most impressive parasitic wasps, the American Tarantula Hawk wasp which included my impersonation of its dance that confuses the spider. It has to be seen to be believe and here is an excellent video. 

With darkness falling moths began to land on the chapel wall and once settled they became remarkably docile allowing people to see them close up. There really was some stunning looking moths and each was named by Madeleine or one of the other experts.

With more people arriving, Madeleine led the gathered people to look at the moth trap giving an explanation of how it worked while examining the moths inside. After this she and friends used torches and nets to collect moths as they led the group on a circular route using the cemetery paths.

While this was happening I was left on my lonesome to keep an eye on the light on the chapel wall while trying to ignore the fact that this situation usually doesn’t end well in films. I was understandably happy to greet new people arriving.

By the time Madeleine and her group returned an impressive number of moths had settled on the chapel walls. During the evening a total of 28 different species were recorded, see the video for a complete list. 

From the way people responded, the interest seen and the positive feedback received it was a very successful evening. With the arrival of Autumn moth activity decreases and so it will not be until next spring that the next one will held in the cemetery.

A big thank you to the members of the University of Exeter’s Ecology Society (Finley, Alex, James and James and Ben) for their assistance with the event.

Hopefully over the winter Madeleine will write a post for the blog describing her interest in moths and the research that she is carrying out.

Falmouth leading the way with easy access to section of South West coast path

 Although the South West Coastal path runs for 630 miles the only part allowing access that meets all the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act is found in Falmouth. Not only does this allow wheelchair users all year round access to the stunning views across Falmouth Bay, it also enables other users such as young families with prams and buggies to enjoy the scenery as well.

This unique section that runs from Falmouth’s Gyllyngvase beach to the viewing platform above Swan Pools was created in 2022. The project was a partnership of Natural England and Cormac with inputs from Cornwall Disabled, Penny Hodgson, Cormac's Countryside Ranger for the west and the Boscawen Fields Group.

Construction work that included the widening of the original footpath to allow two wheelchairs to pass each other was carried out by Cormac. The project also included the installation of new benches with adjacent space for a wheelchair to allow people to rest and take in the view.

The Boscawen Fields Group since its inception in 2014 have raised an amazing £52,500 to fund various projects that have enabled a wider range of people to enjoy the area. These include creating steps with stainless steel handrails to improve access from Boscawen Road into two of the fields that lead down to the coastal path.

The group has also funded the placement of wooden seats in two fields with a further two on the coastal footpath. Sitting on one of these on one lucky day I spotted a pod of dolphins or porpoises jumping in the Bay, a truly magical sight.

Offering panoramic views of the coast and sea, this area is a very popular part of Falmouth, with two of the fields being a favourite place for dog walkers to exercise their dogs. One field is kept dog free and in this the group funded the installation of three stone picnic tables and benches.

As well as their impressive record of fundraising, the group also carries out a variety of tasks themselves. The group meets on the first Saturday of each month to carry out litter picking and work on other projects in the Boscawen Road fields and along the coastal path.

In addition to enhancing the area for the local community and visitors alike, the group has also been involved in work to benefit wildlife such as the creation of the native perennial wildflower areas in 2019 as part of the charity Buglife’s Urban Buzz project.

This year the group has undertaken the creation of wildflower areas alongside part of the new coastal path and from the photos who can see that they are a mass of colour. Sitting on the nearby bench I witnessed the enthusiastic reaction of walkers as they came upon them, many stopping to admire and take photographs.

Just as importantly was the constant attention they were receiving from a variety of insects such as butterflies together with both bumblebees and solitary bee species. Taking an ecological view, I was equally pleased to see a nearby hedgerow covered in bindweed flowers. Not everyone’s favourite wildflower but one that has evolved for millions of years playing its part in the web of life.

The roles that our urban green spaces play is also changing and are much more varied today than twenty years ago. Many local residents have been persuaded by people such as David Attenborough who ended Planet Earth II with the words, “It's surely our responsibility to do everything within our power to create a planet that provides a home not just for us, but for all life on Earth”.

However, we live in one of the most nature depleted countries in the world, we have lost more biodiversity than any G7 country, and we are in the worst 10% globally. Perhaps surprisingly, many towns now have more varieties of bee species than are found in the nearby countryside. So, adapting our green spaces can play an important part in helping wildlife to survive and hopefully one day to recover.

Although the Boscawen Fields Action Group is relatively small in size it has accomplished some impressive achievements. With support from our town council, its activities help to care for and protect this beautiful area of Falmouth for locals, visitors and Nature.

