Robin's Pincushion

Our monthly WI walk gave us far more of an education than usual as we joined the Bracken Hall Countryside Centre walk to Dick Hudsons and back to Shipley Glen. The walk leader has an endless knowledge of local history, flora and fauna.

The Robin's Pincushion is a gall caused by the larvae of a tiny gall wasp, Dipoloepis rosae. It is found developing on the stems of wild roses during late summer, acquiring its reddish colour as it matures in autumn. The grubs inside the gall feed on the host plant throughout the winter and emerge in spring as adults.