DORSET is reputedly one of the most haunted places in the UK.
So it’s no wonder there are a whole host of spooky events planned across the county to celebrate the scariest day of the year.
Don your creepy costumes for some Halloween fun.
And it seems even the insect world knows it’s almost time – a moth traditionally seen as an omen of death has dropped in to Dorset.
The Deaths-head moth, which has a skull-like marking on its head, has haunted British literature, art and folklore for centuries. It appears as a prophecy of doom in Dorset writer Thomas Hardy’s The Return of the Native and an ill-advised love token in William Holman Hunt’s 1851 painting The Hireling Shepherd.
The moth was even rumoured to be a tormentor of King George III, who in 1801 was thrown into one of his infamous bouts of ‘madness’ when two large moths were discovered in his London bedchambers.
More recently a stylised version of the moth featured on posters advertising the 1991 horror film The Silence of the Lambs.
The Death’s-head Hawkmoth normally lives in the warmth of southern Europe, Africa and the Middle East and is rarely seen in the UK, but this autumn it’s one of several rare migrant moths to be spotted in Dorset.
It was seen in the garden of conservation and countryside manager Stuart Clarke said: “I run my own moth trap at home and have seen hundreds of different species, but this really is the ultimate find – it’s like the Holy Grail of moths.” “My neighbour was too scared to look at it but it was an impressive beast, about as big as a mouse with wings the size of a small bat.
“Few people appreciate moths, but they really are the most amazing, diverse creatures and finding a Death’s head Hawkmoth is definitely one of those once-in-a-lifetime events.”
Moth conservation officer for Butterfly Conservation, Tony Davis, said it’s likely down to the weather: “In Dorset we’ve experienced a recent spell of warm weather, with strong winds from the continent depositing these rare migrant moths on our coastline.
“October and November are typical months we’d expect to see this happen, but the proximity of the Death’s head Hawkmoth sighting to Halloween is certainly a spooky coincidence.”
A Deaths-head moth
Horrors of Halloween
GET in the ghoulish groove with these family fun Halloween events taking place today and tomorrow.
Dorset Wildlife Trust is hosting a ‘Things That Go Bump in the Night’ event at the Kingcombe Centre on Halloween.
Children will be able to explore Kingcombe’s nocturnal wildlife with a bat detector and moth trap.
Alternatively, they will be able to have a go at making a spider web mobile.
A pumpkin carving competition will take place on the same night, with all events taking place between 5pm and 8pm.
From 7pm children and adults can gather in the centre’s storytelling corner to hear spine tingling tales.
Fancy dress is optional and prizes will be given for the scariest. It will cost £5 per child with food at an additional cost.
A family fun day will be held at the Ferrybridge Inn, Wyke Regis, Weymouth from 10am tomorrow. There will be live music, stalls, a barbecue and fireworks in the evening.
All are welcome and money raised will be donated to charitable causes.
BRAVE souls might spot a ghost or two in Dorchester.
There will be a ghost walk tonight and tomorrow from 8pm outside the Kings Arms.
“Supposedly the barrier between the mortal and spirit worlds is weakest on Halloween.
“It has long been associated with the dead coming back to the living,” said Alistair Chisholm, pictured, who leads the walks. “I don’t know whether there’s going to be more chance of sensing spirits on Halloween, but we shall see Patrols stepped up POLICE patrols will be stepped up on Friday and over the weekend to tackle Halloween yobs.
Dorset Police is reminding the public to enjoy festivities safely but to ensure they respect others.
The force says anti-social behaviour is falling but extra officers will be out on Friday as well as the weekend to ensure people behave.
Safer Neighbourhood Teams have been handing out posters encouraging the public to ‘Have fun on Halloween but please have respect for others’.
A notice has also been made available to residents for them to display during Halloween asking trick or treaters not to call at that property.
A further poster has been created for shops to tell customers they will not be selling eggs, flour or fireworks to anyone under the age of 18 during the period. They can be downloaded from the Dorset Police website or collected from police stations.
Free flight? Fancy that Wyke Regis Working Men’s Club will hold a Family Halloween Party from 10am. There will be karaoke and disco for all the family and a children’s fancy dress competition.
Tickets for non-members cost £2 for adults and £1 for children.
Get a free flight on the Sea Life Tower if you are wearing spooky fancy dress tomorrow.
‘Freaky Flights’ with tales of Weymouth’s scary past will take off every half an hour from 11am until Sunday.
TRICK OR TREAT ADVICE
- Trick or treaters should always have adult supervision
- Only call on friends, family or neighbours – and ideally this should be arranged in advance
- Respect the rights of those who do not want to take part
- Do not accept money and be grateful for any treats
- Do not play tricks on people – these can be frightening and could even be a criminal offence
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