LINKS:

Boscawen Fields Action Group’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile/100076476815163

Falmouth Nature Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/falmouth.nature.uk

Falmouth Nature Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/falmouth_nature/

Falmouth Nature Twitter: https://twitter.com/FalmouthNature

Exploring Falmouth's Victorian cemetery with Brigit Strawbridge-Howard and Chloe Eathorne - Part Three

 

As explained earlier, the camera crew followed Brigit and Chloe as they chatted and explored the cemetery. We started recording when we came upon an interesting location or a subject came up in the conversation that we wanted to share with the viewer. Filming a single take without rehearsal allows for spontaneity and I would argue more authentic film.

After about a hour in the cemetery we reached the spot where I hoped we would find two of the cemetery’s rarer bee species, the Big Headed Mining Bee and its cuckoo bee, the Long Horned Nomad Bee. With no sign of these bees, the conversation moved to how much bird song we were hearing and we started recording.

Chloe has a deep interest in the beneficial effects connecting with the natural world can have for our physical and mental wellbeing. A poet and journalism student at Falmouth University she presents and producers the Wildflower Hour on our community radio channel, Source FM. An hour long show with an eclectic mix of feel good indie tunes alongside discussing all things art, poetry and mental health. See link below to listen to past episodes.

She is part of a circle of talented artists that are inspired by the Cornish landscape and the natural world. I used the word artist in its widest sense to encompass all the arts and that use traditionally and new methods creatively. Examples of the new work being produced in Cornwall can be found at the Keskorra website, see link below.

Brigit is one of those people who radiate their passion and curiosity for the natural world through her talks, writings and social media. As you probably imagine spending time with Brigit in a wonderful location for wildlife such as our cemetery was an absolute joy.

The morning past quickly as we explored and chatted and the time came to say our goodbyes. I asked Brigit to step in front of the camera for one last time and give her thoughts on her visit.

Our series of videos have focused on how the maintenance of the cemetery benefits wildlife and the benefits this can have for visitors. Feedback on social media for this approach is overwhelmingly supportive. The cemetery is also a place for remembrance and the maintenance team are now cutting paths to graves they can identify as being regularly visited. Over time the cutting and walking on these pathways will make them more easily identifiable.

 

Links

To buy a signed copy of Dancing with Bees from Brigit visit:

 http://beestrawbridge.blogspot.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/B_Strawbridge

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brigitstrawbridge1/

 

To listen to episodes of The wildflower Hour visit:  https://www.mixcloud.com/THEWILDFLOWERHOUR/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Thewildflowerhr

Instagram: www.instagram.com/thewildflowerhour/

Keskorra means ‘to assemble’ in the Cornish language, to discover more visit:  https://keskorra.co.uk/

Exploring Falmouth's Victorian cemetery with Brigit Strawbridge-Howard and Chloe Eathorne - Part Two

 

The woodpile to end all woodpiles

Quite a bit of organising had occurred beforehand to arrange for everyone to be at the same place at the same time with the gear checked and batteries fully charged. However the plan for what was to follow was deliberately less detailed to allow for more spontaneity between Brigit and Chloe and allow the conversation to take its own path. Nothing was rehearsed, there were no second takes.

I guided the group around the cemetery and as we walked we all chatted together, only when we started filming did Jon recording the sound and myself with the camera fall silent – well largely so, I did add a snippet of information in the next video.

Simon Penna, the Grounds and Facilities Manager for Falmouth Town Council has an understanding of the ecological value of deadwood. In our Kimberley Park he left a dead Ash tree standing for years that became home to a variety of insects and a nest site for Blue Tits until its state of decay made it unsafe. There are still two tree trunks that have been left in the park.

This approach is still uncommon, so as I led Brigit towards a Pine tree that had fallen in a storm, I expected them to be surprised, as they approached it I switched the camera on and pressed record.   

What delights me about this video is that it revealed to me a different way of experiencing the cemetery. In fact I have to say when visiting the cemetery I usually focus on its parts and slip into cameraman/photographer mode or concentrate on its insects and wildflowers. When I do sit down for a break my mind tends to work through the changes I have seen and sort them into positives and negatives. How much is the ever expanding area being taken over by three cornered leeks becoming a problem, being one example. 

So to listen to the conversation flow from exploring the holes bored into the trunk, to childhood memories and then onto the benefits being in nature can bring to our wellbeing was for me, quite magical.

