NEWTON St Cyres Gardening Club was delighted to welcome new visitors to its meeting on Wednesday, February 7.

Many had travelled from outside the village and were welcomed with a cup of tea and biscuits and a warm clubroom at the Parish Hall.

To make the evening a complete success our speaker gave us a fascinating talk, accompanied by an amazing slide show, on Butterflies, Moths and Gardens.

David Price comes from Bridford where he has a wildlife meadow near his home and is very enthusiastic about the woodlands near his home and the wildlife he finds so close. In fact David had spent the previous day helping to ring and register oyster catchers at Dawlish Warren – in the freezing cold!

David explained that lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) are quite easy to identify once you grasp the basic differences.

Did you know that butterflies have antenna with bulges on the ends and moths have straight antenna – that “lepidoptera” means wings and scales and close up the tiny scales can be seen on the wings – that one species of micro moth can hover upside down to suck the nectar from trailing plants such as fuchsia and docks and nettles are favourite food for some species?

We saw the life cycle of caterpillars turning into beautiful butterflies and close up pictures of moths who can disguise themselves as frightening looking “monsters” to ward off prey. The photographs were stunningly beautiful.

David explained that there are really only 16 species of butterflies that we need to remember in our gardens – the same number as a rugby team plus their manager or the number of contestants on “Strictly”!

The Club has an interesting programme of speakers and outings planned for 2018.

In April Bert Jewell will come and talk about Vegetable Growing, in September we will welcome Derrick Dyer from Eggesford Garden Centre to talk about Spring Bulbs and in November Alan French will be talking about Autumn into Winter.

Our outings this year include a visit to RHS Rosemoor in June, to John West’s Nursery in July (with one of his famous cream teas), a visit to NGS gardens in Moretonhampstead in August and lunch at Eggesford Garden Centre in October.

Details of all these meetings and outings will appear in the “Newton Wonder” and the “Crediton Courier”.

The Club is looking for some new faces to join the organising group for next year.

This little group meets in the autumn to sort out the programme for the following year. It is an enjoyable get together and the jobs of contacting speakers, booking the venues etc. are shared out.

The Club is entering its ninth year this year and some of the original organising members are retiring or moving away from the area so replacements are urgently needed.

It would be a great shame if the Club were to fold after the last successful eight years.

If anyone is interested in joining this sociable group, please make contact with David and Jill Baker by emailing: [email protected] or telephone on 01392 851752.

Jill Baker