Dorset butterfly updates
Cerne Giant Hill, while known for its giant picture of a giant on the hillside, is a great butterfly site, and we have just had the excellent news that the National Trust is hoping to buy it – but they need help raising the money. Continue reading
Today’s the day – Great News from Waitrose and Partners Parkstone, Poole! Continue reading
We are going to be one of the three charities supported by Waitrose in February, so please use your green token to vote for us. Continue reading
There is an easy way of giving money to Butterfly Conservation, but use it carefully to get the best results. Continue reading
The full title of the talk is Butterfly Breakthroughs: 50 years of learning to conserve Lepidoptera.
Martin Warren has been the Chief Executive of Butterfly Conservation for many years; he is a real butterfly and moth expert and an excellent speaker. This talk will be a real treat. Continue reading
A huge congratulations to Butterfly Conservation’s Dr Martin Warren who has completed his Big Butterfly Hike, walking over 105 miles to save 3 threatened species: the Wood White, Duke of Burgundy and the High Brown Fritillary. Continue reading
Starting on Monday 27 July and ending on Sunday 2 August, the CEO of Butterfly Conservation, Dr Martin Warren, will be undertaking the challenge of walking the length of the Jurassic Coast, to save butterflies. Continue reading
One of Britain’s most rapidly declining butterflies is in trouble, right here on our doorstep. Continue reading
We are delighted to have persuaded Guardian natural history writer and author Patrick Barkham to give us a talk, which will be one of Thomas Hardye School’s Community Lectures.
Author of ‘The Butterfly Isles’, Patrick set out to see all of our 59 native species of butterfly, and his book tells of a memorable year travelling to all corners of the countryside seeking out butterflies and the enthusiasts who cherish them.
He will talk about the wonder of butterflies: beautiful creatures and also surprisingly complicated indicators of the state of nature today.
Richard Mabey described his book as: ‘Beguiling … in a vivid, adept, unapologetic voice, Barkham wonderfully catches the spirit of these ethereal creatures’.
He has also written ‘Badgerlands: the twilight world of Britain’s most enigmatic animal’. In the talk he will look at the facinating history of badgers and their interactions with humans, from ‘Wind in the Willows’ to the recent cull.
‘Badgerlands’ was chosen as a Book of the Year in The Times, The Sunday Times, The Guardian and the New Statesman.
This is a Community Lecture in aid of the Dorset Branch of Butterfly Conservation and of the local Primary schools’ science fund.
7.00 pm at the School Theatre, Thomas Hardye School, Queens Avenue, Dorchester DT1 2ET.
Tickets are free, with a collection at the end of the evening. Tickets can be collected from the school from November 4 onwards, or we can post them to you if you send a stamped addressed envelope to: Nigel Spring, 346 Mundens Lane Alveston, Sherborne, DT9 5HU. These Community Lectures are often full, so please do not rely on picking up a ticket on the door.
More details are on the Thomas Hardye School website: http://tinyurl.com/ndpoja8
Contact: Butterfly Conservation contact is Nigel Spring
Phone: 01963 23559 or 07981 776767
Email: nigelspring@yahoo.co.uk
The Dorset Branch education stall has recently spent four days at Moors Valley Country Park, for their ‘Butterfly, Moth and Minibeast Festival”.
More than 1200 people attended, mostly families. The star attractions were living examples including Orange Tip eggs, caterpillars and chrysalis. December moth caterpillars, all hairy and camouflaged against hawthorn twigs, were admired. Small Tortoiseshell caterpillars, chrysalis and an emerging adult came from Moors Valley. A selection of moths were on show, all described by the 10 expert volunteers.
The Buttterfly Conservation’s national Munching Caterpillars initiative also joined us, with Catherine Mason keeping young people busy potting plants to take home.
On the next weekend Winterborne Whitechurch Farm Open Day saw the stall have another 200 plus visitors looking at Poplar Hawk moths and their caterpillars, plus red, white and black Knot Grass caterpillars.
Knot Grass Caterpillar. Photo: Lyn Pullen
Most amazing was an Orange tip caterpillar changing into a chrysalis as we watched. Small Tortoiseshell caterpillars were also making this wonderful change.
This farm has been surveyed by Butterfly Conservation volunteers and has 31 species of butterfly on its ‘managed for conservation’ areas. Eighty moths have also been seen on the farm, and our display included Privet Hawk Moth, Lobster Moth and the stunning Green silver lines. Our picture displays showed the link between food production and conservation.
You too can volunteer for stall help, it is wonderful to look up and see 4 pairs of eyes riveted on you!
Contact Bridget via our Contact Form.