As we continued our walk we bumped into two researchers from the University of Exeter's campus at nearby Penryn checking nest boxes that had been recently been installed by the Cornish Jackdaw project. For more information see the link below.

Lois, one of the researchers, agreed to give Chloe an overview of why they were in the cemetery and to demonstrate how they checked the nest boxes without using a ladder.

Links

To buy a signed copy of Dancing with Bees from Brigit visit: http://beestrawbridge.blogspot.com/

The wildflower Hour: https://www.mixcloud.com/THEWILDFLOWERHOUR/

The Cornish Jackdaw Project: https://www.wildcognitionresearch.com/cornish-jackdaw-project

Exploring Falmouth's Victorian cemetery with Brigit Strawbridge-Howard and Chloe Eathorne - Part One

Falmouth's Victorian cemetery in Spring.

It was a search to see an Ivy Bee that first led me to the older parts of Falmouth cemetery and I was not disappointed, I found both ivy and bees. This was back in 2014 and since then it has become a special place and a passion project for me.

During 2015 I began recording some of the insects in the cemetery with a focus on the solitary bee, bumblebee and solitary wasp species to be found there. The highlight was the discovery of the nationally rare cuckoo bee, Nomada hirtipes that has few records in Cornwall. Although it was the number and variety of species to be found there that equally signifies its value for wildlife.

By 2016 responsibility for the maintenance had passed to Falmouth Town Council. This prompted me to write a booklet (Nature in a sacred place: Falmouth cemetery) detailing its value with a list of species I had recorded there and my thoughts on its maintenance.

The council responded positively and this has led to an ongoing conversation with Simon Penna, the Grounds and Facilities Manager. For me this has been both an education and a pleasure to see how he and his teams have both adapted some of my ideas and innovated  their own. The result of their work can be seen in the cemetery today.

It may surprise you but all of this is not the result of a lifetime interest in bees and the natural world. For most of my life it was photography that was my passion and this led me into a career in television.

Like many people who up to attending one of Brigit’s talks or reading her book, Dancing with Bees, I only knew of honeybees and bumblebees. Filming an interview after a talk she gave at Garden Organic in 2013 opened the door on a much bigger world that is all around us yet mostly overlooked. For the first time I heard of solitary bees and that we have more than one type of bumblebee.

While I walked away from the talk more knowledgeable about bees, even more amazing things were to follow. Visiting my veg patch in my garden bees were appearing all over it and a variety of types too. Admittedly I later discovered quite a few were hoverflies, learning to tell the difference is something all beginners have to go through. Even so I was still seeing quite a few bees with three bumblebee species visiting a patch of chives in flower alone. To cap it all that summer I found four bumblebee nests. I still find watching workers returning to and leaving their nest fascinating and it gives me a real David Attenborough moment.

That autumn I moved down to Falmouth and after settling in, the following year I went out to discover Ivy Bees, found the cemetery and started a new chapter in my life. 

So ten years later when Brigit raised the possibility of visiting the cemetery this spring on Instagram I not only jumped at it, I rather cheekily asked if she would be happy to do some filming. After a phone chat we decided on filming interviews and I started to search for an interviewer. 

Chloe Eathorne as well as being a Cornish poet is also a journalism student who presents and produces The Wildflower Hour, a weekly radio show on Source FM. Having listened to her interview with sound Artist Justin Wiggan which I highly recommend (link at bottom of page) she seemed the ideal choice. Meeting with Chloe for a tea and chat we discussed ideas for the filming and the possibility of also using the audio to produce an episode of her radio programme. We settled on the idea of a relaxed walk around the cemetery with a mix of interviews and conversations between Brigit and Chloe.

On the day of filming we all met by the chapel and once everyone had been introduced, Chloe and Bridget were fitted with radio microphones. After this technicality we began our walk around the cemetery giving time to the ladies to chat and get to know each while exploring the cemetery.  Even so it cannot have been easy to relax with a cameraman (me) and sound recordist (Jon GD Brown) ever present.

Brigit is an ambassador for Caring for God’s Acre, a non-religious charity that supports groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy churchyards and burial grounds. So for the first video interview we asked her about the charity and its work. 

 

 

Links

To buy a signed copy of Dancing with Bees from Brigit visit, http://beestrawbridge.blogspot.com/

The wildflower Hour: https://www.mixcloud.com/THEWILDFLOWERHOUR/

Caring for God’s Acre: https://www.caringforgodsacre.org.uk/