Date: 25 July 2026
Location: Tice’s Meadow Nature Reserve
Duration: Open Day
Habitat: Wetland, river and meadow
Species encountered: Jersey Tiger (Euplagia quadripunctaria), cased caddis larvae, water lice and other freshwater invertebrates

Field Notes

I went up to Tice’s Meadow on the evening before the Open Day to help with the moth traps. This turned out to be one of the highlights of the week, giving me close-up views of a Jersey Tiger (Euplagia quadripunctaria), a species I had wanted to photograph properly for some time. Seeing one at such close range gave me a great opportunity to look at its distinctive markings and finally get some photographs.

On the Open Day itself, I helped on the river-dipping stall, showing families and children just how much life can be found in a single net sweep of the stream. Rather than carrying out a formal Riverfly sample, the focus was on engaging visitors and introducing them to some of the freshwater invertebrates living at Tice’s Meadow.

It was a good opportunity to explain how these small invertebrates can tell us about the health and water quality of a river. Cased caddis larvae, water lice and the other creatures we found generated plenty of interest, and it was rewarding to see people become fascinated by animals they might otherwise never notice.

There was plenty happening across the rest of the reserve too. The RSPB ringing team was demonstrating bird ringing and giving visitors the opportunity to see birds in the hand, while the Downlands Trust had brought along their conservation-grazing sheep. Displays around the site also brought together years of biodiversity recording, showing the variety of wildlife that has been recorded at Tice’s Meadow.

The day was a good reminder that conservation is as much about engaging people as it is about collecting data. Giving people the opportunity to discover the wildlife on their doorstep, and hopefully inspiring some of that same fascination in them, is an important part of conservation work too.

Photographs