Welcome
Welcome to members of the East Scotland branch of Butterfly Conservation and to others interested in the conservation of butterflies and moths in our region. The branch's area has a very diverse range of habitats including extensive areas of upland moorland, coastal habitats, wetlands, farmland, broad-leaved and coniferous woodland. These different habitats support a wide range of fauna and flora and a good number of butterfly species and many species of moth may be seen within the region.
We seek to increase our knowledge of the region's butterflies and moths, to assist in their conservation and to encourage the study of these fascinating insects. We run events ourselves and support the events of other organisations too.
We aim to provide information about the activities of our branch in the Scottish Borders, the Lothians, Falkirk, Clackmannanshire, Perth and Kinross, Fife, Angus, Banffshire and Aberdeenshire.
If you live in the region and are a member of Butterfly Conservation you automatically become a member of our East Scotland Branch.
Species to look out for
Gathering information to inform conservation.
We would very much like to hear about what you have seen and encourage you to take up regular monitoring of Butterflies and/or Moths. We have Facebook groups for Moths and Butterflies where you can tell us about your sightings or ask questions too. We also have branch members who act as formal recorders for Butterflies and Moths; details about who they are and how to get your sightings to them can be found through the Records and Sightings menu items at the top left of this page.
Where to see butterflies
If you would like to see some of the butterflies that the East Scotland Branch area has to offer, we have revealed some of our favourite locations.
Get involved with surveys
Conservation action is absolutely reliant on information about the distribution and abundance of butterflies. Butterfly Conservation uses a number of survey techniques to gather this information.
News
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Winnie the Pooh takes part in the Big Butterfly Count
Winnie the Pooh is encouraging families to enjoy the great outdoors this summer by joining Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count.
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Blue Butterfly Boom in Scottish Summer
A beautiful blue butterfly which has been struggling for the last 40 years could be making a comeback in Scotland.
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Searching for butterflies on the bog
Butterfly Conservation Scotland are calling on nature enthusiasts to look for the Small Tortoiseshell and other species at Edinburgh's last peatbog - the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Red Moss of Balerno reserve.
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Spot a once in a decade butterfly phenomenon
Chris Packham is urging wildlife lovers to take part in the world’s largest insect citizen science survey to help reveal if the UK is experiencing a once in a decade butterfly phenomenon.
Events
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Moth Night: Tentsmuir Point National Nature Reserve
Friday 3rd May to Thursday 26th September 2019, 9:00pm-7:00am
A new monthly trapping event to be held in various locations in Tentsmuir Forest.
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Moth Night: Tentsmuir for Lunar Yellow Underwing
Friday 23rd to Sunday 25th August 2019, 7:00pm-10:00am
A special two-night trapping event lead by Tom Prescott to look specifically for Lunar Yellow Underwing in the only Scottish Site where it has been recorded in the past.
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Lunar Yellow Underwing Survey and Moth Morning, Tentsmuir NNR, Fife
Saturday 24th August 2019, 10:00am-2:00pm
Join us on Friday evening (7pm) to help look for Lunar Yellow Underwing or Saturday morning (10am) to look at last night's moths
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
Please use the form above to contact the branch team with details of your enquiry and your location and we'll get back to you. If you would like to make postal contact then please send to the recipient care of the Butterfly Conservation Scottish Office: Butterfly Conservation Scotland, Balallan House, 24 Allan Park, Stirling, FK8 2QG.
Chair:
Apithanny Bourne
Branch Organiser:
Glyn Edwards
Treasurer:
Dr Colin Whitehead
Secretary:
Suzanne Smith
Webmaster:
Mark Cubitt
Newsletter editor and membership:
Richard Buckland
Butterfly advisor:
Duncan Davidson
Aberdeen area organiser:
Helen Rowe
Perthshire area organiser:
Cathy Cauldwell
Tayside area organiser:
David Lampard
Angus area organiser:
Paul Brooks
Fife and Clacks area organiser:
Colin Edwards
Lothians area organiser:
Richard Buckland
Borders area organiser:
Barry Prater