Mike also referred to the importance of records given that a new moth atlas for the two counties is currently being planned. The likely publication is around 2017 produced using records up 

Great idea as a Christmas present! Giant Silkmoths Colour, to 2015.

Many people expressed their appreciation of the programme and some of the audience are pictured here. Photo John Nundy. Report by Lynn Fomison.

A PDF copy of this report can be downloaded HERE...

21-12-11

Advance Notice! HAMPSHIRE MOTH CONFERENCE – Littleton, January 14th 2012

The 3rd annual Branch Moth Conference will be held at Littleton Memorial Hall, near Winchester, Hampshire on Saturday 14 January 2012. Doors will open at 12.30pm and the Conference will close at 5.30pm. Refreshments will be available on the day. There will be a wide range of speakers and more details will be available nearer the time on the Hantsmoths and Branch websites. All are welcome, beginners and experts alike, and there will be plenty of opportunity to chat and meet others with similar interests.

All are welcome and do please pass on to anybody that you think may be interested. Entrance is free but there will be a small charge for refreshments.  I look forward to seeing you there.
Tim Norriss 

07-12-11

PRESS RELEASE *DECADE OF DECLINE FOR UK BUTTERFLIES*

Almost three quarters of UK butterfly species have decreased in population during the last decade, a major scientific report reveals today.

The findings by Butterfly Conservation and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) show 72% of species declined in abundance over ten years and distributions of 54% of butterflies fell, many sharply.

The results, from The State of the UK’s Butterflies 2011 Report, provide further evidence that the European Union target to halt the loss of biodiversity by 2010 was not met.

But the report also reveals that intensive conservation efforts have started to turn around the fortunes of some of our most endangered butterflies.

The previously extinct Large Blue showed increases in population and range and the Heath Fritillary has been brought back from the brink of extinction.

But ongoing declines have left the High Brown Fritillary and the Duke of Burgundy facing the very real threat of becoming extinct in the UK unless they benefit from further conservation work.

The report shows for the first time that the total number of common and widespread species fell by almost a quarter in 10 years, indicating underlying problems with the UK’s environment.

Butterflies are seen as indicator species so these serious declines may represent a wider insect biodiversity crisis.

The deterioration of suitable habitats is believed to be the main cause behind the declines.

The report represents the first time that a ten-year assessment of both species distribution and population changes has been possible.

The Pearl-bordered Fritillary, High Brown Fritillary and Duke of Burgundy have shown the most significant declines during the last decade. The High Brown Fritillary’s population has fallen by 69% and its distribution has plummeted by 49%.

Much-loved garden favourite – the Small Tortoiseshell, has also experienced an unprecedented decrease.

But some of the report’s findings are more encouraging. The Large Blue, declared extinct in the 1970s but re-introduced in the 80s, has benefited from targeted conservation work enabling it to spread out and form around 20 new colonies.

Populations of the scarce Marsh Fritillary and the Small Blue have also increased thanks to ongoing work by Butterfly Conservation and its partners.

During the last decade, some species including the Peacock, Comma, Speckled Wood and Ringlet have continued to spread rapidly northwards in response to climate change.

Dr Martin Warren, chief executive of Butterfly Conservation, said: “We now have firm evidence that targeted effort can reverse the decline of threatened butterflies, so it is especially sad that these hard-fought gains have been put in jeopardy due to Government cut backs in funding.

“Wildlife recovery needs more not less funding if we are to halt the loss of biodiversity and create a healthy environment for us all to live in.”

Butterfly Conservation Surveys Manager Richard Fox said: “Butterflies are the ‘canaries in the coalmine’ for our environment and this new assessment shows they are in a poor state in 21^st Century Britain.

“Despite grand promises by politicians, rare and common species of butterfly continue to decline in our countryside and towns as a result of farming, forestry and building practices that are hostile to our native wildlife.

“However, we know what to do to reverse the long-term declines of many threatened butterflies and, over the last decade, we’ve proved it can be done on countless local sites across the UK.

“What we now need to do is roll out these successful approaches on a bigger scale. It is vital that the Government’s new approach to ecosystem conservation retains a sharp focus on threatened species – without this, many butterflies and other iconic wildlife will continue to decline towards extinction.”

Dr Marc Botham, Butterfly Ecologist for CEH, said: “"This new assessment highlights the huge contribution thousands of volunteer recorders make to long-term butterfly monitoring schemes.

“Without the dedication of these recorders it would be impossible to produce accurate and detailed assessments of how the UK’s butterflies are being affected by environmental change."

The report comes from data gathered by two long-running citizen science projects - the Butterflies for the New Millennium (BNM) recording scheme and the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme.

www.butterfly-conservation.org

5-12-11

Giant Silkmoths Colour, Mimicry & Camouflage by Philip Howse and Kirby Wolfe

Great idea as a Christmas present! Giant Silkmoths Colour, Mimicry & Camouflage A stunning new book by Philip Howse and Kirby Wolfe. £25 ISBN9 781906 506254
This book just has to be at the forefront of bringing the wonder of the natural world right into the reader’s home. Pink moths that mimic orchids in the jungle, moths that are patterned to look like snakes or with scary eye patterns leap from almost every page. The photographs are stunning and of superb quality. The illustrations in this book are destined to make a significant impression on the reader. The Giant Silkmoths and their caterpillars will to many people be unsurpassed in nature for sheer beauty and evolutionary design. Indeed many hours can be spent simply poring over the pictures to become absorbed in the magic of moths.
However it would be a shame not to find the time to read the text because the explanations of the strategies of colour, mimicry and camouflage encompass many strands of nature, history and mythology and are truly fascinating.
This book is recommended reading for anyone with an interest in nature. But I would especially like it to be opened by those who have the perception that moths are ugly, brown and eat clothes! Be prepared to be enchanted by these giant moths and their caterpillars.
Lynn Fomison
PS Reading page page 72 is a must! It gives a whole new meaning to Matthew Oates saying " Never under estimate a caterpillar."

