Did you take a picture of it? Could it be a cockchaffer grub - ugh - horrid things to look at (pale cream in colour and large).

I did take photos as you can now see but forgot to upload them. Duh...

It looks like a hawkmoth caterpillar to me but cant remember which one.

Yes its a hawk moth, maybe an elephant hawk moth by the looks of its 'nose'.

Look after it. The adult moth has a beautiful pink body. Caterpillars often feed on fuchsia, with rapid results! Called elephant hawkmoth because the caterpillar shape is likened to an elephant's trunk as it elongates out to stroll around your hanging basket. Note the 'eye' to frighten off would be attackers, and humans. Yours is ready to pupate by the size of it

I think they do that in the soil so that will be why it is on the grass.

Wow, how wonderful! thank you , I'm so glad I asked. Can't look after it though as its gone off now. I haven't noticed any fuchsia damage. I did notice the elephants trunk, and was very puzzled by it.
So will the pupa overwinter in the ground? Does the moth fly at night or during the day? I do hope to see it, as have only ever seen two hawkmoths before (the lime and the hummingbird) there aren't any of the foodplants that the book mentions in our garden.

Hi Sue, I think they fly at night, the only time I have ever seen 1, was late 1 night when we had been sitting out on the patio, I put the flood light on, and this thing appeared, I thought it was a bat at first, unfortunately it must have died in the night, as I found it the morning after, and realized what it was, I have also had a pupating 1 on a plant in the greenhouse, but that just disappeared, must have escaped through the open vent, both of these events happened about 20 years ago, not seen one since, Derek.

A bat? Gosh that's big! Did you got a photo of the dead one?We had a bat in our living room one evening day this week and although it was only a little one it was way bigger than any British moth I've ever seen! Disappointing that the moth's a night flyer but great to know what it is. We have no idea really what goes on in our gardens have we? Thank you very much everybody who replied.and Worthy, yes those "eyes" did give me pause!

Sorry Sue no photo, never gave it a thought, { I wasn't on g o y then,lol}, if I ever get another 1 I will get a photo of it, Derek.

Take a look at this www.uksafari.com/elephanthm.htm

Great stuff Cammomile and interesting. I did like the "face" on the one at the end of the second row. I don't think the pics give you an impression of the huge size of the caterpillar though! Its a pretty moth.

Good idea. I did go out with the Wildlife Trust one night on a moth trapping exercise and the variety was amazing.