Alternating trapping sessions between Clipstone Old Quarter and four sites within the Sherwood Forest Country Park, meant that the distribution of moths around these two areas of the NNR could be monitored. It revealed that not all species are widespread at Sherwood, but some species were clearly attracted to the light at Clipstone Old Quater from the ancient forest.

Running the trap under the Centre Tree proved very effective, especially in July, with some large (almost un-countable catches) at times.

One moth that did turn up at Clipstone Old Quarter was the Oak Eggar. Discovered within the Sherwood NNR for the first time in 100 years back in 2009 by Sheila Wright and John Osborne, we found a half grown larva on April 4th. But after monitoring Glow Worms, we were amazed to find a female at the MV light we had left running on the evening of July 18th. We visited the area again the following day and noted nine males during a hot afternoon.

The range of species grew during May, with records of Clay Triple-lines, Alder Kitten and Oak Nycteoline and as May progressed, many moth recorders turned up with pheremone lures for Welsh Clearwing and Yellow-legged Clearwing, which were again recorded in decent numbers at the Sherwood Forest CP this year. We located two Welsh Clearwing pupal exuvia on Birch there during June, but a possible pupal exuvia confusion species emerged when we found a male Large Red-Belted Clearwing on Umbellifers at the Country Park on May 31st. Two male Welsh Clearwing were also attracted to lure on Sherwood Heath for the first time on June 27th, showing that this moth is probably more widespread across the NNR, than was originally thought. Another beautiful day-flying moth that was recorded from Budby South Forest again this year, was the Forester, with single adults noted on May 15th and 17th.

Amongst a whole range of species that perhaps deserve a mention, were a Barred Hook-tip at Sherwood Forest CP on May 19th, a surprising Swallow-tailed Moth and May Highflyer briefly attended the light at Clipstone Old Quarter on July 11th. During December, we made deliberate attempts to find Winter Moth and Northern Winter Moth. Five Northern Winter Moth came to light on a drizzly cool November 20th, but searching of tree trunks in the Country Park car park area, eventually saw us find several male and a single female Winter Moth, on an evening of sub-zero temperatures and with a thick covering of snow on the ground.

An colourful example of a micro is the Pyralid Pyrausta purpuralis that we trapped on the excellent July 11th, mentioned at the top of this page. This was quite an unexpected moth for Sherwood, with just a single historical record beforehand.

Even smaller though, and to be fair, typifying most peoples mental image of a micro moth, is Ochsenheimeria vacculella (below right) one of a few species that are characterised by long scales on the forewings. These are all drab coloured moths, but uncommon/rare in Nottinghamshire. Needless to say, this was one of many new micros found during 2010.

Phyllonorycter lautella proved to be quite common, once it was initially found. This moth mines the leaves of often very small Oaks (even seedlings) but with few seedling Oaks in the area of Sherwood Forest Country Park we searched, found the mines on the leaves of weak branches of small Oaks growing in shady conditions.

The most difficult of the Phyllonorycters to find was Phyllonorycter roboris, which is distinguished from similar mines by having no crease.

On Budby South Forest, the first site record of Ocnerostoma piniariella came from Pine. This is a very small grey moth, visually identical to Ocnerostoma friesei, but can be told from friesei by the dark pupa.