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 Blackdowns Butterfly Project
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Somerset and Bristol BC branch, in collaboration with the Devon BC branch will be funding ‘The Blackdowns Butterfly Project’ which will be looking at four species of butterfly.
We are keen to try to prevent any further decline or loss to the Duke of Burgundy and the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary and to see if it is possible to re-establish the Marsh Fritillary and the Wood White in the Blackdown Hills
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New Transect Coordinator for Somerset & Bristol branch
Somerset & Bristol branch has a new Transect Coordinator. Committee member Peter Bright has taken over from Liz Marsden.
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Butterflies bounce back in heatwave summer
UK butterflies bounced back in 2018 following a string of poor years, thanks in part to last year’s heatwave summer, a study has revealed.
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Making Space for Butterflies - Somerset Wildlife Trust project
Somerset Wildlife Trust has received a grant of £22,000 from Aggregate Industries through their Local Partnerships Fund to improve habitats for Mendip butterflies. The project, ‘Making Space for Butterflies’, will involve woodland management work at Cheddar Wood and grassland and hedgerow restoration in East Mendip around Aggregate Industries’ Torr Works Quarry site.
Events
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Somerset & Bristol: Worley Hill, Polden Hills (Guided walk)
Saturday 4th May 2019, 11:00am-1:30pm
Worley Hill Private Reserve, Compton Dundon, Somerton.
The first of our guided walks this season is to a private reserve in the Polden Hills.
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Somerset & Bristol: Buckland Wood, Blackdown Hills (Guided walk)
Sunday 5th May 2019, 11:00am-1:30pm
Buckland Wood, Blackdown Hills.
A second guided walk over the Bank Holiday weekend - this time to Buckland Wood in the Blackdown Hills.
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Somerset & Bristol Branch: Bristol Spring Meeting
Sunday 5th May 2019, 2:00pm-4:00pm
Bristol Botanic Gardens, Stoke Park Rd, Stoke Bishop, Bristol BS9 1JG
Gardening for Butterflies - a talk by Jan Miller-Klein.
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