1-Nov-11

Moth Night returns in 2012!

From Richard Fox, Survey Manager
As you’ll be aware there was no National Moth Night in 2011. After 12 glorious years it was time to take stock and review. The organisers, Atropos and Butterfly Conservation, have been hard at work planning a sustainable future for the annual celebration of moths and moth recording. As a result, the event has evolved and will return next year as Moth Night 2012. Moth Night 2012 will retain the familiar combination of moth recording by enthusiasts across Britain and Ireland with local events aimed at raising awareness of moths among the general public. As in the past, each year will have a theme (although recorders are always welcome to do their own thing) and the event will take place on different dates. However, in response to feedback from participants, future events will be confined to the warmest months and each event will last for three consecutive nights (Thursday-Saturday). Recording can take place on any one or more of these nights. We hope that these changes will greatly improve the chances of favourable weather for moth recording during the event. The other major change is a move to full online recording. We will be working in association with the Biological Records Centre (at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology) to create a comprehensive but easy-to-use online recording system that will be the route for all future records. As well as vastly improving the efficiency of handling the many thousands of records received each year, this new system will give participants immediate feedback about the event.
So the vital information: Moth Night 2012 will take place on 21- 23 June 2012. The theme will be the moths of brownfield habitats (such as old quarries, disused railway lines, reclaimed coal tips, gravel and clay workings etc.) and will include both daytime searches and the usual night-time recording. Further announcements will follow, but please make a note of the dates now. Moth Night 2013 will take place on 8-10 August 2013. Moth Night 2014 will take place on 3-5 July 2014. We hope that, as in the past, many Branches will organise public events as part of Moth Night 2012, particularly making use of the daytime element of next year’s event. As usual, please let the Moths Count team know of any events that you are organising so that they can be promoted via the Moth Night 2012 website.

25-Oct-11

A Full Review of the 2011 AGM and Members' Day by Lynn Fomison and Tim Norriss is available HERE ...

25-Oct-11

A Photographic Guide to Insects of the New Forest and Surrounding Area by Paul D Brock

From the publisher: Packed with over 1600 stunning images, this unique photographic guide is the first book on the fascinating range of insects in the New Forest and surrounding area. The New Forest National Park is one of Britain’s richest areas for insects, with an estimated 63% of the UK species. This guide will appeal not only to experts and wildlife-enthusiasts of all ages living in or visiting the New Forest, but also those throughout the UK and abroad. The photographs include behavioural images and are accompanied by a concise text with key information and locations in which to identify, enjoy and photograph these insects. Around 1300 species are included, with full coverage of butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies, shieldbugs, grasshoppers and related insects, amongst others. Sections on the history of entomology in the New Forest and information on different habitats are also included.

About the author: Scientific Associate of the Natural History Museum, London, world expert and author of several major reference books on stick and leaf insects.

A Review by Peter Eeles: The author first told me of his idea for this guide a couple of years ago and, I have to say, I'm absolutely blown away by the final result. This is, without doubt, going to be a standard reference for many years to come and, I'm sure, a benchmark that authors of similar topics will measure their works by. If you're at all interested in entomology then you need this book - simple as that. And don't be fooled by the title - many of the individual species are found across the British Isles and not just the New Forest area, and this guide will help you identify the family or even genus for those species found further afield for the most part.

For the last 30 years or so I've relied on typical field guides that present their subject out of context, often displaying specimens in unnatural positions - something that a photographic guide doesn't suffer from. The path trodden by Waring and Townsend's Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland (illustrated by Richard Lewington) and Chris Manley's British Moths and Butterflies - a photographic guide, which have shifted away from the illustration of pinned specimens (thankfully) and toward a representation that is wholly realistic as seen in nature, is continued in this work. The text accompanying the photos is really quite detailed when compared with other guides. Given the many acknowledged contributors, it's easy to see that the author (whose own credentials are impeccable) has clearly done his homework by consulting the "great and the good" in all fields of entomology - something that comes across in the written word. The species-specific dialogue makes for an enjoyable read with the author's local knowledge shining through. I have to admit, I thought I knew my butterflies, but even this section was interesting and informative reading; I stand enlightened as a result! Specific sites within the New Forest area are also provided should the reader want to make specific plans to find a particular species. br />
FFinally, I should mention the presentation. I'm surprised that this book isn't also labelled as a "field guide", since it would be easy to carry around on a field trip (and I shall be doing just that!). It's fairly chunky at 314 pages, but small enough to carry around. The various insect orders are suitably divided in the book, with every page colour-coded to allow the reader to easily locate the order in question. It's then a case of simply flicking through the pages to "home in" on a particular species. Having said that, I can also envisage readers reading the book from cover to cover. All in all this is, quite simply, a book that "raises the bar" for similar works and, as such, is highly recommended.

The book can be ordered from HERE...

09-Oct-11

The 2010 AGM minutes are available HERE.... Many thanks to Cressida Wheelwright.

