Nature doesn't just "happen" in wilderness places or those that humans have designated in some way as parks, environmentally sensitive areas, "AONB"s or "Greenbelt". Such terms are human centred and we humans are a part of nature not separate from her.
So, on an old fence panel in a back garden, in an area where there is huge pressure to build ever more homes for humans, here is an astonishing creature. The larvae of the Longhorn Tanner Beetle (also known as the Longhorn Sawyer Beetle) take 3-4 years to develop in decaying tree roots, which shows the importance of leaving tree stumps to decay naturally whenever possible.
The Tanner Beetle was around the garden for a few days at the beginning of August - really most impressive when flying!
My thanks to Dr. Ian Bedford who confirmed my identification via twitter.
See also:
The National Biodiversity Network Gateway site:
https://data.nbn.org.uk/Taxa/NBNSYS0000010996
Photos of P.coriarus by S. Falk:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/63075200@N07/sets/72157634860842169/#
You may also like:
The Banded Demoiselle
http://starfrostmoon.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/the-banded-demoiselle-calopteryx.html
