IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Whitecross Lane, MINEHEAD, TA24 8DG

This photo was taken from the road where it bends sharply in the square, looking towards the south east corner of the square, and the view is a diagonal strip across the square.

The War Memorial on North Hill, overlooking the West Somerset Railway stretching away dead straight to Dunster, the white pavilion at Butlins, and the Quantock Hills over ten miles away in the distance...

Church

Looking out across the town of Minehead.

A late afternoon shot.

This moth certainly draws attention to itself, which is why I noticed it even out of the corner of my eye. It is seen here feeding on Buddleia in the back garden of a house in Minehead. Its striped cream and brown forewings can be seen clearly here, while a trace of its bright orange hindwings can be glimpsed towards its rear. It was the bright orange flash of these underwings that first caught my attention. I was confused at first when I saw this moth as I didn't recognise it; it was only when my 12-year old daughter suggested it was a tiger moth that I remembered that as a child I had hatched tiger moths from pupae - and it was very similar ... but not quite the same. With a little research I discovered that rather than being the Garden Tiger (Cf Image]) that I knew, this stripier (as opposed to reticulated) species is the Jersey Tiger. Once restricted in range to the Channel islands, it is gradually extending its range northwards apparently, and I can confirm that it has certainly made it to North Somerset. Next stop South Wales presumably. [Edit] I next saw one of these moths almost precisely five years later Image] More information at British Moths site http://ukmoths.org.uk/species/euplagia-quadripunctaria

Masses of valerian (Valerianaceae sp.) along the wall - all in various shades of colour.

A narrow path off the road called The Parks.