07-Oct-11

It's the famous Blackmoor Apple day on Sunday 9th October. The branch will be there with gazebo, displays and sales items so do come along and say hello. Details of the event can be found here.

07-Oct-11

There is a vacancy on the main committee for an Honorary Branch Treasurer. The treasurer’s duties include:

• Maintaining the branch accounts (these are held on an Excel file)
• Settling and posting invoices and payments
• Reporting to the Branch Main Committee on accounting issues (balances, etc.)
• Closing the accounts for Year End
• Liaising with committee members, BC Head Office and other interested parties as appropriate

If you are interested in taking on this role, please contact Arthur Greenwood (greenwoodarthur@hotmail.com) for more details.

07-Oct-11: 2011 AGM and Members' Day - Saturday 22nd October

We're delighted to announce that this year's keynote speaker will be one of the world's foremost scientists, and book author, Professor Jeremy Thomas. Jeremy led the pioneering research which resulted in the successful reintroduction of the Large Blue butterfly to Britain. He began studying Britain's last remaining Large Blue colonies in the 1970s. Although it was extinct in Britain by 1979, Prof Thomas and colleagues used their research into the butterfly's life cycle to successfully introduce new colonies in the 1980s. Jeremy is also known for the classic book The Butterflies of Britain and Ireland, illustrated by Richard Lewington. Full details of this year's event are on the events page.

06-Oct-11

The September 2011 newsletter now available from the members' area.

30-Sep-11 - A Farewell Message From Lynn

As many of you will know, Lynn Fomison retired at the end of September, and has sent through the following "parting thoughts":

At any time raising cash for our charity is important, but right now is more important than ever. Our Chief Executive Martin Warren has just learnt that Natural England have decided this year to greatly reduce their grant to BC from £300K pa to £40K, the latter just to work on a small number of very rare moths. This amounts to a cut of 85% to our core work, which is part of the 30% cuts that NE are facing over the next 3 years, they made around 400 people redundant this April and another 400 will have to go next year. However, they have made disproportionate cuts to our grant and a big cut of at least 50% to their Species Recovery Programme.

So I hope if you are reading this as a person who really cares about butterflies because a really good opportunity to donate exists. Under a scheme called Matchpot every £1 you give is transformed into £10 to help threatened species. Already Butterfly Conservation has obtained landfill grants to protect the Duke of Burgundy in Hampshire and Sussex and the Large Blue in Somerset but we now need to raise match funding.

Other important projects waiting to be funded include:

• Duke of Burgundy and Pearl-bordered Fritillaries in the North York Moors
• Pearl-bordered Fritillaries on the Morecambe Bay Limestones
• A national Wood White recovery project in southern England and the Midlands
• Dark Bordered Beauty and Large Heath in Scotland
• Dingy Skipper in Northern Ireland

Visit http://www.justgiving.com/matchpotappeal to donate. The website also carries very nice messages from people who have donated. Its magic! With gift aid a £20 donation is transformed into £250. I know that times are hard for people but at least watching butterflies and moths is a fun free thing for everyone to do. It is important to act now. Matchpot won't last forever and BC needs the money now. The butterflies need the money now! The fourteen years I have worked helping to look after the branches three nature reserves has totally convinced me that Butterfly conservation really does work.

And with that it is Good Bye from me

- Lynn Fomison

29-Sep-11

Migrant Monarch makes landfall. See HERE...

23-Sep-11: Priority Moths Email Newsletter Number 221

From Tony Davis and Mark Parsons - latest news on the UK BAP Priority Species:

• Stigmella zelleriella - Two larvae and at least a dozen vacated first brood mines were found on Salix repens at a known site in Kent on 16th September.
• Chalk Carpet (Scotopteryx bipunctaria) - One came to a garden light trap in Dorset on 10^th September.
• Barberry Carpet (Pareulype berberata) - Six larvae were found at a known site in Wiltshire on 9th September, with three at another known site on the same day. One third instar larva was found at a known site on 11th.
• Scarce Pug (Eupithecia extensaria) - One larva was found at a known site in Lincolnshire on 8th September.
• Lunar Yellow Underwing (Noctua orbona) - One came to MV light at a known site in Suffolk on 3rd September. This species has recently been seen at 5 sites in the Brecks and west Norfolk.
• Sword-grass (Xylena exsoleta) - Two came to sugar at a known site in Banffshire on 19th September.
• Dark Crimson Underwing (Catocala sponsa) - One came to light at a known site in Hampshire on 7th September and another at a known site in Wiltshire on the following night.
• Olive Crescent (Trisateles emortualis) - Larvae have recently been found feeding on dead Sycamore leaves in Sussex. As far as we are aware, this is the first recorded use of this foodplant in Britain.

21-Sep-11

Boost for rare Barberry Carpet. See HERE...

15-Aug-11

The August 2011 Reserves Newsletter is now available HERE...

15-Jul-11

The July 2011 Reserves Newsletter is now available HERE...

15-May-11

The May 2011 Reserves Newsletter is now available HERE...

30-Apr-11

The 2010 Butterfly and Moth Report now available in the Members' Area.

21-Apr-11

A Request from Martin Warren the Chief Executive of Butterfly Conservation

A very worrying consultation has recently been announced by Government which is considering the scrapping of various environmental laws. I am emailing Branch committee members to ask you to express your opposition to this proposal which could do immeasurable damage to wildlife, including butterflies and moths. Please circulate this email to anyone else who might feel the same.

