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

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

30 Jun 2025: Chalton Down, Old Idsworth

30 Jun 2025: Browndown South, Gosport

30 Jun 2025: Grayling at Browndown South

29 Jun 2025: Broxhead Common

29 Jun 2025: Abbotts Wood Inclosure, Alice Holt Forest

29 Jun 2025: Straits Inclosure, Alice Holt Forest

27 Jun 2025: Browndown (North) Gosport

27 Jun 2025: Sightings at Woolmer Forest

25 Jun 2025: Briddlesford Copse, IoW

25 Jun 2025: A visit to Kevin Ross's reserve in N. Baddesley

25 Jun 2025: Monks Walk, Frater Fields & Woods, Gosport

25 Jun 2025: Fort Brockhurst, Gosport

25 Jun 2025: Browndown South + North

25 Jun 2025: White-letter Hairstreak progress

23 Jun 2025: Stunning Purple Emperors at Straits Inclosure

22 Jun 2025: Old Winchester Hill

22 Jun 2025: Purple Emperor at Micheldever Woods

22 Jun 2025: Martin Down

21 Jun 2025: Havant Thicket

21 Jun 2025: Moth Trap in my garden