Please book with the event leader in advance – anytime up to the afternoon before the event. Please include your mobile phone number and email address, as we may have to contact you if numbers on the walks are limited, or if we have to cancel the event due to the weather or other unforeseen circumstances. Please don’t forget to let us know if you wish to change your plans. We will only use your personal details to contact you about the events you have booked for.
If you enjoy the event, we would be very grateful if you would consider a donation to the Dorset Branch of Butterfly Conservation. You can donate online or if you would rather not use an online payment, please see our ways to donate page.
- Contact: Nigel Spring
- Phone: 07981776767
- Email: nigelspring@yahoo.co.uk Event booking information
- Meeting point: Meet in the layby on the Lyons Gate to Batcombe road for a 9am start. See site map for details.
- Grid ref.: ST641046
- w3w: ///overdone.sponsors.hillside
Wednesday 11 February
Habitat enhancement for the Duke of Burgundy butterfly
Telegraph Hill, Hilfield
We have funding to carry out emergency habitat management for Dorsets most endangered butterfly species: the Duke of Burgundy. This butterfly is now reduced to six small colonies in the county, all of which require careful management to maintain suitable habitat. We plan to carry out scrub control on several of these sites during the coming winter, which will greatly increase the butterfly's chances of survival. The work is funded under a Farming in Protected Landscapes (FIPL) grant awarded to Hilfield Friary, in conjunction with the Dorset Branch of Butterfly Conservation and EuCAN CIC. This is the fourth of the five sites we will be working on in this exciting new project we have already carried out two days of work on Red Post Hill at Up Sydling, a day on Black Hill at Cerne Abbas and two days on Giant Hill at Cerne Abbas. We are looking for practical support from as many people as possible at this site and the last one (Batcombe Down). Please bring your refreshments and lunch with you and PPE if you will be working with power tools (certificated users only). If you plan to join us please get in touch so that I can organise the work.
- Contact: Nigel Spring
- Phone: 07981 776767
- Email: nigelspring@yahoo.co.uk Event booking information
- Meeting point: Meet at 9.30. Access to the parking area is via the farm track that leads east from the Ansty to Milborne St Andrew road at What3Words: batches.defected.fronted OS map ref ST781019. Follow the track for about 800 metres and meet at 9.30 am beside the track. See site map for details.
- Grid ref.: ST789018
- w3w: ///gradually.deform.desks
Friday 13 February
Woodland Glade Maintenance and Hazel Coppicing
Monmouth Hill, Milton Abbas
Two years ago we (Butterfly Conservation Dorset branch in conjunction with EuCAN CIC) were invited by Forestry England to do some clearance work on Monmouth Hill (also called Melmoth's Hill) to improve the habitats for butterflies, moths and other wildlife, followed by butterfly recording over the last two summers. Since then we have had several very successful meetings on the site and have opened up a large swathe of grassland and have re-coppiced some of the hazel there. We would like to continue this work on February 13th and 20th this month. It's a beautiful site with wide views across the valley to Milton Abbey School and beyond. Meet for a 9.30 start at the parking area shown on the new map - click 'site map' below. Please bring your refreshments and lunch, wear work gloves and thornproof clothing, and if you are a brushcutter operator bring your PPE. The brushcutter operators will be recutting the long grass in the open areas, the handtool team will be making a start on the hazel coppicing and helping to rake off the cut grass. Please let me know if you would like to attend and include your phone number so that I can call or text you if we need to change the plans because of the weather.
- Contact: Nigel Spring
- Phone: 07981 776767
- Email: nigelspring@yahoo.co.uk Event booking information
- Meeting point: Meet for a 9.30 start at the parking area see site map. See site map for details.
- Grid ref.: ST789018
- w3w: ///w3w: ///gradually.deform.desks
Friday 20 February
Woodland glade maintenance and hazel coppicing
Monmouth Hill Milton Abbas
Two years ago we (Butterfly Conservation Dorset branch in conjunction with EuCAN CIC) were invited by Forestry England to do some clearance work on Monmouth Hill (also called Melmoth's Hill) to improve the habitats for butterflies, moths and other wildlife, followed by butterfly recording over the last two summers.Since then we have had several very successful meetings on the site and have opened up a large swathe of grassland and have re-coppiced some of the hazel there. We would like to continue this work on February 13th and 20th this month. Its a beautiful site with wide views across the valley to Milton Abbey School and beyond. Please bring your refreshments and lunch, wear work gloves and thornproof clothing, and if you are a brushcutter operator, bring your PPE. The brushcutter operators will be recutting the long grass in the open areas, the handtool team will be making a start on the hazel coppicing and helping to rake off the cut grass. Please let me know if you would like to attend and include your phone number so that I can call or text you if we need to change the plans because of the weather.
- Contact: Stephen Brown
- Phone: 07748 730399
- Email: estherandsteve@btinternet.com Event booking information
- Meeting point: 2.00 pm at Toller Porcorum Village Hall. From the A356, drive down into Toller Porcorum, over a small bridge then second right(School Lane) then left into Church Mead to Village Hall. From Bridport follow sign to Toller Porcorum, then down into village, over old railway bridge, then first left (School Lane) and then left into Church Mead to Village Hall.
