Welcome
Welcome to the Devon Branch of Butterfly Conservation. If you live in the region and are a member of Butterfly Conservation you automatically become a member of the Devon Branch.
Devon has around 39 resident butterfly species and we can help point you in the right direction on where and when is best to see them. Why not join in our one of our Events (during the summer we organise field events to show you some of our resident butterfly species and in the winter we organise conservation work days to improve the habitat for butterflies in Devon). Click here to view more details or scroll down this page to the section marked "Get Involved"
Species to look out for
Devon updates
February 2019
Click here for our first newsletter of 2019 (hot off the press, circulation to members will happen during February).
Early January 2019 gave us a number of Devon butterfly sightings (see our Sightings page) but later in the month things were very quiet. However, our hardy volunteers have been getting on with some habitat conservation workdays and if you would like to join them we have events coming up on Sunday 3rd Feb (Chudleigh Knighton), Saturday 16th Feb (Lydford Old Railway Reserve) & Sunday 3rd March (Little Breach reserve). Find all the details here online by scrolling down to the Events box in the Get Involved section of this Welcome page below. You can also find out more about what happens on these Events by reading our 'Reports from Events' page.
For an early look at our Summer Events you can download the 2019 Events programme that we will be circulating to members soon - all of these will also be available on the Events section of this web page soon (where the details will be updated if there are any subsequent changes to the planned arrangements)
Learn more
Latest Sightings
Have you seen a butterfly? Take a look at our latest sightings page to find out what you can see at this time of year and what species were seen each month last year!
Conservation projects in Devon
The ‘All the Moor Butterflies’ project, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, will help to restore and create habitat for the Pearl-bordered Fritillary, High Brown Fritillary, Heath Fritillary and Marsh Fritillary on some of the UK’s most famous moorland landscapes, including Exmoor, Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor.
Key sites to see species
Find out more about some of our main butterfly species and the best sites to see them in Devon.
Newsletters and email news
Keep up to date with all our latest news by signing up for our email newsletter or catching up on our past ones.
Get involved
News
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Street lights affect wildflower pollination
Street lighting operating all night can alter the natural pollination of a common wildflower, a study involving Butterfly Conservation (BC) has revealed.
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Environment Bill
In July 2018 Prime Minister Theresa May announced that the Government would bring forward an Environment Bill. Butterfly Conservation (BC) understand that Defra are working on the draft of the Bill, to cover England and reserved matters in devolved countries, and this will be published before Christmas.
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The nocturnal pollinators: scientists reveal the secret life of moths
Scientists have discovered that moths may play a much broader role as plant pollinators than previously suspected.
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Small Tortoiseshell crashes despite heatwave
Numbers of one of the UK’s best known garden butterflies have plummeted this summer despite the record-breaking hot weather, results from the Big Butterfly Count have revealed.
Events
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Devon: Work Party - Lydford Old Railway Reserve
Saturday 16th February 2019, 10.30am - 2.30pm
Lydford Old Railway Reserve
Continuing the essential winter clearance work for the Heath Fritillary and other butterflies.
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Devon: Work Party - West Down
Saturday 16th February 2019, 10.30am-3.00pm
West Down (SX 47900 70800)
We'll be clearing gorse and other scrub from this important hill side to improve habitat for five fritillary species including High Brown.
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Devon: Work Party - Little Breach near Culmstock
Sunday 3rd March 2019, 10.30am - 2.30pm
Little Breach near Culmstock
Main work will be raking after the strimmer but there may also be trimming of woody vegetation.
Volunteer with us
Butterfly Conservation relies on the support of thousands of volunteers, and we are always looking for more help inside the office and out in the field. Whether you want to volunteer at a local branch, get outside and help manage our nature reserves, or help with one of our events, we have something for everyone to get involved in! Your time can make a real difference.
Contact branch
- Chairman
Jonathan Aylett - Branch Organiser
Marjory Taylor - Treasurer
Ray Jones