By the time that you read this we should be well into the Autumn Season, having had  some nice weather.  The flowers, even the more delicate types are still flowering well (written 12^th September) and there has been an abundance of berries and nuts in the hedgerows.  The blackberries have been the biggest and juiciest I have seen in a long time.  The Hawthorn bushes, that surround the edges of our garden are smothered with red berries.  As a child we used to call these bread & cheese.  I don't know where this name came from as the berries taste pretty disgusting  but the birds seem to like them and they will be a source of food as the weather becomes colder.

The second generation of the Large White butterfly have laid eggs and these have hatched into caterpillars, pale green with black spots, which have been feeding on the nasturtiums in the flower border.  They have eaten all the leaves and some have already turned into the chrysalis  stage.  They will over winter in this form until the spring when they will emerge as butterflies. There are normally two generations a year; they appear in April and June and again from July to September.  The second generation have darker markings.

Grass hoppers have been heard in the long grass.  The Male chirps to attract a female by rubbing his back leg against hard veins on the fore-wing. The tune lasts for about twelve seconds and consist of between 6 -10 chirps.  Grasshoppers live for about five months and they eat grass.  They die when the colder weather comes usually about October but having mated they leave behind a pod of eggs in the soil.  In Spring these will hatch into nymphs and after some weeks will change into the adult. (there is no chrysalis stage).  Is it my imagination or were there fewer Grasshoppers this year?  Perhaps only a few survived that snowy spell we had back in Febuary.

The birds have been keeping a low profile this month as they recuperate from the breeding season and having to rear young. They also change their plumage; after the moult  they will be seen in all their winter finery.

We wish you a fruitful Harvest.

A Beetle Drive was held on the 10^th September instead of the usual talk, and although we did not have the full complement of Ladies present, it was very enjoyable.

Names were taken for the visit, on Monday, 9^th November, to the Poppy Factory at Richmond, leaving at 12 noon.

The seats are limited to 42 and the trip has been arranged by the Conservative Association, the charge being £16 including refreshments.

The Meeting on the 8^th of October, will have as it's speaker, Peter Hartley giving a talk on Uganda.

New Members are always welcome and if you would like to join us on the 2^nd Thursday of every month, apart from January, at 2 pm in the Barn, we would be very glad to see you.