In just a small space of the park and a short space of time you will be amazed at the amount of wildlife that can be found in our park, recorded on the 22nd July and 24th July25
The LCC Parks & Friends of Garston Park was attended over 2 days by 15 adults and 8 children. We generated records for 60 Species in total. All records with photo evidence were uploaded to iNaturalist to be used by Local Records Centres and enthusiasts.
By far the habitat with the widest range of species was the long grass in the relaxed mowing areas, caught by sweep netting. Two patches of long grass of less than 10x10m was home to: 5 species of bees ants and wasps; 2 butterfly species; 3 species of true bugs; 6 species of beetles; 4 species of flies; 3 species of arachnids; 13 plant species and even a fungus! This was all very attractive to the resident flock of house martins, swooping low feeding on the various insects.
The wildflower area between the play area and Garston Old Road, planted by the Friends of Garston Park had a particularly high density of bees and hoverflies. An exciting find was new to the recorder – the Common masked bee Hylaeus communis (TBC)
Species in the wildflower include:
Birds foot trefoil tbc
Black Knapweed – Centaurea nigra
Dandelion – Taraxacum officinale
Great willowherb – Epilobium hirsutum
Oxeye daisy – Leucanthemum ircutianum
Birds (4)
House Martins x 6
Wood Pigeon
Blackbird
Robin
Magpie x 2
Butterflies (2sp)
Large white – Pieris brassicae
Speckled Wood – Pararge aegeria
Bees ants and wasps (6sp)
Black garden ant – Lasius niger
Common Carder Bee – Bombus pascuorum Common Masked Bee – Hylaeus communis
Fairy wasps – Mymaridae. Hundreds netted, the dominant species.
Ichneuman/solitary wasp? Hymenoptera tbc Red tailed Bumble bee – Bombus lapidaries
Grass bugs – (3 spp) Hundreds, of several species. The second dominant group.
Stenotus spp
Grass bug – Stenodema laevigata
Two spotted grass bug tbc
Beetles (6)
Asian Ladybird Harmonia axyridis
Common red Soldier beetle – Rhagonycha fulva
Fourteen- spotted ladybird Propylea
quatuordecimpunctata
Seven-spotted ladybird Coccinella
Setempunctata
Variegated ladybird Hippodamia variegata Weevil – Sitona spp.
Flies (4)
Common Blackfly Simuliums spp.
Botfly Sp tbc
Flies Phyto spp.
Red spotted parasite fly Eriothrix rufomaculata
Assorted arthropods (3)
Common Woodlouse – Oniscus asellus European Earwig Forficula Auricularia
Grasshoppers – species unknown as could not catch, but numerous and widespread in the long grass across the park from the noise.
Leaf hopper Neophilaenus spp. Dozens sweep netted of several species
Arachnids
Common Sheetweb spider – Linyphia triangularis Garden Spider – Araneus Diadematus Green orb weaver spider – Araniella cucurbitina Harvestman – Phalangium opilio
Wolf spider tbc Alopecosa pulverulenta
Fungus (1)
Toadstool tbc – Agaricales – common gilled mushrooms TBC
Plants (17)
Birds foot trefoil tbc
Black Knapweed – Centaurea nigra
Broad leaved dock – Rumex obtusifolius Carrot spp – Apiaceae TBC
Cleavers – Galium aparine
Clover – Trifolium spp.
Common mouse-ear chickweed Cerastium fontanum
Common Yarrow – Achillea millefolium Creeping Buttercup – Ranunculus repens Creeping thistle Cirsium arvense
Dandelion – Taraxacum officinale
Great willowherb – Epilobium hirsutum Herb Robert – Geranium Robertianum Oxeye daisy – Leucanthemum ircutianum
Rhododendron (planted on boundary of bowling green)
Speedwell – Veronica spp
Stinging nettle – Urtica dioica
Additionally seen on the day in the wider park: Trees (8sp)
Beech – Fagus sp.
Horse Chestnut – Aesculus hippocastanum London Plane – Platanus sp.
Mountain ash – Sorbus sp.
Oak – Quercus sp.
Sycamore – Acer sp.
Walnut trees x 5 – Juglans sp.
