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
November 2018
The sunny days of October helped keep our Devon butterflies flying and there were sightings of Red Admirals, Clouded Yellows and Small Coppers - plus several other species (see our Sightings page for more information) but this wet start to November will probably make sightings rather more unusual. Why not spend your butterfly time helping with our Winter Conservation Events? find them here online! Scroll down to the Events box in the Get Involved section of this Welcome page to see the next few Events coming up.
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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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.
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Scottish Ministers step in to make final decision on controversial golf course proposals
Scottish Ministers have “called-in” plans for a golf course at Coul Links near Embo, East Sutherland after deciding that the case is of ‘national importance’.
Events
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Devon: Work Party - nr Chagford, Dartmoor
Friday 11th January 2019, 10.00am-3.00pm
Lower Hurston Farm, TQ13 8EF
Sapling and scrub removal to benefit Marsh Fritillary on a beautiful, private Dartmoor farm.
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Devon: Work Party - West Down
Friday 12th January 2018, 10.30am-3.00pm
West Down (SX 47900 70800)
Help us with this practical day cutting gorse to maintain habitat for High Brown Fritillary and Pearl-bordered Fritillary.
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Devon: Work Party - Little Breach near Culmstock
Sunday 13th January 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