Welcome
The Somerset & Bristol Branch covers the ceremonial county of Somerset and the city and county of Bristol. If you live in the region and are a member of Butterfly Conservation you automatically become a member of the Somerset and Bristol Branch.
For the purpose of recording Lepidoptera the region is divided into two Vice Counties (VC5 & VC6). There is an informative page and map explaining the Somerset Vice Counties on the Somerset Moth Group website.
We have four reserves – Stoke Camp and Westbury Beacon in the Mendips, Haddon Moor on the edge of Exmoor and Mount Fancy in the Blackdown Hills.
As well as the information available here, why not visit our branch website where you can learn more about butterflies and our activities in Somerset and Bristol.
Species to look out for
Find out more
Butterfly first sightings
View this season's first confirmed sightings of butterflies on the branch website.
For the latest moth sightings, visit the Somerset Moth group website.
Butterfly Walks in Somerset and Bristol (guidebook)
This beautifully illustrated guidebook provides everything you need to know on where to spot every species of butterfly this part of the country has to offer, including the previously extinct Large Blue.
Get involved
News
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The Butterfly Effect
The Butterfly Effect. In Gloucestershire, we've borrowed a term associated with Chaos Theory, a curious idea that postulates that a butterfly flapping its wings in one place could cause a massive storm elsewhere.
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No let-up in net loss of UK’s nature
The UK’s wildlife continues to decline according to the State of Nature 2019 report. The latest findings show that since rigorous scientific monitoring began in the 1970s there has been a 13% decline in average abundance across wildlife studied and that the declines continue unabated.
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Holy Grail of moth recording reappears in Britain
Numerous recent sightings of a moth that became extinct in the UK in the 1960s, suggest that it has recolonised and is now breeding across southern Britain.
Events
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Conservation in the South-West uplands: challenges and solutions
Tuesday 26th November 2019, 9:30am-4:15pm
University of Exeter, Great Hall, EX4 4PY
As part of the end of project activities for the All the Moor Butterflies project, a conference is being held at Exeter University.
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Somerset & Bristol: Branch AGM and Members' Day
Saturday 30th November 2019, 2:00pm-5:00pm
Ruishton Village Hall, Cheats Road, Ruishton, Taunton TA3 5JD
Somerset & Bristol branch Annual General Meeting & Members' Day.
All members welcome.
(This meeting will follow Somerset Moth Group AGM that will be held at 10.30am)
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 & acting Treasurer
John Andrews - Transect Coordinator
Peter Bright - Butterfly Recorder
Ross Harley - Macro Moth Recorder
Chris Iles