Wiltshire Field Trip
This steep hill has a good selection of down-land butterflies
Wiltshire branch
Species to look out for
Welcome
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.
Events
Wiltshire Field Trip
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.
Wiltshire Field Trip
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.
Sightings
View sightings in the Wiltshire region or submit your own records online
Transect Monitoring
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.
Photos
Share your photographs of butterflies or moths with our Witshire Flickr group
Latest News
Late Show For Rare Spring Butterflies
The coldest start to spring for half a century has led to many butterflies emerging weeks later than usual, Butterfly Conservation has revealed.
Richard Fox’s Look Out For: Dingy Skipper
This small, moth-like butterfly is one of the first of our threatened species to emerge in the year.
Ask Your MP To Stand Up For Moths
You can help moths by asking your local MP to sign up to an early day motion which calls on the Government to take urgent action to save our dwindling moth populations.
