On Sunday I was out on my bike having a gentle ride around the lanes in the Longridge area. I was cycling down Hothersall Lane and could smell a distinct aniseed smell where I had noticed a stand of Sweet Cicely earlier in the year. (Sweet Cicely is a lovely plant and gives off an anseed smell when bruised). I stopped to see if there were any seeds left and then saw the biggest caterpillar that I have ever seen in my life. About as thick and long as my middle finger, light brown with several bands and with 4 'eyes'. It was munching a leaf of rosebay willowherb. Looking at a specialist moth site, it seems that this was probably the caterpillar for the Elephant Hawkmoth which is presumably about the same size as a small bat!
Forest of Bowland AONB website
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