If you have 30 seconds

Sign the online petition set up by 38 degrees

http://www.38degrees.org.uk/dont-scrap-environment-laws

If you have 2 minutes

Register your views on the Government website

http://www.redtapechallenge.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/environment/

Further information

The Government has recently launched a consultation on the proposed scrapping of a whole range of regulations, known as the “Red Tape Challenge”.  This was launched by Vince Cable on 7 April 2011 in a bid to boost short-term economic growth. Amazingly this includes most of the wildlife legislation that we and our partners have worked so hard to get on the statute books in recent years.

In short, it seems Government is considering getting rid of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, the Climate Change Act, and 278 environment laws (among thousands of laws and regulations). These Acts are essential for protecting key wildlife sites and species from development and have been developed after long campaigns by wildlife NGOs. Scrapping them would results in immeasurable damage to species and habitats, including butterflies and moths.

Environmental regulations fall under “general regulations” on which the Government are inviting comments throughout the process. The Cabinet Office is ‘crowdsourcing’ proposals for which laws should be scrapped, with Ministers facing a basic presumption that laws and regulations listed in the Red Tape Challenge should be scrapped. Once the nation has had its say, Ministers will have three months to work out which regulations they want to keep and why.

The Government’s website invites comments either as an individual or as an organisation, about the need to protect our environment. The website lists the 278 environmental regulations under scrutiny and you comments can be left under 7 broad headings.

My own contribution reads

“The Government has only just signed the new UN target set at Nagoya to halt biodiversity loss and restore ecosystems by 2020. It simply cannot honour this commitment if it scraps its own wildlife laws. Biodiversity is essential to life on earth and needs protection.”

Thank you very much for your support

Martin

31-Mar-11

See HERE... for details of two new publications from Butterfly Conservation

30-Nov-10

The 2010 Photographic Competition results HERE...

30-Nov-10

Andrew Brookes has provided a May 2010 list of suppliers of disease resistant elm cultivars, see HEREfor full details.

08-Apr-11

Chris Packham Filming at Magdalen Hill Down

On Thursday 7th April a number of the Magdalen Hill Down transect walkers and other recorders, together with Lynn Fomison joined Chris Packham for the filming of an item on monitoring butterflies for his forthcoming set of programmes “The truth about nature”. The first one to be shown on 16th May focuses on farmland.   Earlier in the day Chris had been filmed with the singing skylarks at Magdalen. The production crew had also been thrilled with the opportunity to capture the extensive views of farmland from the reserve in contrast to the MHD Extension which is awash with cowslips at the moment. Weather was sunny & fabulous with lots of butterflies.   Lynn Fomison & Gill Berry have provided a few photographs.

The programme is scheduled for 7.30pm BBC1 16th May in the Inside Out Series.

22-Feb-11 - Two New Moth Publications From Butterfly Conservation

The Provisional Atlas of the UK’s Larger Moths

The Provisional Atlas of the UK’s Larger Moths shows up-to-date distribution maps for 868 resident and immigrant macro-moth species. This is the first atlas to cover all the UK’s larger moths and it includes the first distribution maps ever published for c.300 species (the Geometrids), as well as the first new maps for over 20 years for other species. A such it is a major step forward in our knowledge of moth distributions and a ‘must have’ for moth recorders. The maps include historical records (pre 2000) and current records (2000 onwards). The production of the atlas is a major step towards helping our declining moth fauna and analyses of the data will follow in due course. The maps illustrate under-recorded areas and will enable targeted recording and improved knowledge and conservation. The Provisional Atlas (455pp., softback) can be ordered for £20 (plus £5.00 P&P to UK addresses) by cheque to Butterfly Conservation Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Dorset BH20 5QP or via www.butterfly-conservation.org/shop )

British and Irish moths: an illustrated guide to selected difficult species

British and Irish moths: an illustrated guide to selected difficult species (covering the use of genitalia characters and other features) aims to make available up-to-date information on the identification of difficult macro-moths, beyond what is currently available in the field guides. Written by moth experts Martin Townsend, Jon Clifton and Brian Goodey, 72 larger moth species (plus their subspecies and forms) are included. Much of the Guide is focussed on genitalia characteristics, although there are discussions of other characteristics such as wing markings. It provides the next step for those wishing to make definitive determinations of difficult moths such as ear moths, dark/grey daggers, copper underwings and the November Moth group. The Guide runs to 91 pages and contains over 130 superb colour illustrations. It is spiral bound to aid use and has protective plastic covers. Copies of the Guide are available from Butterfly Conservation ( www.butterfly-conservation.org/shop or by cheque) and from specialist retailers. The recommended retail price is £20, but it is available from Butterfly Conservation at a special initial offer price of £15 (plus £2 P&P to UK addresses).

Tuesday 23rd November

A Butterfly Year - a new DVD filmed and produced by Paul Wetton

Paul spent six months in 2010, travelling from the south coast of England to western Scotland, capturing the fifty eight breeding butterfly species of mainland Britain on film. This personal account shows these fascinating and colourful insects, all filmed on location in Britain, using a broadcast quality digital video format.
Flights into Spring      The first film begins with a journey to the East Rutland site of Ketton Quarry in late April, searching for Grizzled Skipper and Green Hairstreak. We take a look at twenty eight butterfly species in this film, ending in mid June at Strumpshaw Fen, in the Norfolk Broads, watching Britain’s largest butterfly, the fabulous brightly coloured Swallowtail. (Running time: 1 Hour 16 minutes).
On Summer's Breeze In the second film the journey continues, heading north into Cumbria for specialities such as the Northern Brown Argus, High Brown Fritillary, Large Heath and the rare and elusive Mountain Ringlet. In this film we encounter the remaining thirty species of butterfly to be found regularly in mainland Britain, ending with a species that travels from as far afield as north Africa each year to reach our shores, the bright black and yellow migrant Clouded Yellow. (Running time: 1 Hour 15 minutes).

