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
Winter 2021/22
Its that time of the year when we can all help monitor the Brown Hairstreak butterfly population in Devon. Don't know how? Join one of these training events. Click on links below for more information and booking.
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Dec 1st in Westerland, Torbay https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/brown-hairstreak-butterfly-monitoring-tickets-199674310237
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Dec 6th in Neroche, near Angersleigh https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/brown-hairstreak-butterfly-monitoring-tickets-199648974457
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Dec 13th in East Devon, Umborne village hall https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/brown-hairstreak-butterfly-monitoring-tickets-199678934067
We held our Annual General Meeting via Zoom again this year on Saturday October 16th 2021. You can download Reports from the AGM, the Minutes from last years AGM, the Branch Accounts 2020-21 and the Treasurers Report 2020-21. Members enjoyed presentations by Dr Richard Fox, Butterfly Conservation’s Associate Director of Recording and Monitoring (whose talk was about the response of butterflies and moths to climate change) and Jenny Plackett, Butterfly Conservation’s Regional Conservation Manager for the South West (who provided an update on the South West Fritillaries).
Our latest newsletter is the October 2021 edition which you can download here (and you can also find this on our Members page). All our past newsletters can also be downloaded from our Members page. You can view all our Branch Events by clicking on the Branch Events button in the Menu top left of this webpage (or scroll down to the Get Involved section below). Please note that ADVANCED BOOKING IS NECESSARY FOR ALL EVENTS and you are advised to check the online Events pages which will be updated if there are changes to any of the events, or any cancellations.
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. 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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Fascinating facts about winter moths
Most insects in the UK take a break in the winter months. Unlike mammals and birds they can't easily heat themselves up, and their sources of food from plants dwindle. But a few hardy butterflies and moths can be seen during this time, with some moths only appearing as adults during the months when few other insects are on the wing.
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New Red List of British butterflies
A new Red List assessment of the extinction risk of butterfly species in Great Britain has been produced by Butterfly Conservation.
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Woodland and hedgerow creation will be crucial to support pollinators in Wales
The largest survey of pollinator abundance in Wales has found that woodland and hedgerow creation can play a crucial role in action to reverse declines in insects that are essential for crop yield and other wildlife.
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The use of data in policy
The use of data in our policy and advocacy work - the Quinquennial Review of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (QQR) and the Oak Processionary Moth.
Events
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Devon: Work Party - Heathfield Reserve near Bovey Tracey
Sunday 9th January 2022, 10:30am-2:30pm
Heathfield Reserve near Bovey Tracey
Raking, clearing and coppicing at Teignbridge’s Heathfield reserve to maintain the open and warm heathland there.
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Devon: Work Party - Chudleigh Knighton Heath (old railway area)
Sunday 16th January 2022, 10:30am-2:30pm
Chudleigh Knighton Heath (south end)
Coppice small trees and bushes close to a large glade that has been cleared to encourage the population of pearl-bordered fritillaries.
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Devon: Work Party - Haldon Forest near Exeter
Saturday 29th January 2022, 10:30am-2:30pm
Haldon Forest near Exeter
Clearing scrub and young trees to open up an area used as a breeding site by pearl-bordered fritillaries.
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
