
Here in Creuse, I am not sure it is the worst summer in history, but without doubt there have been more overcast and rainy days than sunny ones for the last couple of months. Yes, the gloomy light has limited my photography opportunities, but at least it has not been cold, so I decided to spend twenty four hours in the orchard. I was really interested to find out what goes on there all through the day and into the night. This obviously required a little preparation and a spell of half decent weather.
Luck was on my side, because a few days of sunny, dry weather were forecast. So, armed with a tent, my camera, some provisions and a small alcoholic beverage, the stage was set. The first task was to find a suitable spot to pitch the tent where the whole of the orchard could be viewed, but at the same time my outline concealed against the trees at the edge of the field. Once I had chosen the ideal site, the tent was up in no time at all. After making myself comfortable in my camping chair with camera at the ready, I just sat quietly and observed.

The first thing that struck me was the constant movement across the whole area. There were hundreds of butterflies making the most of the variety of wild flowers. I saw Fritillaries, Small Heaths, Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns and Graylings amongst others. I have not yet been able to identify all the plants, but there is an abundance of Ragwort, Cow Parsley, Oxeye Daisy and Birdsfoot Trefoil amongst the grasses, with bramble bushes and Elder as well as young Chestnut trees, Oak and Hazel around the edges of the field, to name a few. Of course, the old orchard adds fruit trees that attract an additional variety of insects. As I looked harder, I also noticed the sun catching many Cinnabar caterpillars scattered around the Ragwort, their yellow and black stripes showing well in the bright light. To my amazement - and continuing the yellow and black theme - I realised that this orchard was also home to a multitude of Wasp Spiders lying in wait for the next meal on their zig zag webs constructed between the long grasses.


As the day continued, more and more creatures revealed themselves. A whole variety of grasshoppers and crickets frequent this spot, including the Great Green Bush Cricket. One caught my eye as it flew and I managed to get a photo or two before it disappeared in the long grass. It is going to be a long time before I can name the majority of insects here. The rich diversity of life in this long-abandoned field will keep me guessing for a quite a while to come.

During the late afternoon, a pair of Melodious Warblers voiced their disapproval at my presence. However, it couldn’t have bothered them too much because they continued to fly quite close to me and pick insects off the thistle flowers. The sun had done its work for the day and at about 9.30 pm I watched it disappear behind the trees to the west. It left behind a nice pink glow and a wondrous light across the orchard. It was at this point that I realised I had a visitor! At the bottom of the orchard, a young Roe deer wandered through, stopping only to give me a brief glance and providing enough time for a quick photo, before she continued on her way. As it got darker, Tawny owls began calling and I noticed the planet Venus glowing in the sky.

Throughout my life, I have enjoyed looking at the night sky and picking out the planets and constellations. As I sat in my chair looking upwards in the darkness, I saw a night sky like I had never seen before. There is little or no light pollution in this part of Creuse and my evening spent in the field proved what a difference that makes. Not only could I see more stars than ever before, but I also saw the Milky Way arching across the sky above me. To see it for the first time without the interference of light pollution was a moment I will never forget. It is such a privilege to be somewhere you can get a really clear view of so many stars. Pollution comes in many different forms, but they all harm the natural world and limit our relationship to it. For me, the question has to be, why do we still do it?
Sounds wonderfful Andy,a joy to read and imagine being there