Welcome to the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Branch of Butterfly Conservation

Butterfly Conservation was formed by a small group of dedicated naturalists in 1968 following the alarming decline of many beautiful butterflies. Most British butterfly species remain in decline.

We aim to halt and reverse these declines. Our vision is of a world rich in butterflies for future generations to enjoy. We are also committed to the conservation of moths, which are close relatives of butterflies and are in rapid decline.

Butterflies and moths you can see now

As Spring advances into May, the number of butterflies and moths on the wing continues to grow rapidly. There have been over 45 butterfly species and over 1200 moth species recorded in May in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Listed below are selections of those that can be seen this month. Most of the moths will only be seen when attracted to light.

Common Blue
Speckled Wood
Pearl-bordered Fritillary
Orange-tip
Dingy Skipper
Green-veined White
Small Heath
Small White
Small Blue
Duke of Burgundy
Grizzled Skipper
Glanville Fritillary
Holly Blue
Green Hairstreak
Brown Argus
Large White
Adonis Blue
Small Copper
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary
Small Tortoiseshell
Wall
Painted Lady
Marsh Fritillary
Large Skipper
Purple Hairstreak

Shuttle-shaped Dart
Treble Lines
Heart and Dart
Hebrew Character
Light Brown Apple Moth
Brimstone Moth
Flame Shoulder
Common Quaker
Vine's Rustic
Pale Tussock
White Ermine
Muslin Moth
Green Carpet
Brown Silver-line
Setaceous Hebrew Character
Orange Footman
Brindled Pug
Common Pug
Speckled Yellow
Cinnabar
Nut-tree Tussock
Bright-line Brown-eye
Pale Mottled Willow
Poplar Hawk-moth
Common Marbled Carpet

Butterflies are beautiful and intrinsically valuable. Together with moths, their sensitivity to environmental change makes them valuable indicators of the health of the countryside. We are dedicated to the conservation of:

Butterflies	Moths	Reserves

There are 46 species of butterfly occurring in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Of these 35 can be seen on our reserves. More about our butterflies...	Around 1950 species of moth have been recorded in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Over 600 of these on our reserves. More about our moths...	Butterfly Conservation has over 25 reserves across the UK, including 3 in Hampshire, Yew Hill. Magdalen Hill Down and Bentley Station Meadow. More about our reserves...

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You can now support our ongoing butterfly and moth conservation work when you buy products and services on-line. Simply click on the easyfundraising.org.uk logo and select Butterfly Conservation - Hampshire and Isle of Wight Branch

How does it work? Firstly you have to register with easyfundraising and name the charity you wish to support (need to provide name, email and a password). Then when you wish to purchase something on-line go to the easyfundraising website, select Butterfly Conservation - Hampshire & Isle of Wight Branch and then click through to the company you wish to buy from. There are over 2000 companies registered there. It doesn't cost you any extra as the company you purchase from pays a small sum directly to the Branch. If you wish to know more please go to the easyfundraising.org.uk website.

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The June Bailey Education Fund

Two awards of up to £300 each are available annually in support of individuals or organisations involved in educational activities that promote increased awareness, knowledge and conservation of butterflies and moths in Hampshire & Isle of Wight.

The branch has been able to offer this educational opportunity thanks to the support of June and Ken Bailey - whose generosity has allowed us to establish the June Bailey Education Fund.

Application Form with full details available HERE...

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MothQuest for April is the Sloe Carpet - details kindly provided by Simon Curson HERE...

May's MothQuest is the Butterbur - details HERE...

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Something to wet your appetite and encourage you to get out there with your camera!!

The results of the 2012 Photographic Competition are HERE... (at last!!)

If you want to get to know more about your garden wildlife then take part in the National Garden Bioblitz. Run by volunteers in collaboration with iSpot, the idea is that over the weekend of 1-2 June you get out into your garden, record what you see, take photos of the things you don't recognise and the online community will help you identify them. And remember Juliet Bloss is asking for new articles for the Branch newsletter so do think about writing to her about your garden bioblitz. Lynn Fomison

Those also interested in moths are recommended to visit our associate site Hantsmoths:

NEWS

08.05.13: Details of Field Trips added to Events, HERE...

30.04.13: May's MothQuest is the Butterbur - details HERE...

22.04.13: Latest edition of Emoth available HERE...

18.04.13: Report on Henry Edmunds talk with Chris Packham, HERE...

12.04.13: April Newsletter now available in the Members' Area

10.04.13: Results of 2012 Photographic Competition HERE...

3.04.13: MothQuest April - details HERE...

26.03.13: Details of 2 new Work Parties added. See below.

17.03.13: Read Lynn Fomison's talk on recording caterpillars HERE...

17.03.13: 2012 Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey Newsletter available HERE...

04.02.13: Report on this year's Moth Recorder's Conference HERE...

14.01.13: Article on the White-letter Hairstreak added HERE...

01.01.13: Feature on Brown Hairstreak Transect added HERE..

19.12.12: The list of suppliers of desease resistant elms has been updated for 2013. See foot of page.

23.11.12: An article on the ecology of the Brown Hairstreak by Clive Wood has been placed in the Members' Area

23-01-12: Botanical Trends at Magdalen Hill Down Extension - a New Report. HERE...

01.01.13: Details of Disease resistant elm cultivars HERE...