Newsletter no. 9 Winter 2003/2004
Edited by Colin W. Plant, Herts Moth Recorder
14 West Road, Bishops Stortford, CM23 3QP
tel/fax: 01279 507697 E-mail: colinwplant@ntlworld.com
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WELCOME
Regrettably there has not been a newsletter since last winter. As a consequence, some of
you may have been unaware of what has been going on. I am sorry for this, but
my work commitments and a change in personal circumstances have meant that time
was not available for writing a summer newsletter. We are, of course, primarily
a practical group – going out and looking at moths “in the field” . We have had
a full programme during 2003, with trips almost every weekend, but I am aware
that some of you cannot join us, for whatever reason, and to these people I
apologise for my silence. Members who have e-mail have been kept in touch
through occasional messages from me – if you have an e-mail address and have not
been getting these messages please do tell me so I can add you to the
electronic mailing list. We also have a telephone pyramid whereby the more
important messages (including changes or additions to the programme) get passed
down the line to members who do not have e-mail. If you feel that you are
missing out on this please telephone me and I will ensure that someone is
detailed to call you when messages are sent.
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THE INDOOR MEETING 2004
The Herts Moth Group only does two things: we run field trips to record and learn
about moths and, once a year, we have an informal indoor get-together. The next
annual indoor meeting will be held on Saturday 20th March 2004
at the Wheathampstead Development Centre, Butterfield Road,
Wheathampstead, Herts AL4 8PY. This is the same venue as the last meeting. The
centre may be found at grid reference TL 174133 and is marked on the OS
Explorer sheet 182 as a school. The meeting will run from 10 am to 5 pm. As
usual, the whole day will be informal, with more time wandering and less time
sitting down! However, we will have guest speakers in the morning. Phil
Sterling is one of the top British experts on micro moths. He will be
showing us how to have fun looking for micro moths – mostly without a light
trap and in many cases without actually seeing the moth! Confused? Don’t be –
Phil’s enthusiasm for the subject is bound to make this an interesting talk
even for those confirmed anti-micro people! We will also be having an informal
photographic presentation by our own member Geoff Senior – a
widely-travelled expert on British macro moths and a professional photographer.
It should be well worth getting up early for on a Saturday. The rest of the day will be informal. For the rest of the day, we invite displays of photos, posters, charts, specimens, books, paintings or whatever. There should be table space
and pin boards available in the room. I will hope to bring selected items from
my moth library again – especially books published since the last indoor
meeting. Jon Clifton (Anglian Lepidopterists’ Supplies) will be there
with a table full of mothing items for sale, including traps and generators.
However, if you want to buy anything big and bulky it would be wise to order in
advance as there is clearly a limit to the number of such items he can bring
“just in case”. Contact Jon on 01263-862068. Advance orders collected on the
day also save you postage! This year, Harley Books (publishers of the
multi-volume series Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland
as well as others, including the new pug book) will be selling their wares and
we are pleased to welcome Basil and Annette Harley, who will give a short
presentation on the publication of moth books. They are regulars at the Essex
meeting, but have never before ventured this far west! They will be bringing a
stock of books to sell, but advance ordering will avoid disappointment. Contact
them on 01206-271216 - mention the Herts Moth Group. The date is fixed put it in your diary
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OTHER WINTER MEETINGS TO GO TO
Essex Moth Group – annual indoor meeting — Saturday 28th February 2004 at the Venture 2000 Centre,
Lawford, Essex. This is on the A.137 near the junction with Cox’s Hill and Long
Road. Speakers include Adrian Riley (author of the new British pug book) and
Paul Waring (co-author of the new guide to moths in their resting positions).
Contact Brian Goodey (01206 – 841224) for more details.
Kent
Moth Group annual indoor
meeting Saturday 27th March 2003. Russel Hotel, Maidstone, 6.30
pm. Contact David Agassiz for details on 01474-332193 for details.
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