A French neighbour rescued a "baby snake" from her cat on Saturday, 25th. Investigation showed it to be a Willowherb Hawkmoth caterpillar. So proof of breeding in this area - about 250 miles from the UK coast. My guide books have it only in Southern France.
A record of this moth, on the 9th June last year, came from a garden just 20 mins north of us, near Redon.
A protected species throughout France, we let it go again.