Butterfly Conservation
Saving butterflies, moths and our environment
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Branch
Celebrating our 40th Anniversary!
1982 - 2022
Click Here to Join!

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 and moths, a decline that the society aimed to reverse. Our vision is of a world rich in butterflies and moths for future generations to enjoy. Butterflies are beautiful and intrinsically valuable. Together with moths, their sensitivity to environmental change makes them valuable indicators of the health of the countryside.

Butterflies

46 species of butterfly can be found in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. In any year, between 30 and 40 of these species can be seen on our reserves.
More about our butterflies...

Moths

Around 1940 species of moth have been recorded in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, over 600 of these on our reserves.
More about our moths...

Reserves

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...

Important message for all members.

For the foreseeable future the branch intends to publish an e-Newsletter every two months. For further information please click here.

A digital (non-pdf) version of the 2023 Branch butterfly report is now available

Click here to access the report online.

The 2022 national UKBMS Report has now been published.

Click here ... to access the report.

Butterly Walks in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight


  • You can inspect some sample pages from the book here ...
  • The Press Release about the book is available here ...
  • To order a copy of the book, please visit the NHBS web site - search under the Bookstore tab - or click here.
  • Copies will also be available for purchase (cash only) from Ashley Whitlock on the branch fieldtrips where he is the walk leader (once they resume).
  • To report any inaccuracies in the book please email here.

Sponsorship

The branch is pleased to sponsor the excellent HantsMoths website.

Hants Moths Website

14 Apr 2026: Hummingbird Hawkmoth

07 Apr 2026: Fort Purbrook, Portsdown Hill

07 Apr 2026: Green Hairstreak at Freshwater

06 Apr 2026: Stockbridge Down - Grizzled Skipper

26 Mar 2026: Another newly-emerged Orange Tip sighted today

26 Mar 2026: Update to recent post

26 Mar 2026: Another Orange-tip (and a Speckled Wood)

23 Mar 2026: Orange Tip and Holly Blue - unusually early emergence

23 Mar 2026: Orange Tip and Holly Blue - unusually early emergence

23 Mar 2026: Another day. another early butterfly at Marwell

21 Mar 2026: Small Tortoiseshells emerge from hibernation.

21 Mar 2026: Hummingbird Hawkmoth at Freshwater.

19 Mar 2026: Large Tortoiseshell at Yarmouth.

18 Mar 2026: Bedhampton Sightings

18 Mar 2026: Butterflies in Rownhams

05 Mar 2026: Brimstone bonanza (and a Small White) near Andover

04 Mar 2026: Monks Walk, Gosport

04 Mar 2026: Spring arrivals in Southampton

04 Mar 2026: Brimstone in Rownhams area

02 Mar 2026: Small mercies at Great Fontley