Thanks to Peter for reminding us about the national initiative that kicked off this week. Ed
Last week saw the Big Butterfly Race between the Hampshire and Sussex branches of Butterfly Conservation marking the start of the Big Butterfly Count (20th July – 11th August) which encourages everyone to go out, look for, and record butterflies.
The race was adjudicated by the Chief Executives of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, Debbie Tann, and Sussex Wildlife Trust, Tony Whitbread.
The real goal of the event was to raise awareness about our butterflies, and to inspire everyone to get out there and enjoy wildlife. And of course, the recently published State of Nature Report reminds us just how threatened and vulnerable many of our butterflies are, and so we all need to do our bit to help save them.
Debbie Tann commented,
“Taking part in the Big Butterfly Race and being in the company of such enthusiasts reinvigorated my love of butterflies. It was a treat to see 28 species in a single day and we visited some of Hampshire’s premier wildlife sites to see them. It also highlighted how critical it is that we manage habitats for butterflies and other insects by providing the nectar rich flowers, hedgerows and native trees that they depend on.”
Do your bit
So now is a good time to get involved. You can take part in the Big Butterfly Count over the next couple of weeks, and make time to visit some of the stunning nature reserves managed by the Wildlife Trust or our partner nature conservation organisations.
And finally – please encourage butterflies and other wildlife into your garden by creating a wildlife-friendly haven at home.
Butterfly spotter sheets
If you don’t know your Purple Emperor from a Brown Argus, the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust website is a good starting point.
You can download ‘Butterfly spotter sheets’ (from the Wildlife Gardening section) to help you identify which butterflies you have seen, and also get some inspiration of a nature reserve near you that will give you a good chance of seeing a wide variety of species.
Some favourite Wildlife Trust nature reserves include:
- Pamber Forest
- Noar Hill
- St Catherine’s Hill
- Roydon Woods
- Swanwick Lakes
- Arreton Downs
You might also want to come to one of the Wildlife Trust’s many guided walks that are running over the summer that will help you find out more about butterflies and other local wildlife. Full details are on the ‘Events’ section of the website.
For extra inspiration, there is a Springwatch Guide to Butterflies on BBC 2, 9.00pm on Friday 26th July where the team “offer tips for turning your garden into a butterfly haven to help these beautiful creatures survive and flourish in increasingly challenging times.”
Image: Gatekeeper on Fleabane by Elliott Fairs
