The area of the quarry that was so expertly cleared by the conservation volunteers a couple of years ago received an inspection this week from an illustrious visitor. A shieldbug flew over from France in order to spend some time in this desirable location, and in so doing notched up a county first record for the species and the Country Park. Carpocoris purpureipennis is a shieldbug that occurs in France but has only ever been recorded in the UK on one or two occasions in the past. It is somewhat larger than the Sloe Bug although overall colouration is similar, but it cannot be mistaken for that native species. A very distinctive and very welcome discovery.