Welcome to Butterfly Conservation Warwickshire - Saving butterflies, moths and our environment
Butterfly Conservation Warwickshire works alongside land owners, local authorities, conservation bodies, businesses and local people to raise awareness about the threats to our butterflies, moths, their habitats and our environment. We provide advice and practical help on how to protect these and other threatened wildlife in the region.
Several butterflies in the region such as the Small Blue and Wood White are particularly vulnerable due to habitat loss and population fragmentation resulting in small isolated colonies which become increasingly susceptible to local or regional extinction. The Wall Brown is now believed to be extinct in the region with no sightings since 2007. Other species such as the Duke of Burgundy are confirmed as extinct in the region, last seen in 1987. Warwickshire also hosts a wide variety of moths including species such as Sciota hostilis which is found nowhere else in the country.
Our members are vital to the work we do in our region. We currently have 277 branch members of Butterfly Conservation Warwickshire. Want to join us?
Latest Butterfly Records 2013
View all of the records submitted online this year.
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Butterflies to see in May
You can see up to 25 species of Butterfly during
May
in Warwickshire.
Look for:
Brimstone,
Brown Argus,
Clouded Yellow,
Comma,
Common Blue,
Dingy Skipper,
Green Hairstreak,
Green-veined White,
Grizzled Skipper,
Holly Blue,
Large Skipper,
Large White,
Marbled White,
Orange-tip,
Painted Lady,
Peacock,
Red Admiral,
Small Blue,
Small Copper,
Small Heath,
Small Tortoiseshell,
Small White,
Speckled Wood,
Wall Brown,
Wood White,
Latest species reported in 2013
Small Blue on 19/05/2013 by Mike Slater.
16 of 36 butterfly species has been reported in 2013 . View the individual species counts or more statistics here.
First Sightings
Annual first sightings: 2013 : 12 : 11 : 10 : 09 : 08 : 07
Latest Branch News
Butterfly Conservation Warwickshire is involved in a wide range of projects and activities from conservation activities to guided butterfly walks and moth nights. For all the latest news about Butterfly Conservation Warwickshire, please visit our news page.
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Latest Press Releases
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A 180 Year Old Puzzle Solved!
Summer, 1833 in Ufton Wood, Warwickshire. A young man called James Moreton Walhouse was out catching butterflies to add to his collection. Little did he know that on that day, he would catch a butterfly which would become one of the most interesting stories in the history of Warwickshire butterfly recording.
Find out more about the Great Spangled Fritillary (Argynnis cybele / Speyeria cybele) and why it took 180 years to confirm its identification.
Volunteers help butterflies, moths & other wildlife in Warwickshire
Almost all of our conservation and recording efforts rely upon the goodwill of land owners and time given freely by our dedicated team of volunteers and members.
Butterfly Recorders
Casual records of butterfly sightings in your garden or while out in the countryside can be submitted online using our simple recording form. The majority of our butterfly distribution data is gathered this way.
Site Based Transect Recorders
This requires a long term commitment with the aim of gathering detailed records of butterfly numbers and species along a given route over many years. These Transects help us to assess the effects of habitat change and loss at a particular site and help inform habitat management practices to ensure the survival of important species in our area.
Habitat Management / Organised Work Parties
Much of our work involves the management of butterfly and moth habitats in the region. Tasks include scrub clearance, planting of wildflowers, erecting fencing, gates and repairing footpaths.
Much of this work takes place on important protected wildlife sites like our own Butterfly Reserve at Ryton Wood Meadows. We also work in partnership with the Forestry Commission, Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, other land owners and government agencies including Network Rail, Sustrans, British Waterways and defra in order to improve habitats for butterflies and moths.
Branch Activities
Our branch activities are a great way to meet new people, learn more about our butterflies, moths, their habitats and the conservation techniques used to ensure their survival.
We conduct organised walks, moth trapping and conservation days at important public and private wildlife sites across Warwickshire led by local experts.
Oxhouse Farm - Private Site
Anyone wishing to visit Oxhouse Farm to see the Dark Green Fritillary should be aware that YOU REQUIRE PERMISSION TO WALK IN THE MEADOWS. The butterfly can be seen from the public footpath which runs through the meadow. We politely request that you do not stray into the meadow without permission from the land owners.
In the interest of the butterflies and this important habitat, Butterfly Conservation Warwickshire and the Neal Trust would like to thank you for your co-operation on this matter.
Work Parties