"A Butterfly Year by Paul Wetton raises the bar in terms of high quality video footage of my favourite subject - the butterflies of the British Isles. Complemented with the author's own commentary and original observations, this is a visual feast for nature lovers everywhere. - Pete Eeles, UK Butterflies webmaster and Chairman of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight branch of Butterfly Conservation"  
Details of the content of the films are at http://www.ibirdz.co.uk/A Butterfly Year.html

Thursday 1st July

Lynn Fomison reviews Butterflies – Messages from Psyche by Philip Howse

Many of the signs and symbols that appear on butterflies and moths also resonate within the human psyche, surfacing in our art, architecture, stories and legends.  
About the author.
Profesor Philip Howse spent much of his career at Southampton University, during which time he traveled widely setting up projects for the control of tropical insect pests. He is now retired but continues to write about insects – his lifelong interest.  
Review by Lynn Fomison 29th June 2010
The butterfly and moth enthusiast generally has space on their shelves for just one more book and many readers are likely to be enticed by a book that not only focuses on how lepidoptera have evolved to protect themselves from predators but is also full of surprises. Well, the last thing one would expect to find in a book like this is the story of a bun that looked like Mother Teresa! But, along with many other examples of how optical illusions fool humans, it is not out of place because the author’s hypothesis is that what deceives the human eye can also confuse snakes, birds and other enemies of butterflies and moths. The reader is taken on a journey around the world with wonderful illustrations and descriptions of moths and butterflies that emulate the patterns on snakes, on birds’ feathers and, of course, eyes. Much attention is devoted to the latter with fascinating coverage of how images of lepidoptera have been used in both ancient & modern art. A cave painting dating from 11-14,000 BC possibly depicts an Eyed Hawk moth & must be the earliest moth record! The Death’s-head Hawk-moth was frequently included in paintings by Salvador Dali and the stories of folklore beliefs about this moth are truly riveting. It is a book that is hard to put down, exceedingly stimulating and guaranteed to ensure that when looking at butterflies and moths more attention is paid to the reasons why they look like they do.
Butterflies – Messages from Psyche
Philip Howse
Papadakis Publisher,
London
ISBN 978-1901092-80-6 
£25
www.papadakis.net

Wednesday 31st March - Press Release

Public urged to tell politicians: We care about wildlife

Conservationists are urging the public to help stop further wildlife loss by encouraging their local MPs and Prospective Parliamentary Candidates to sign a new “Wildlife Pledge”, to do all they can to stop and reverse wildlife decline.
A consortium of 11 wildlife charities, including Butterfly Conservation, Plantlife, The RSPB and The Wildlife Trusts have pulled together the pledge to help reverse the rapid decline in our wildlife - both species and habitats. It was recently reported that around 500 species have become extinct in England in the recent past and conservationists are appealing to the public to help make wildlife a top priority for politicians and stop further species being lost.

The Wildlife Pledge, which can be viewed online at www.wildlifepledges2010.org.uk is supported by wildlife organisations representing over two million people. It includes the promise to take action in tackling climate change and to help wildlife meet this challenge. It also looks for commitment from politicians to help reverse the decline of farmland wildlife by the effective promotion of nature-friendly farming, as well as to provide children with contact with the natural world as part of their education.
The pledge gives Prospective Parliamentary Candidates the opportunity to express their support and commitment to various aspects of wildlife conservation. The public can view which candidates have given their support for this issue before the election. Conservationists are encouraging people to then contact their Prospective Parliamentary Candidates informing them how important this issue is and that their response to the pledge may affect the way they vote.

Dr Martin Warren, Chief Executive of Butterfly Conservation said: “Biodiversity is a crucial issue facing the future survival of the planet. It is vital that the next UK parliament takes biodiversity seriously and encourages urgent action to reverse the massive losses of the last few decades. We are urging Parliamentary Candidates to sign the Wildlife Pledge to demonstrate commitment to protecting our wildlife and stop further extinctions.”
RSPB Director of Conservation, Mark Avery, said: “Wildlife doesn't get to vote at the election but we hope that voters can make this an issue that counts. The wildlife pledge allows people to check out how wildlife friendly their prospective MPs will be.” Stephanie Hilborne, Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts said: “The actions of the next government are absolutely crucial to ensuring a future for our wildlife. One of the many challenges they will face will be to implement the Marine Act to restore our seas and also to restore the natural environment on land. It is vital that we have MPs in the new parliament who understand and appreciate these challenges and keep the next government on its toes.”
Chief Executive of Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Martin Spray, said: “We urge all of our members and supporters to make their local candidates aware that wildlife really matters to the people in their community, as does the habitat that supports them. Wetlands are particularly vital for the wide ranging benefits they bring to our communities and to the wildlife they support. If you look after the habitat, you are looking after the wildlife, and the people. It is essential that this be an issue at the ballot box."   Plantlife's Chief Executive Victoria Chester said she hoped that the initiative would help to raise the profile of the natural environment even further as a political issue. "We know that many voters value wildlife and the vital contribution it makes to our lives and we want it to be there for future generations to enjoy. I hope that the Pledge will encourage all candidates and future MPs to place caring for the natural environment at the heart of the work of the new parliament," she said.