- Grid ref.: SY562980
- Postcode: DT2 0DT
- w3w: ///convinced.emptied.putts
Saturday 21 February
Butterfly Trends in West Dorset and Portland
Toller Porcorum
All are welcome to attend this presentation of the results of the West Dorset Transect surveys, Wider Countryside project, casual, website and garden records in 2025 and the resulting trends in butterfly numbers. Please come along if you might also be interested in helping with any sort of butterfly recording in 2026 or joining in several of the butterfly counting walks. After a presentation on the county and regional results for 2025, we will have talks by invited experts, but if members would like to contribute news, photos or other information from their walks feel free to do so. Please, if possible, contact Stephen Brown in advance if you wish to do so. The programme includes presentations: Dorset's Threatened Butterflies Speaker: Caroline Bulman The Giant is Saved! The Cerne Giant and its butterflies over 30 years Speaker: Rebecca Porter Refreshments will be available and contributions of cake and biscuits will be welcome.
- Contact: Colin Burningham
- Phone: 01935 873219 or 07849 921594 Event booking information
- Meeting point: Meet 10.00 am and park in the lay-by just outside the village on the A3030 Sherborne to Sturminster road, about 250 yards from its junction with the A357.
- Grid ref.: ST737137
- Postcode: DT10 2JD
- w3w: ///competes.range.cabinet
Sunday 22 February
Conservation Action Day
Lydlinch Common
Lydlinch is part of an area crucial to the Marsh Fritillary, and conservation work is vital to ensure that the habitat is kept suitable for its survival at this site. 10.00 am to 3.30pm.
- Contact: Lorraine Munns
- Phone: 07973 853628
- Email: lhmunns@hotmail.com Event booking information
- Meeting point: 7.00 pm at Harman's Cross Village Hall near Corfe. The hall is in Haycrafts Lane just north of the Swanage Railway. There is a car park opposite.
- Grid ref.: SY984800
- Postcode: BH19 3EB
- w3w: ///pokes.ramp.spades
Thursday 5 March
Butterfly Trends in South Dorset
Harman's Cross
All are welcome to attend this presentation of the results of the south Dorset Transect surveys, Wider Countryside project, casual, website and garden records in 2025 and the resulting trends in butterfly numbers. Please come along if you might also be interested in helping with any sort of butterfly recording in 2026 or joining in several of the butterfly counting walks. Before a presentation on the county and Purbeck results for 2025, attendees are encouraged to contribute to the meeting by way of a short presentation on their experiences or with pictures. Please contact the organiser in advance if you wish to do so. There will also be presentations: The Data Flow Journey. Speaker: Richard Austin (Recording Schemes Officer, Butterfly Conservation) Celebrating 50 years of the Studland & Ballard Down Transects Speaker: Dr Martin Warren (Advisor to the Butterfly Conservation Europe board) Refreshments (namely tea/coffee and cakes) will be available during the interval and contributions of cake and biscuits will be welcome.
- Contact: Steve Brown
- Phone: 07748 730399
- Email: estherandsteve@btinternet.com Event booking information
- Meeting point: 7.00 pm at Broadstone War Memorial Hall in Tudor Road postcode, BH18 8AW. This is in a one-way system and best accessed via Station Approach and Moor Road.
- Postcode: BH18 8AW
- w3w: ///chill.reef.armed
Friday 6 March
Butterfly Trends in East Dorset
Broadstone
All are welcome to this presentation on the trends in butterfly numbers revealed by the monitoring in east Dorset surveys in 2025 including casual, website and garden records. Please come along if you may also be interested in helping with any sort of butterfly recording in 2026 or joining in any of the several butterfly counting walks. After a presentation on the county and regional results for 2025 we will have talks by invited experts, but if members would like to contribute news, photos or other information from their walks feel free to do so. Please, if possible, contact Stephen Brown in advance if you wish to do so to rearrange the programme. The programme includes presentations: Overwintering of Clouded Yellow on the Southbourne transect Speaker: Andy Martin BCP Parks Foundation - Accessible transect walking for all Speaker: Will Bowskill Refreshments will be available and contributions of cake and biscuits will be welcome.
- Contact: Steve Brown
- Phone: 07748 730399
- Email: estherandsteve@btinternet.com Event booking information
- Meeting point: 2.00 pm. East Stour Village Hall, next to the playing field on the left of the B3092 road from East Stour to Gillingham.
- Postcode: SP8 5JY
- w3w: ///promoting.ranted.poppy
Saturday 14 March
Butterfly Trends in North Dorset
East Stour, near Gillingham
All are welcome to attend this presentation of the results of the north Dorset Transect surveys, Wider Countryside project, casual, website and garden records in 2025 and the resulting trends in butterfly numbers. Please come along if you might also be interested in helping with butterfly recording in 2026 or signing up for any of the butterfly counting walks. Members are welcome to contribute to the meeting by way of a short presentation on their experiences or with pictures. Please contact the organiser in advance if you wish to do so. The programme includes presentations: The Giant is Saved! The Cerne Giant transect and its butterflies over 30 years Speaker: Rebecca Porter Dorset's Threatened Butterflies Speaker to be confirmed Wild Sherborne - an urban rewilding project Speaker: Neil Walker Refreshments will be available and contributions of cake and biscuits will be welcome.