Brimstone
The cache is NOT at the
co-ordinates above. Please see notes at the bottom of this
page.
Continuing a series of caches which are intended to draw attention
to some of the butterflies to be found on Ashtead Common.
Further general
information on the common is available on the link
below:
http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Environment_and_planning/Parks_and_open_spaces/Ashtead_Common/
The Brimstone is often the first butterfly to be seen in the spring
and is a welcome suggestion that the long, dark evenings are
finally coming to an end. It's able to get out and about so early
because it is one of the few species that hibernates as an adult,
as opposed to spending the winter as an egg, caterpillar or
chrysalis.
Apart
from colour, the Brimstone can be identified by the exquisite wing
shape, perfectly matching a leaf when roosting overnight or
hibernating within foliage. They always settle with their wings
closed so you will only ever see their undersides.
As
soon as there is any warmth in the spring sun, the butter yellow
males venture from their winter hiding places. They then start
patrolling woodland edges and hedgerows looking for the much paler,
almost white, females. The females lay their eggs on Buckthorn
bushes which are the foodplant of the green caterpillars. After a
few weeks of gorging themselves the caterpillars pupate and in
August the new adults emerge.
This
area of Ashtead Common has many Buckthorn bushes and is a good
place to find Brimstones in the spring.
The
co-ordinates will take you to a structure loosely connected with
the cache title and with a Buckthorn bush growing at its base.
Unhelpfully the bush had just been cut back to ground level at the
time of setting, but it will grow back (I hope!).
Geocaching guidelines prevent the siting of the cache itself at the
stated co-ordinates therefore it has been offset 20 metres SE of
the structure. Sorry about that - 1/2 point has been added to the
difficulty rating as recompense....
Ashtead Common is a National
Nature Reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest.
This cache is placed with the kind permission of Natural England
and under licence from the City of London who own the
common.
Nearby are a number of
other caches on both Ashtead and Epsom commons. Many attractive
paths criss cross the commons to allow access - some of these paths
can become very muddy in winter so choose carefully or bring
boots!
Free On Street parking
is available at the waypoint shown. Please be respectful of local
residents if you use it.
You are searching for a small ‘Lock and
Lock’ plastic container suitable for swaps and small Travel
Bugs.
Remember that the cache is 20 metres SE of the
stated co-ordinates. The hint refers to the final cache
site.