For this Back from the Brink event, artist Joanna Callaghan hoped the local community and some fantastic lanterns would help the rare Barberry Carpet Moth thrive – and bring the community together.
Barberry Carpet Moth
This medium-sized moth is a victim of collateral damage. Its caterpillars feed on Common Barberry, Berberis vulgaris, a shrub of hedgerows and woodland edge. This was a host for wheat rust fungus, and so was almost eradicated to protect wheat crops. Rust-resistant wheat varieties have solved this problem, but almost too late for the Barberry Carpet Moth. The species has been recorded over southern England and as far north as Yorkshire in the past. Now there are believed to be just ten populations left, mostly in Wiltshire, with colonies also in Gloucestershire, Dorset and Oxfordshire and introduced colonies elsewhere.



Ancients of the Future Event
'CELEBRATING ANCIENT TREES – BANNER MAKING AND PARADE'

Barberry Carpet Moth Event
'COME-A-WASSAILING '

Black-tailed Godwit Event
'TO FLY ADVENTUROUS'

Gems in the Dunes Event
'WALKING ART WORKSHOPS'

Gems in the Dunes Event
'BUCKTHORN BASH WORKSHOP '

Gems in the Dunes Event
'OUTDOOR PORCELAIN WORKSHOP'

Gems in the Dunes Event
'OUTDOOR CYANOTYPE WORKSHOP'

Colour in the Margins Event
'DRAWING FROM NATURE '

Colour in the Margins Event
'DISCOVER, CREATE, VALUE '

















All project artwork
Exploring Barberry Carpet Moth through community artworks.
The Art of saving species
Browse all artworks.