We need help with our transect walks at seven locations in north Dorset.
- Fontmell Down (15 minutes south of Shaftesbury)
- Jerry’s Hole (near Fontmell Down – it is a very small site)
- Stubhampton Bottom (5 minutes east of Fontmell Down)
- Clubmen’s Down (adjacent to Fontmell Down)
- Duncliffe Wood (10 minutes west of Shaftesbury)
- Hod Hill (Stourpaine, 10 minutes north of Blandford)
- Milldown (on the edge of Blandford
Transect walks are butterfly monitoring walks along a set route, walked within certain parameters regarding temperature, wind etc. The walk is usually shared between a team of walkers to cover each of the 26 weeks of the April-September season, so you can sign up for as much or little as you want.
Many of our walks have been going for decades and if we can’t keep them going, all that work across the years becomes of no value.
Clubmens Down. Photo: Bill Shreeves
It is helpful if you are reasonably confident with your butterfly identification, but we can tell you which species have been seen in which sections of the walk previously and we can offer training.
You might like to note that we have two events coming up which would be helpful (though please don’t wait to attend them before offering your help). Full details are available on our Events page.
Thursday 27 April – Butterfly transects and how to walk them – taking place at Wild Woodbury near Bere Regis (limited places).
Saturday 20 May – Butterfly identification workshop – Cerne Abbas.
The walks vary in length and terrain – if you feel you can help, get in touch and we will see where you would best fit in. Please use our contact form to express an interest and give us any information about yourself or the walk you could cover
Duncliffe gate. Photo: Keith Howland
There is more information about transect and other recording in our Counting Dorset’s Butterflies booklet.
Please bear with us if you don’t get an immediate reply to your message, we are hugely grateful for your interest, but we are all volunteers and have to fit butterfly work around our other commitments. With the walking season already started, however, we need to start finding some help!
Transect walking is very satisfying as you build your familiarity and knowledge of a site and its butterflies – come and try it!