RYDA Newsletter 10/2025
It is Autumn already. The first half of October sees the climax of the Fallow and sika deer also rut in October, while roe deer rut in late July and early August. (Muntjac deer do not have a specific breeding season.) All these species are found in the wild in southern England, but fallow deer are also commonly kept in deer parks, which is the best place to go if you want to see their rut.
Fallow deer stags either seek to gather groups of females, or hold a barking competition in a lek, or competition arena, making a noise that sounds like it comes from a wild boar or an oversized frog, according to your imagination. The females graze placidly nearby, presumably watching the action with interest, but not necessarily forming harems around a favoured stag, as red deer females do.
Most insects have either died off by now or gone into a dormant state for winter. Spiders and woodlice hide under logs, for example, while ladybirds conceal themselves in leaf litter, plant debris or wooden window frames. Crane flies, shield bugs and dock bugs also lie dormant, the latter two having emerged as adults in September with the aim of mating in May. All of these may just emerge on a very warm day.
Early in the month - and sometimes later if it is mild - you may still see the classic concentric circle web of the orb weaver spider in your garden. The female sits doggedly in the centre of this, guarding her eggs, which will go on to hatch in the spring. It seems a forlorn hope that she will catch any insects, and eventually she dies of cold.
Even late in the month the autumn dew or low sunlight can pick the threads of money spiders trailing across rough grassland. These were created earlier in the year as the spiders "ballooned" out across fields to avoid mating with their siblings, attaching their thread to vegetation and then letting the wind carry them.
But at this time of year males come out of hiding to search for a mate, which is why you encounter them on the stairs or walking across your living room. They will not harm you, and are as reluctant to see you as you are to see them (though do help them out of baths, where they sometimes get stuck looking for water). They have their own predators - large cellar spiders (aka daddy-longlegs) that we almost never see.
On a sunny day you may also come across the occasional bee. Honeybees remain in colonies all winter, living on stored honey and huddling around their queen to keep her warm, but emerging if the weather is warm and there is pollen still to be had (for example on ivy bushes or any remaining flowers).
Any bumble bee you see now is almost certainly a queen, flying close to the ground to look for a hole to spend the winter in or feeding up before hibernation. Having already mated in late summer, she alone will survive till spring to carry on the species.
Common carder bees (a type of bumble bee, but looking rather different from the familiar ones due to the ginger hairs on their thorax) may also be on the wing early in October.
This is also the time of year when you may notice alarmingly large house spiders in your house. Contrary to popular myth they do NOT come inside at this time of year to escape the cold - or not only. They are there all along, out of sight and manning webs in obscure corners, doing you a favour by eating other small insects. They also live in cellars, sheds and garages.
You can still sometimes see dragonflies early in the month - for example the beautiful green-blue southern hawker, the blue and chocolate-coloured migrant hawker, or the red or yellowy-brown common darter. The greeny-brown willow emerald damselfly, distinguishable by its wings being splayed when at rest, is also a possibility this month.
Other flying insects have mostly disappeared, but you can still find a surprising range of flies and even a few hoverflies around ivy flowers or other sources of food if the weather is mild. Notice too, the winter gnats that mill around on calm days: they have evolved to breed at this time of year when there are few predators.
A few butterflies may still be on the wing in the first half of the month, including the occasional white (almost certainly a small white, but just occasionally a large or green-veined), as well as speckled woods, small coppers, or perhaps a faded brown hairstreak.
Some red admirals seem to manage the same trick, because they re-emerge on mild days in winter or spring. Otherwise they migrate southwards, and you may just see them flying fast and direct on this mission out to sea from south coast beaches.
Other butterflies overwinter as eggs, pupae or caterpillars - a surprising number do the latter.
Then just when you have concluded that butterflies are all at an end for the year, you are surprised to see a comma, peacock or red admiral (or very occasionally a brimstone) flying around, often on flowering ivy.
Commas, peacocks and brimstones all overwinter as adults. They find a sheltered spot and then switch off their metabolism entirely, a process known as diapausing. Though to all appearances dead, they can come back to life instantly if disturbed - or if the weather is unusually warm.
It is these, as well as the caterpillars of moths, that birds such as great tits and blue tits are searching for on tree branches on winter days. They are also looking for the larvae of other insects, for example by breaking open galls.
If you put posters up on the village notice boards or on telegraph poles. - Please can you take them down again, once the event has passed.
Planning
AkzoNobel Remediation - Public Meeting - Tuesday 7th October 10.30 am - 12.30 pm -
Newton and Noss Village Hall in Noss Mayo
Posted for information only, please direct enquiries to:
IPL Newton Ferrers remediation project team
Newton.Ferrers@akzonobel.com
Missed the meeting at Noss Mayo?
Come along to one of the public events this October to talk about the future of council services in the South Hams.
Join us at one of the evening events:
- 30 September 2025 - Rose & Crown, Yealmpton (For Brixton residents)
- 01 October 2025 – Wembury War Memorial Village Hall
- 02 October 2025 – Kingsbridge Community College
- 07 October 2025 – Cliff House, Salcombe.
- 08 October 2025 – Flavel Centre, Dartmouth.
- 09 October 2025 – Follaton House, Totnes.
- 29 October 2025 - Marldon Village Hall
These daytime drop-in sessions have also been organised:
- 17 September 2025 - opposite Cornwood Inn, Cornwood. 1 p.m. 3 p.m.
