News / Wildlife
BS3 goes wild for moths and grubs
The first edition of a new monthly series of wildlife and nature talks has sold out twice over.
Wild Thursdays, a programme of evening events that will be held at Bristol Beer Factory’s Taproom on North Street, has proved itself popular even before its first event goes ahead on March 5.
Bedminster wildlife enthusiasts are surprised and impressed that there is such an interest in wildlife locally, particularly given the session’s focus, an in-depth look at moths and grubs.
Under the headline ‘Make Larvae Not War’, Andy Dean of the Natural Garden Co will explain why householders should encourage caterpillars and grubs in their gardens, and BS3 Moth Club founder Charlie Tallis will explore the weird and wonderful world of moths.
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Tallis explained that after the first 50 tickets for the event sold out, she contacted the venue to increase the capacity to 65, only for those extra tickets to be snapped up with still more people on the waiting list.
“65 people coming to an in-person event about larvae and moths feels ludicrous,” she says.
“It says a lot about the community in BS3. Filled with wildlife-lovers!
“I think it also says something about the understanding that local wildlife, the stuff on our doorstep, can be really beautiful, interesting and vital for a thriving ecosystem. There seems to be an interest in the underdogs – the ‘unloved’, less glamorous creatures too.”
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Tallis runs the community project with her 10 year old daughter, Willow.
“It’s a very hands-on way of engaging people with biodiversity,” she says, of their work bringing moth traps into neighbourhoods to enable people to see the species that live in their gardens and community spaces.
“There’s something genuinely magical about watching people’s faces as they see a moth up close for the first time.
“Moths are a surprisingly powerful way into conversations about climate and nature recovery. They’re incredibly beautiful and diverse, present in almost every garden, and changing rapidly in response to habitat and environmental shifts — yet they’re largely overlooked.
“By making them visible, the project helps people feel more connected to their local environment and more curious about what’s happening to wildlife on their doorstep.”
Charlie Tallis is opening up the “beautiful, endlessly fascinating, quirky and downright absurd” nature of moths – like this Elephant Hawk moth, spotted in Bristol
Presented by the BS3 Wildlife Group, Wild Thursdays will take place on the first Thursday of every month and will feature talks, films and discussion. Join facebook.com/groups/bs3wildlifegroup to stay up to date.
All images: BS3 Moth Club
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