Our regular butterfly counting (transect) walk on Hod Hill has been going for 44 years, but needs more walkers if we are not to lose the value of the data already gathered.

Transect walks are done along a set route from April to September and shared between a number of walkers, so you can talk to the walk coordinator about what weeks you can do.

Some degree of butterfly identification skills are needed, but there are records of what is seen in each sector of the walk, which give you a good clue. You will go out with an experienced walker for the first time or two to help you get the hang of it.

This is a steep hill, so better suited to those who can handle slopes easily.

These long-running transect walk records are extremely valuable as they give us a good picture of how the various butterfly species are doing and help us to know when they need our help. You can expect to see most of the common species, plus several of the Skippers, Common and Adonis Blue, plus Marsh Fritillaries most years.

Adonis Blue. Photo: Nick Galer

Email Steve Brown on estherandsteve10@gmail.com or use our website contact form: www.dorsetbutterflies.com/contact/form