- 19 September 2025 – Venn Court, Brixton. 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
- 22 September 2025 – Modbury Memorial Hall. 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
- 6 October 2025 – Sherford Community Hub. 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Local Government Reorganisation is coming so let’s shape Devon’s future together! Find out more.
A stronger future shaped by communities: Devon unveils ‘leading’ option for local government change. to read more click here
Whats On?
7th October Coffee & Chat at Holy cross 10.30 – 12.00
7th October First Tuesday Lunch club WIC hall new members welcome. 12.00 prompt please £6pp Allergies can be catered for. Please contact Jeanne (872442); Jane (872627) or Tracie (872612)
10th October Holbeton Film Club “Small things Like these”.
In 1985 devoted father & Coal Merchant, Bill Furlong, discovers disturbing secrets kept by the local convent and uncovers shocking truths of his own.
Doors open at 7pm. You'll be given a warm welcome when you arrive and can spend some time chatting to friends before the lights go down at 7:30pm. We charge just £4 (£2 for children under 12) - terrific value for such a great evening of entertainment.
You are welcome to bring your own alcohol if you wish, or you can treat yourself to one of our fabulous chocolate-covered ice creams!
11th October Brookings Down Wood working party. Meet at Shed 10.00.
11 Oct at 14:00 Rockpool Safari
Join our Devon Wildlife Trust staff and volunteers for a guided tour of some of the best rockpools in the UK!
Our expert team will take you on a guided rockpool safari to meet and learn about some of Wembury's most famous inhabitants, from crabs to starfish and everything in between!
This event is open to all ages, but all children must be accompanied by a paying adult. Please wear wellington boots or other suitable sturdy shoes which can get wet and please leave your rockpool nets at home, as we follow the Seashore Code and use our hands and buckets instead (tubs provided).
£5.50 Adult £5.50 Child
You're invited to take part in a Singing Day led by the outstanding music director and conductor Joseph Judge on Saturday 11 October from 9:30 to 16:30 at Woolwell Community Centre.
Joseph is Chorus Master of the Leeds Philharmonic Chorus, a Hallé Associate Artist as Director of the Hallé Choral Academy, a frequent collaborator as a Score Reader/Orchestrator with the Northern Film Orchestra, and a Music Director for Film/TV productions. He has led music sessions for Sony PlayStation, and produced the recording of Northern Lights - an album of contemporary choral works with BBC Choir of the Year winners, Voices of Hope. As a Countertenor he continues to perform regularly as an oratorio soloist.
As Director of the Hallé Choral Academy, he inspires mixed ability singers to develop their vocal technique and sight-reading abilities through the singing of core repertoire.
We look forward to him guiding us through a selection of choruses from Messiah by Handel. Joseph will be known to people who have attended the Exon Festival which is held annually in Tavistock.
The cost is £25 which includes the loan of scores. A light lunch is available for £7.
Further details are available from the choir's website (plymouthphilchoir.org), from Sarah Potter (07816 230173 or email plymphilchoirworkshops@gmail.com). Online booking is available at wegottickets.com/event/661189
Monday 13th October A training session on Defibrillator Awareness and CPR will be held on 6.00 – 8.00pm In the Noss village hall. It will be run by the South West Ambulance Service.
14th October Coffee & Chat at Holy cross 10.30 – 12.00
14th October 2-4pm WI winter coffee drop-in restarts. Come in for a chat.
16th October U3A talk in the WIC hall 2.30pm 3000 years of history from under the sea by Ronald Howell.
19th October NNATS pantomime open meeting N&N Village hall 6.30-8.00pm
21st October Coffee & Chat at Holy cross 10.30 – 12.00
21st October WI monthly meeting 2.00pm (note change of time) The speaker is from “Black Dog honey Bees.
23rd October - 4th Thursday Lunch Club 12.15 Newton & Noss village Hall. Please contact mrandmrsbarnett@gmail.com Allergies can be catered for, also vegetarian option available. New members welcome.
28th October WI Craft group 2-4pm WI hall COme for a chat, & bring your latest craft project. £1.50 towards hiring the call & refreshments
28th October Coffee and Chat at Holy cross 10.30 – 12.00
28th October Yealm Garden Society AGM. 7.00pm Talk by Martin Haxton “New planting at Mothecombe”
Save the Date
Tuesday 4th November - First Tuesday Lunch club WIC hall new members welcome. 12.00 prompt please £6pp Allergies can be catered for. Please contact Jeanne (872442); Jane (872627) or Tracie (872612)
Sat, 8 Nov 2025, 19:30 Tony Christie
The legendary crooner continues his Great Farewell Unplugged Tour entertaining audiences around the world with incredible showmanship, an unmistakable powerful vocal that has captivated generation after generation and a set list that packs a punch.
8th November Holbeton Film Club
A Complete Unknown is a 2024 American biographical film about the early career of American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan.
Yealmpton Community & Resource Centre, School, Stray Park, Yealmpton, Plymouth PL8 2HF
18th November WI monthly meeting 2pm Womens Health with Giusi Pezzota
27th November 4thThursday Lunch Club 12.15 Newton & Noss village Hall. Please contact mrandmrsbarnett@gmail.comAllergies can be catered for, also vegetarian option available. New members welcome.