 To find out if your local candidates have signed the pledge, visit www.wildlifepledges2010.org.uk     CONTACT Dr Nigel Bourn, Director of Conservation, Butterfly Conservation Tel: 01929 400 209 Email: nbourn@butterfly-conservation.org   Jane Waghorn, Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust Tel: 01453 891 176 Mobile: 07920 810 491 Email: prteam@wwt.org.uk  

Wednesday 31st March - Press Release

Gardening for Butterflies, Bees and other Beneficial Insects

Pre-publication offer.  A practical dip-into, easy to use guide, with all the latest knowledge about our disappearing insects. Hundreds of full colour photos of which plants to use, how to identify butterflies, bees and ladybirds and many years of different experts’ experience. With plans to copy from patio pots to garden borders and green roofs.    Full details of offer and how to order available HERE... (1 MB pdf file)

Wednesday 10th March 2010

Elise Harter's Creative Writing Competition for Children

Butterfly Conservation were contacted by a lady called Elise Harter a few weeks ago. Elise is a children’s author who has launched a creative writing competition to raise awareness of Butterfly Conservation.  
Children aged 8-11 (inclusive) are being encouraged to put pen to paper on the theme of butterflies and caterpillars.   There are two age categories: 8-9 years of age (inclusive) and 10-11 (inclusive).
Each story or poem must be a maximum of 400 words. Parents and teachers are kindly requested to send in entries on behalf of the children by email.  The stories will be uploaded to her website where the public can vote for their favourite. Entries will be accepted up to and including Friday 23 April 2010. The winners will be announced both on Elise’s website and also on BC’s main website. One winner in each category will be selected by the official judges, while a second winner in each age group will win based on the number of votes they receive.  
Participation is free of charge, but voluntary donations to Butterfly Conservation are being encouraged.  
We have supplied Elise with prizes, for the winners, including copies of Nick Baker's book, 'British Wildlife: A Month by Month Guide', free family tickets to Butterfly World, publication of the winning stories on our  website and  bundles of Insect Lore goodies, including a grow-your-own butterfly garden, huge floor puzzle and lifecycle butterfly soft toy.  Elise’s website is http://eliseharter.weebly.com

Monday 8th March 2010

Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey (WCBS) to continue in 2010

Dr Martin Warren writes:  "We are delighted to inform you that we have decided to continue the WCBS again in 2010. Once again this will be a collaborative project with BTO and CEH. We believe that the roll-out last year was a great success with 763 random 1km squares sampled by over 600 surveyors.
The squares were recorded almost equally by BTO and BC volunteers, showing how important the partnership approach has been. The results have given us the first ever random sample of butterflies in the UK and have established an important new baseline from which to assess future trends. I hope you have had a chance to read the results in the latest magazine.
The attached feedback report (360KB PDF file, see HERE...) will be sent to all recorders in the next few weeks and posted on the UKBMS website. We would like to thank everyone who took part last year and especially the WCBS Champions who helped promote the survey within the Branches. We hope you will continue to survey the same squares in the same way as last year.
Our priority is to re-survey these squares for at least the next 2 years so that we can determine trends in the wider countryside and see whether they differ from transect trends. We also welcome new participants either to help re-survey old squares, or to survey new ones for the first time. As last year, we have little external support for the survey and the costs are being borne largely by Butterfly Conservation with a small contribution from Natural England and support of our partners in CEH and BTO.
However, the government agencies have expressed a strong interest in the results and are actively seeking funds for future years. At the present time, therefore, we have to run the survey as cheaply as possible, which means that our time to give support will be somewhat limited. We would also like to express our sincere thanks our central co-ordinator last year, Katie Cruickshanks, who did a wonderful job co-ordinating the survey at short notice. Although Katie left in January to take up work with a local consultancy , we have placed a contract with her to continue as the main contact. We hope this will provide continuity with last year as well as retaining her valuable experience in running the project.

