A lesson about moths was enjoyed by East Hampshire MP Damian Hinds at Chawton wildlife travel agents Naturetrek.
Staff member and moth expert Chris Wilkinson introduced Mr Hinds to a huge poplar hawk-moth and several other species hiding in a tree in fields outside the company’s offices.
Mr Hinds said: “They camouflage very well, don’t they?” Chris explained: “Yeah, they do. They camouflage to look like dead leaves stuck in the tree.”
He added: “Early summer is a great time to see hawk-moths. There’s about half a dozen species in Britain. It’s called a poplar hawk-moth because its larvae feed in poplar trees.”
Taking a picture on his phone, Mr Hinds said: “I need to show my children what a proper moth looks like!”
Chris Wilkinson tells Damian Hinds all about the poplar hawk-moth
Naturetrek was holding one of its monthly open days at its home in Mingledown Barn, built by Jane Austen’s brother, off Wolf’s Lane.
The company offers the largest selection of professionally organised, expert-led wildlife holidays and tours in the world.
Its team of wildlife enthusiasts and dedicated travel professionals has organised them since it was founded by David and Maryanne Mills in 1986.
Andy said: “Our clients are people that want to go and see the world’s iconic mammals, cruise in pristine environments and spend all or the vast majority of their holiday in pursuit of wildlife, whatever that wildlife might be, so they’re quite dedicated.”
Kerrie added: “We have a lot of options - we have a huge brochure. We have some clients who come back year on year and they’ll pick different trips each year.
“We’ll research it ourselves, reccy it and put it together. We’ll find an expert tour leader to take the group and show them everything. Some of them have been going to the same spot for 20-plus years and they’ll know every flower on the mountain that they’re going to.”
Looking at the brochure, Mr Hinds said: “You get the gist from the photos. And there’s a lot in it!”
Andy asked Conservative Mr Hinds what it had been like to be in opposition since last July after spending 14 years in the House of Commons as part of the ruling party.
He said: “At first it was terrible. You turned the opposite way on entering the debating chamber, and you realised how few of us there were, so everyone had to do a lot more.
“Then you get into the rhythm of it and see that there’s no point moping about not being in government. You need to be effective as an opposition and it’s a very important constitutional role.
“Nobody really likes being in opposition - you’d rather be able to get things done. But one advantage of it is you don’t get blamed for everything that goes wrong in the world!”