Become a member
By becoming a member of Butterfly Conservation today you can do something important not just for Britain's butterflies and moths but for the planet as whole.
Members will receive a fantastic pack including a set of collectible postcards, access to our nature reserves, a subscription to our exclusive magazine 3 times a year, plus more!
Help our work
What did you see
Welcome to the Wiltshire Branch of Butterfly Conservation.
The future of our butterfly and moth populations in Britain is under threat with many specialist species in serious decline. Butterfly Conservation's reason for being is to save these populations by identifying the causes for the decline and carrying out corrective measures to halt and reverse the trend.
To do this successfully we need volunteer help locally in Wiltshire, particularly from those who may not yet members of BC, to record what is out there by conducting butterfly transects and moth trapping. We have to know what species we have and how they are prospering if we are to save them. Help with scrub clearance on important sites is also a vital role for volunteers.
In parallel we need to educate the community and in particular the younger generation about moths and butterflies by way of public events such as the annual Bird & Butterfly Day at Iford Manor near Bradford on Avon.
A superb site on Salisbury Plain, Green Hairstreak, Grizzled Skipper are common here. Last year 19 species were seen including Duke of Burgundy. If weather permits we will run moth traps overnight and show the highlight of the catch to attendees.
This is a joint trip with the Dorset Branch. Martin Down National Nature Reserve is worth a visit at any time during the butterfly season. This year we shall look for the spring species of Dingy Skipper, Grizzled Skipper, Small Blue and possible Adonis Blue.
The woodland’s around the Longleat estate are quite extensive. We shall be walking down to Shearwater and back (approx. 3 miles), so bring a packed lunch. Maybe muddy if there has been recent rain. Location: Car park ST 829 424 (Map 183). Directions: Meet in Heaven’s Gate car park, NE of Horningsham. Leader: Andrew Daw (07778 146 297)
View sightings in the Wiltshire region or submit your own records online
Transect walking is a method for assessing butterfly abundance and involves walking a fixed route, called the transect, through an area at least once a week.
Share your photographs of butterflies or moths with our Witshire Flickr group
UK nature is in trouble – that is the conclusion of a groundbreaking report published today by a coalition of leading conservation and research organisations.
By Butterfly Conservation Chief Executive, Dr Martin Warren
The coldest start to spring for half a century has led to many butterflies emerging weeks later than usual, Butterfly Conservation has revealed.
