Watch Moths (to a Flame) with us!
Early on in the face of the Pandemic, when we couldn’t sit side by side to contemplate all that Moths To A Flame could mean we were given funds from The Arts Council and Plymouth Energy Community to support a series of broadcasts about moths and energy. We called these broadcasts Watch Moths.
We didn’t know for sure how successful it would be, but we knew we wanted to reach out and show how the natural world, our energy system, the future of this planet is all connected. We wanted to engage more people, perhaps some that we wouldn’t reach otherwise, to have conversations about moths and energy. We knew that, although the Virus wasn’t going away, neither was the Climate Emergency. We wanted to do something positive and creative that would help people feel less powerless and keep their own energy up in the face of change.
We have been amazed at the interest in moths. We have found some watchers who haven’t even noticed moths much before, others that want to record more and be useful in doing so. We have found artists and poets who have been caught up and inspired by Moths. And we have encouraged amateurs to notice what moths might fly into the bathroom at night or settle under a cardboard box till morning. Dave, from Lazercutz of our Art and Energy collective moth-team has even designed a flatpack Moth trap!
Moth-ers and infinity
Moth-ers come from a wide range of origins. Some have been interested in nature since they were 5, others love the outdoors and have been identifying moths for a few years. There are even artist Moth-ers who are curious about the infinite variety and evolution that has taken place on the planet to create a very specific life cycle of a species of moth.
Our amazing Moth-ers include Devon Moth Group members Amy Walkden, Barry Henwood, all round entomologist and artist John Walters, Butterfly Conservation specialist Richard Fox, nature lover Simon Bates and birder as well as Moth-er, Will Scott and Wilding Ecologist, Dave Barker.
Our last 2020 Watch Moths
During our last Watch Moths we flew across the country to Glasgow, where the delayed COP26 is due to be held next November.
Moth-ers from around the country joined us while we experimented with the technology. To connect us all together. The energy in the chat on zoom seemed enough to power a whole new series!
There was Dan Forman from Swansea University, who entertainingly philosophised about inter-relationships between all living things Dave Hodgson in Cornwall with his dog, Director of Exeter University Centre for Ecology and Conservation, he has been moth trapping and writing music during lockdown – check out Antipodeans . There was a wide spread of RSPB moth-ers and representation Rutland, the smallest county in England, Rob Cooke as well as Sarah Shuttleworth from Somerset (Mighty Moth Girl).
The night was wet and cold, but we still had a few jewels who were attracted by the light.
The youngsters from the Baltic Adventure Playground, Glasgow made their own moth trap with Ella Wright, but didn’t catch any moths where the rabbits were kept – better luck next time!
Next time, next year, in 2021, we hope to come back for more broadcasts like Watch Moths, with new and renewable energy. See you then!