Newdigate Brickworks

 Newdigate Brickworks opened 1928 and finally closed in 1974. The site was abandoned until the turn of the century when it was decided to build a housing development with the remainder as a nature reserve run by the Surrey Wildlife Trust. There are two lakes and a series of smaller ponds. The mosaic of woodland, scrub, grassland, marsh, water-side and aquatic vegetation communities makes the site particularly diverse. Around 220 plant species have been recorded for the site (including 27 ancient woodland indicator species). Lots to photograph including Butterflies, Moths, Bugs and Bees! Here just a selection of generally common species but I will update when I manage to identify this very small but feisty spider. 

Trumpington Meadows 9th May

 The warm weather on Saturday brought out lots of insects and spiders. I was trying to concentrate on compositions rather than just unusual species looking for interesting backgrounds and different focus/exposure settings. ID sheet at the end

My Wildlfe Garden April 28th 2026

Each year, I photograph the species in bloom in my Cambridgeshire garden several times during the spring and summer to compare with previous years. Today, I did a quick photoshoot in my garden which is a riot of colours and full of flora and fauna - not my best efforts photographically but demonstrate what I am sure others in this area are finding that the species in bloom are about a month earlier than previous years - Ann Miles Blog: My Wildlife Garden in May. The insects and spiders are also very active in the warm temperatures - I hadn't noticed the Cricket Bat Spider on the Spurge or the Collembolid on the buttercup till I looked at the photos.

Lackford Lakes More Portraits

A second set of insect and spider portraits from our sunny visit to Lackford Lakes on Thursday (ID sheets to follow)