Our News
Shamley Green Moths had a good year in 2025 - but are we still being too tidy in our gardens?
Once again John Portess has provided us with a fantastic account of the moths he has trapped in his garden over the past year, with 38 new species added to the list in 2025. Details on our reports page and Moths in Shamley Green.
John makes this plea for us to help our moth population:
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'The Bungalow garden has thrown up 335 species of moth in less than four years of, by no means intense, trapping. It seems quite a lot for a small garden, doesn’t it? But this is typical of virtually any garden in Shamley Green.
Yet these numbers are in freefall. A 40% decline in the south in 50 years. Are we being too tidy in our gardens? How many times have you raked up some leaves and disturbed a rolled-
up caterpillar.
Many, such as various Underwings and the cryptic Angle Shades
need these overwinter sheltered spots, at the edge of the lawn say, or under the hedge, to survive. Would you mind your garden being a little less tidy?'
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Angle Shades Moth
Phlogophora meticulosa
- could one of these be sheltering at the edge of your lawn?
Big Plastic Count 9th-15th March
The Big Plastic Count took place again this year in March. This is when you count how many pieces of plastic you use over a 7 day period. Several people in the village and also pupils at WSG school have taken part in the past.
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We are all trying hard to reduce the number of items we use and get it well down on the average of 30 in 2022​.
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Everyday Plastic ran the count (https://thebigplasticcount.com/). The main purposeis to gather powerful new evidence from thousands of people across the UK, exposing the true scale of our plastic waste crisis.
We are lucky in Shamley Green because we have the wonderful plastic free shop For Earth’s Sake in Upper House Lane (open Wed-Sat) where you can buy a range of goods free from packaging, including cereals, seeds and nuts, pasta, rice, grains and oils, and a whole host of other products And we also have our brilliant village shop where you can buy a range of loose and unpackaged fruit and vegetables.
For more information on previous Big Plastic Counts and ways to reduce plastic etc see our Plastic page
Plastic-free shopping - a huge range of dry foodstuffs as well as washing and cleaning products - bring your own container or use their paper bags.
Friends' Litter Pick
In January/February many of us were involved in another Friend's Litter Pick. This takes place over two mornings, around the borders of Shamley Green. As usual we collected a huge haul of rubbish, mainly plastic and glass bottles, aluminium cans and lots of plastic packaging.
Thanks to everyone involved, there were at least 16 of us. We all agreed that whilst it is depressing to see what people leave behind them or throw out of their cars, it is very satisfying to spend a couple of hours removing rubbish in the knowledge that it will no longer be lurking in the undergrowth harming the environment and spoiling our beautiful countryside. We also get the occasional thumbs up or hoots, or offer to help, which are much appreciated. Anyone wanting to help another time please contact us.
This is not the same as the Village Litter pick run by SGVA
Shamley Green Woodland Working Party
Spring Cottage Green 14th February
On Valentine's day our Shamley Green Woodland Working Party took to their hand tools and had a go at improving the habitat on Spring Cottage Green. Over recent years parts of this common have become dominated by brambles (and holly). This is of course great for wildlife but, if left unchecked, in our view it would no longer be a green, with all the benefits that a seldom mown wildflower rich habitat can bring, so we cut back a proportion of the brambles, making sure that we left huge margins around the edges.
We also tackled some 'gone bananas' hazel and a few fallen branches near to the footpath and other nearby paths. All the cut wood was left in situ for insects and small mammals and amphibians and invertebrates. Fortunately for us we picked the sunniest morning of the year so far.
Thanks to everyone who took part and in particular to Alison and Katie for the biscuits and coffee. If you would like to take part next time do email us on info@shamleygreenenvironment.co.uk - the morning was a lot of fun and has been much appreciated by locals.