Friday 5th March 2010

Fears grow for future of Britain’s rarest butterflies 

Figures for butterfly sightings in 2009 have raised fears that five of Britain’s rarest butterflies face a growing risk of extinction. Their numbers last year either continued to plummet or remained at near rock bottom levels.
Conservationists are particularly concerned about the Duke of Burgundy, which has reached new low points in each of the past three summers and is now at its lowest level since monitoring began. The butterfly, which 50 years ago was a common sight in woodland clearings, now has less than 80 colonies throughout the whole of the UK. Other rare butterflies that remained at very low levels in 2009 include the High Brown Fritillary, with less than 50 colonies, and the Wood White and the Lulworth Skipper, both of which are down to under 100 colonies. Another rare species, the Pearl-bordered Fritillary, had its second worst year in 2009.
Concern for the future of these butterflies follows analysis of data collected by the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme from over 1,000 sites nationwide. The UKBMS is co-ordinated by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology and the charity Butterfly Conservation.
Experts believe that the extremely wet weather throughout the summers of 2007 and 2008, followed by the above average rainfall of July and August 2009, have accelerated a long-term decline in numbers. Heavy rain makes it hard for butterflies to survive.
And it’s not just the rare butterflies that are having a tough time. According to the new data, collected in the course of last year by the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme, some relatively common species including the Wall Brown, Small Skipper and Green Hairstreak also remained at very low numbers in 2009. The Small Tortoiseshell, which has suffered a serious decline in recent years, made a slight comeback.
The highlight of 2009 was the massive migration of Painted Lady butterflies, which originated in North Africa and arrived in vast swarms in early summer. At one point it was estimated there could have been over a billion Painted Ladies in the UK. However, the UKBMS figures indicate that this migration was not quite on the scale of the last big one in 1996.
The UKBMS statistics show a very modest overall recovery compared with the dire summer of 2008, which was the worst for 25 years. In addition to the abundance of the Painted Lady, some native butterflies also did well in 2009. These included the Green-veined White, Ringlet and Speckled Wood – all of which thrive in lush woodland areas and may have been beneficiaries of the damp but not particularly cold conditions.
Dr Tom Brereton, Head of Monitoring with the charity Butterfly Conservation, said: “We are particularly concerned about the Duke of Burgundy. At the start of the century there were about 200 colonies in the country. This number has now more than halved – and most colonies that remain are small. It is a serious situation.”
Butterflies are important as indicators, alerting us to underlying problems with the environment. If butterfly numbers are falling, inevitably other wildlife is in decline. 
The main factors causing the long term decline of many butterfly species include the loss of crucial habitats such as flower rich grassland and the intensification of farming methods. A lack of management is also causing problems in habitats such as woodlands.
Each year the UKBMS collates data collected by hundreds of volunteers nationwide. Dr Marc Botham, a butterfly ecologist at the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology who analysed the results said: “The results show the enormous value of long running datasets in identifying environmental problems. We are extremely grateful to the many volunteers who contribute each year. Through their efforts a new milestone was reached in 2009 when the number of sites monitored passed the 1,000 mark for the first time.”

Tuesday 1st December 2009

Butterfly migration mystery solved

Scientists with the charity Butterfly Conservation believe they have solved one of nature’s long-standing mysteries – thanks to the help of the public.  
Every year Painted Lady butterflies arrive in the UK from North Africa and the Mediterranean. It has long been known that they breed here during the summer and also that they cannot normally survive our winters. What happens to these Painted Ladies as winter approaches was unknown until now.  
Scientists had been baffled as to whether Painted Ladies attempted to “tough it out” and died trying during our winters. Or was there a return southward migration to warmer climes, as is the case with Swallows, Cuckoos and Red Admiral butterflies? Part of the problem has been that, unlike these other well-known migrants, there was very little evidence of Painted Ladies flying south in the autumn.  
This summer was a bumper migration year with, at the peak, up to a billion Painted Ladies in Britain.  
Butterfly Conservation has been monitoring Painted Lady movements since the start of northward migration at the beginning of the year, with members of the public being able to report sightings online at www.butterfly-conservation.org. There has been a huge response, not only from the UK but from across Europe. An amazing 12,000 sightings have been submitted so far, with reports still coming in.  
Last month brought some particularly exciting reports. From the Channel coasts of Cornwall, Devon, Sussex and Kent sightings were reported of Painted Ladies heading straight out to sea towards continental Europe.  
Now reports have been received of butterflies arriving back in the Mediterranean and North Africa.  
Richard Fox, Butterfly Conservation’s surveys manager, said: “Several of these lucky observers saw more than one butterfly head out on its perilous voyage. This is exactly the evidence needed to lay this enduring mystery to rest. Painted Ladies do return southwards from Britain in the autumn enabling the species to continue its breeding cycle during the winter months”.

If any of you have been lucky enough to see butterflies flying out to sea we would be gratefullcould let us know by e-mailing the details to: webmaster@hantsiow-butterflies.org.uk.

Friday 13th November 2009

South Downs National Park

Our reserves at both Bentley & Magdalen Hill Down are in the new South Downs National Park area. Yew Hill isn't.   A note from the new park staff read....
"We have been informed that Hillary Benn's has this morning signed the designation order and confirmed the park's boundary."
The Sectretary of State's Decision letter and Hearing Report can be found on Defra's website http://www.defra.gov.uk/rural/national-parks/south-downs/index.htm
Detailed maps can be found on Natural England’s website: <http://www.naturalengland.gov.uk/ourwork/conservation/designatedareas/new/southdowns/default.aspx>

Friday 30th October 2009

Marks and Spencer Copenhagen Patchwork

Martin Warren, BC Chief Executive, writes:  "Can I encourage you all to support this M&S initiative. If you follow the links you can get an idea of what they are doing to encourage sustainability and what BC will become associated with when we finalise our negotiations. We should get our links mentioned in all such initiatives.   Many thanks   Martin"

From the Head of Sustainable Business, Marks & Spencer - " We're trying to get M&S' customers and employees involved in calling for a strong agreement in Copenhagen this December to tackle climate change. We're creating an electronic 'quilt' allowing individuals to send a personal message of support and we'll present it to the UK Government before they head off for Denmark. It would be great if you could sign up too and then pass the message on, the more voices that are heard the more chance we have of making a difference!" http://plana.marksandspencer.com/you-can-do/climate-change/cop15

Friday 24th July 2009

BRITISH MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES A Photographic Guide by Chris Manley

