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
Oct 2020
Thanks to all members who joined us for our online Annual General Meeting on Tuesday October 13th 2020 at 6pm. Download our message to members here about the AGM (which was held via Zoom) and also information about changes to Branch roles. Another link is on our Members page where you can find many of our past newsletters too. Also on the Members page are documents for the 2020 AGM for members to download.
Our latest newsletter is the October 2020 edition which you can download here and also on our Members page. Many thanks to our new Newsletter Editor Emma Grice for this issue. In this issue you will find our Devon BC Winter Workdays 2020-2021 on page 20, you can also find information about these on our Events listing (see lower down this page). Please note that ADVANCED BOOKING IS NECESSARY FOR ALL EVENTS
A Brown Hairstreak Egg Survey is underway this winter and we are looking for volunteers to help. For more details see our news item below or click here
You can keep up to date with the branch on Facebook as well as Twitter. Look for us on Facebook as Butterfly Conservation Devon and on Twitter as @BCDevon.
Don't forget we still are keeping our Sightings page up to date - there are still butterflies to see on sunny days even as we move into Autumn! So let us know if you have seen any butterflies.
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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Time to ban neonicotinoids for good
Neonicotinoid pesticides have once again made the headlines following a decision by the Government to allow the emergency use of the neonicotinoid thiamethoxam on sugar beet in England in 2021.
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Action for Nature and The Climate In 2021
A view on post-Brexit 2021 – a crucial year for action on pandemics, nature and the climate.
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Online ID Courses for 2021
Following the success of our online identification sessions in 2020, the sessions will re-run in 2021.
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Monarch butterflies denied endangered species listing despite 99% decline
Despite a decline of 99% in the past 40 years, western monarch butterflies have been denied endangered species listing.
Events
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Devon: Work Party - Chudleigh Knighton Heath (old railway area) - POSTPONED
Sunday 17th January 2021, 10:30am-2:30pm
Chudleigh Knighton Heath (south end)
Coppicing and scrub clearing close to where a large glade has recently been created and Pearl-bordered Fritillary is present.
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Devon: Work Party - Haldon Forest near Exeter - POSTPONED
Saturday 30th January 2021, 10:30am-2:30pm
Haldon Forest near Exeter
Managing the early Fritillaries breeding area by mainly removing or coppicing tree growth.
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Devon: Work Party - Little Breach Reserve near Culmstock - POSTPONED
Sunday 7th February 2021, 10:30am-2:30pm
Little Breach Reserve near Culmstock
Raking up to do after the brushcutter and also some scrub/small tree cutting.
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.
Branch information
In your area
Contact branch
- Chairman
Jonathan Aylett - Branch Organiser
Marjory Taylor - Treasurer
Ray Jones