7879. Greville Smyth Park – Upfest 2026 (53)

One of the most memorable moments of my wanderings over the three weeeks of Upfest was catching up with Bristol artist Conrico while he was painting this piece. He is a kind man and always up for a chat. It was a very hot day when I stopped by his piece, and he could see I was uncomfortable. He offered me his fine water spray and fan to cool myself down – a true gent. We also experienced a magnificent natural moment as one of the adjacent trees was shedding its fine and fluffy seeds, turning a hot spring day into a winter snowstorm, quite incredible.

Conrico, Upfest 2026, Greville Smyth Park, Bristol, May 2026
Conrico, Upfest 2026, Greville Smyth Park, Bristol, May 2026

The colourful portrait piece features a woman clasping something bright in her hands with plasma bolts emanating from them and a cheeky moth. I’m not too sure what the story is here. I love the way Conrico has capured the pattern on the woman’s jumper – brilliant. An interesting selection for an Upfest piece, but one that shows off his ‘paint brush’ style perfectly.

 

 

Small magpie

Small magpie (Anania hortulata), Redland, Bristol, July 2025
Small magpie (Anania hortulata), Redland, Bristol, July 2025

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Delicate shimmer

betrays any concealment

stay still, stay alive

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by Scooj

Small moth, big name

Small fan-footed wave moth, Redland, Bristol, August 2024moth
Small fan-footed wave moth, Redland, Bristol, August 2024

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With modest cream wings

moth boasts the craziest name

Small fan-footed wave

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by Scooj

Swallow-tailed moth

Swallow-tailed moth, Ourapteryx sambucaria, Redland, Bristol, July 2024
Swallow-tailed moth, Ourapteryx sambucaria, Redland, Bristol, July 2024

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Lured by a false moon

a nighttime visitor comes

conspicuous hue

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by Scooj

Common swift moth – 30 Days Wild (13/30)

Common swift moth, Korscheltellus lupulina, Bristol, June 2024
Common swift moth, Korscheltellus lupulina, Bristol, June 2024

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Nighttime visitor

conspicuous in the day

no attempt to hide

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by Scooj

  • 30 Days Wild is an initiative organised by the Wildlife Trusts. It is an annual challenge event, for those who choose to participate, to do one ‘wild’ thing a day throughout the month of June. I will try to write a nature haiku every day if I can, as my contribution to this celebration of wildlife and biodiversity. I did this back in 2015 and thoroughly enjoyed the challenge.

Common Emerald

Common Emerald, Bristol, July 2023
Common Emerald, Bristol, July 2023

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Leafy mimicry

evolutionary trait

beauty of nature

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by Scooj

Box Tree Moth

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Accidentally

introduced to the UK

killer of box trees

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by Scooj

Small emerald

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Inconspicuous

beauty beyond all measure

small emerald moth

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by Scooj

Infestation

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Moths in the dog food

hundreds and hundreds of them

culprits evicted

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by Scooj

Magpie moth

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Super delicate

flutter on a windward hill

rests for a moment

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by Scooj