British Moths and Butterflies A Photographic Guide by Chris Manley is a very welcome addition to the butterfly & moth books currently available. It is the first to provide top quality photographs of a large proportion of the species that occur here. The book covers 1420 species in all including 74 butterflies and 850 macro-moths (which is all but a handful that you are never likely to see anyway). Also covered are more than 500 micros but bear in mind that this is just a selection so don’t use this as your only source of reference for an identification. It usefully includes over 300 photos of caterpillars, pupae and eggs.  Many people will find it helpful in identifying a species especially when used in conjunction a good identification guide such as Waring, Townsend & Lewington. But more importantly the photos in this book really emphasise the beauty of moths and the wonderful range of caterpillars that can be found. The identification of the moths is remarkably free from error but just three stand out: both pictures of 1362 Pyrausta purpuralis are in fact 1361 Pyrausta aurata and the picture of 2488a Plumed Fan-foot is in fact 2490 Jubilee Fan-foot. The short accompanying text with each species is helpful in giving flight times, habitat and larval food plants. Informative and wonderfully inspirational - what more could one ask for £19.99. Well yes just one thing. There was a sad omission from the list of web sites www.hantsmoths.org.uk  
Lynn Fomison & Tim Norriss

Monday 9th February 2009

English Moth Recorders Conference 2009 held on 31st January at Birmingham.

Maurice Avent

 Almost 100 people attended this event including about 20 County moth recorders plus numerous other interested moth-ers and staff from the Moths Count Team. Hampshire & Isle of Wight Branch was well represented at this event with Tim Norriss there as County Moth Recorder, David Green, Lynn Fomison & Phil Young.  
The conference was opened by BC National Chairman Maurice Avent and he described how his interest in moths had grown from leaving the bathroom light on & the window open to having a moth trap & showing off the moths attracted around his village.  
Richard Fox provided an informative update on the wonderful progress made with the Moths Count Project well illustrated with photos of the many successful events through 2008, gorgeous moths and the all important atlas maps that are being produced using the data.    
Lunch was preceded by a riveting talk by Dr Charles Fletcher of the Yorkshire Moth Group on the effects of climatic change on moth populations in Yorkshire. He had prepared graphs illustrating the weather trends over a number of years and these clearly showed that although there were high & low fluctuations the trend over the last ten years had been one of rising average temperatures. Particularly notable was the fact that Februaries had been less cold and Dr Fletcher clearly demonstrated the close correlation between this and earlier emergence in several spring and summer species. The recent change of some species from being single brooded (univoltine) to double brooded (bivoltine) was also highlighted and attributed to the warmer temperatures being experienced in Yorkshire. This along with the arrival of new species to the county made Yorkshire an exciting place for moth-ers!  
After lunch the theme of climate change continued with Dr Tim Sparks of the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology describing effects on migrant lepidoptera. His lecture included a stimulating consideration of what indeed is a migrant!
Dr Dan Hoare Regional Officer for the South East (including Hampshire) described how the SE Woodland Project was seeking to conserve moths on a landscape scale. It was good to have up-to-date news on this as part of the project which includes the Hampshire Woodlands at Tytherley & west into Wiltshire.  
 ‘A net full of moths’ was the title of the presentation by Martin Harvey. The ‘net’ referred to the Internet, with Martin pointing out useful web sites, forums and e-groups. A full list of these can be seen at www.bit.ly/mothweb  Especially useful to new moth-ers could be the What’s flying tonight sections on Norfolk Moths, Suffolk Moths & Somerset Moths web sites.  
The last lecture of the day – Dr Paul Hatcher ‘Conserving the Netted Carpet moth in the Lake District’ was an inspirational story of how cattle grazing and the associated poaching created ideal conditions for their larval food plant Touch-me-not Balsam Impatiens noli-tangere thus helping to save an endangered moth.
There was lots of time to meet up with old friends, talk to other moth-ers and the national Moths Count team – a great day in all respects.
Lynn Fomison, Reserves Officer.  Event photographs copyright A. Pavličko.

Wednesday 7th January 2009

THE WIDER COUNTRYSIDE BUTTERFLY SURVEY (WCBS) GOES AHEAD IN 2009

 After two years of pilot testing, a new method of monitoring butterflies in widespread habitats, such as farmland and upland moorland, is to be rolled out nationwide this year.  
The Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey method has been developed by Butterfly Conservation and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology as part of the UKBMS project.  
The existing Transect network provides invaluable data on the status of butterflies, yet widespread habitats are under-recorded. More information on the fate of butterflies in these areas is needed. The new survey is intended to fill these gaps by complementing, rather than replacing, the existing Transect network.  
The pilot testing has thrown up some interesting information. Last year, despite the unsettled weather, nearly two thirds of the 1-km squares visited in 2007 were revisited by volunteers. In total 40 species were recorded.   Importantly all 23 target species were detected in both pilot years which means that trends can be analysed to test whether classic Transects provide a truly representative picture of butterflies in the UK landscape as a whole.   Volunteers who have participated in the pilot testing have shown considerable enthusiasm and it is hoped this will continue to grow.  
There has been close involvement with the British Trust for Ornithology and the method is based on the highly successful Breeding Bird Survey.  We hope that many BTO recorders will be returning to their bird sites this summer to collect butterfly data as part of the survey along with many new surveys completed by BC recorders.  
The new method involves making a minimum of two visits to a randomly selected square near to your home between May and August to count butterflies along two 1km survey lines running roughly north-south through the your square. The survey will be co-ordinated centrally by BC but we aim to find a Champion in each Branch to help find willing volunteers. We are aiming for 20 squares per Branch.  
Please email survey@butterfly-conservation.org or call 01929 406036 to register interest in taking part and you will be contacted in early spring with instructions and the location of your random 1km survey square. Keep an eye on www.butterfly-conservation.org/wcbs for more information.
Dr Katie Cruickshanks, WCBS co-ordinator