remarkable moth larva formation

[andrew parker]

I am writing for help in identifying a remarkable phenomenon which I
have witnessed and photographed in the hedgerows of the county of
Wiltshire, UK.
 
A section of hedge, several metres long has been completely covered in
a kind of silky, spiders web-like material which the farmer tells me
is formed by the larva of a moth.
 
Can anyone enlighten me as to what kind of moth could make such a
large formation, if it is a moth at all? The farmer said that he had
not seen such a thing in 22 years.
 
I may be able to send sample electronic scans of the photographs for
perusal in JPEG form.
 
Thanks in advance for your help. 
 
Andrew Parker.

 
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