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
March 2019
The brief batch of summer-like warmth that we saw in February has now departed and we are back to changeable early spring weather of winds, rain and sunny spells. Many members are seeing butterflies though when the sun does come out - check out our Sightings page for the current species on the wing in Devon and why not use the email address on that page to let us know what you have seen! Our winter conservation events season has finished (many thanks to all the hardy volunteers who came out and helped with our habitat conservation work) and our summer events don't get going until late April but please check out our Events page so that you can plan your summer fun!.
Click here to download the February 2019 newsletter to find out what is going on in the branch. You can also find out more about what happens on our Events by reading our 'Reports from Events' page.
Interested in doing some butterfly recording this summer? Have you heard of the Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey (WCBS)? Take a look at the latest newsletter to find out more & discover what the UK's top five most widespread butterfly species are. Or take part yourself - click here to find out how to volunteer
Butterfly Conservation are also about moths as well as butterflies and even if you don't go out moth-trapping (and many of our members do) there are plenty of day flying moths to see as the year goes on - find out more about moths on this BC Why Moths Matter page and join in the discussion on Twitter by using the hashtag #mothsmatter.
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: Dartmoor's Beautiful Butterflies
Wednesday 10th April 2019, 10.00am-2.00pm
Haytor Visitor Centre, TQ13 9XT
Family Event: In celebration of National Parks Fortnight we will be running butterfly-themed activities throughout the day at the Haytor Visitor Centre.
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Devon: Pearl-bordered and Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Survey Workshop
Tuesday 30th April 2019, 10.30am - 3pm
Woodland Classroom, Yarner Wood NNR
An identification workshop focusing on these two very similar fritillary species.
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Devon: Field Trip - Great Torrington Commons
Sunday 5th May 2019, 1pm
Great Torrington Commons car park
A field trip with a good chance of seeing both Pearl-bordered and Small 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