Latest news and notices ~ 2016

During the year there is often important news or notices that we want to draw visitors attention to. In future these will be posted here rather than on the sightings page.

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September 2014
Butterfly World is hoping to create a new beautiful British Butterfly Garden for Spring 2015. Volunteers are needed - if you would like to help please email or ring Butterfly World. Full details on this poster link. Please remember to say you are a member of Butterfly Conservation

May 2014
To celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of their founder, Sir John Bennet Lawes, Rothamsted Research are holding an Open Day on Thursday 5th June 2014 Click on link for full details.

March 2014
Dr Martin Warren will be speaking at Rothamsted Research on the 29th April 2014. Click on link for full details.

February 2014
A copy of the 2013 Broxbourne Wood NR report can be read here recording/Broxbourne_report2013.pdf. Work continues to go ahead in the complex and we ask that observers continue to visit in 2014 and record butterflies. This is extremely important and we would also appreciate knowing if no butterflies were recorded!

August 2013

August 2013
Important information sent from Trevor James: The GB Non-Native Species Secretariat has been in contact with ALERC about awareness raising for the Asian hornet Vespa velutina. Local recorders will have an important role to play in the early detection of this potentially damaging species, and so it would be very useful if LRCs are able to raise awareness within their areas. Below is some information about the species, along with details of where to send records to for immediate impact, as well as some links to more information. Laminated ID sheets and posters are available on request. There are also photos of the species attached. It would be appreciated if you could take note of this information, and also raise it with your local recorders so that should the hornet arrive, notification is given as quickly as possible. Notes from NNSS Have you seen this invader? The Asian hornet is a large wasp which is poised to invade Britain. If it gains a foothold it will be bad for honey bees, native insects and pose a threat to human health. August and September are the months when it is most likely to be seen. It is relatively easy to identify and also makes large distinctive nests (often high up in trees). Government takes this issue seriously and has drawn up a plan to try to eradicate this species before it can establish in Britain. To do this, we need to find out immediately if it is spotted in this country. If you think you have seen this species please report your sighting straight away via the Alert system: alert_nonnative@ceh.ac.uk (corrected email address) Links to: Alert Poster
https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/nonnativespecies/downloadDocument.cfm?id=85 9
ID sheet
https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/beebase/downloadDocument.cfm?id=698
Information sheet
https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/beebase/downloadDocument.cfm?id=402

May 2013

Tuesday 14th May 2013
Full details of all the events around the country during Saving Butterflies Week 2013 can be viewed on the national website.

Thursday 2nd May 2013
Details of a new Butterfly DVD by Patrick Barkham, author of Butterfly Days - full information is on our Facebook page............

April 2013

Monday 22nd April 2013
There are still some spaces on a Photographic Workshop on Saturday 11th May. For more information click here

The Field Trip and Walks page has been updated, however the programme is now available to read in pdf format. Field Trip programme 2013

Tuesday 2nd April 2013
Don't forget that the Transect Season started on the 1st April - Monday to Sunday this year!

March 2013

Friday 29th March 2013
News of a talk that might interest members...........
Friends of the Nickey Line have arranged for a speaker from Rothamsted Research to give a talk about their wildlife monitoring programme, which has run for over 100 years. The surveys are known to include butterflies, and your members are welcome to attend. Details are below

Results of 100 years of surveying the changes to our wildlife When the Nickey Line, the old railway line running between Hemel Hempstead and Harpenden, was built in the 1860s grey squirrels had not been introduced into this country, and only red squirrels would have been seen locally. This is just one example of how species have changed over time.

For over 100 years Rothamsted Research have been monitoring the presence of wildlife on the Estate, and in what should be a fascinating talk, one of their scientists, Chris Shortall, will be telling us about the changes recorded.

The talk will be held at Park Hall, Leyton Green, Harpenden, Thursday 16 May 2013 immediately after the Friends of the Nickey Line AGM, which starts at 7.30pm. Refreshments will be served, and all are welcome to attend

For more information visit their website http://www.nickeyline.org/home/whats_on/?news_id=108

Saturday 23rd March 2013
Some of you will already be aware of an online fundraising initiative called Give As You Live. With Give as you Live, thousands of brands including Amazon, Play.com, John Lewis and Expedia have signed up to donate a percentage of every purchase made online to charities - all at no cost to you and at no cost to us. The average shopper will raise £2.10 per month through what they already buy online. If you are an online shopper, please support Butterfly Conservation every time you shop online at no cost to you.
Simply visit www.giveasyoulive.com/join/butterflyconservation and discover Give as you Live today.
Please pass this message on to as many people as you can and help us to raise funds.
Thank you, Clare Hore, Senior Supporter Officer, chore@butterfly-conservation.org

Tuesday 12th March 2013
The 2012 Wider Countryside Report is now available to read online - click here for the report

Details of Rothamsted 2013 Events and talks that are free and open to the public...........click here

Sunday 2nd March 2013
An important message from Dr. Martin Warren, chief executive of Butterfly Conservation
HELP US ENSURE CAP REFORM IS GOOD FOR WILDLIFE - ACT BY 13th MARCH
Dear Branch Colleagues
You may be aware that this is a critical time for the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, with a completely new system starting in 2016. It has major implications to the funding of agri-environment schemes which are a crucial mechanism for ensuring farmland is managed for wildlife, including a vast number of important butterfly and moths sites across the UK and mainland Europe. The EU is debating the proposals this year, but the initial discussions have been a major cause for concern and several really good proposals that would help wildlife were rejected by the EU Agriculture Committee. There is now a plenary debate and crucial vote by all MEPs and on 13th March. Butterfly Conservation is part of a coalition of 276 NGOs across Europe urging as many people as possible to sign online letters to their MEPs, urging them to vote for measures that will help save biodiversity across Europe.
There is an article and link on the BC website
http://butterfly-conservation.org/48-3495/halt-the-crisis-in-the-countryside-.html
We are asking as many BC members and supporters as possible to sign the letter BY 13TH MARCH and forward the email to all their relevant contacts. Thanks you in advance for your help, with your support we can make the next stage of CAP reform far better for wildlife.
All good wishes
Martin

February 2013

Thursday 28th February 2013
If you have trouble seeing the menu bar on Internet Explorer 10 click the compatibility view icon next to the refresh symbol!

Saturday 23rd February 2013
The Branch Annual Butterfly Report is now available. The Branch Transect Summary is available online to read here. Branch Members should have received a report in the post this week, however I have had one returned by the post office as the envelope must have got damaged. I have no idea who the intended recipient was! If you don't receive your copy please email me - Liz Goodyear

Thursday 7th February 2013
An extra Brown Hairstreak egg hunt is announced. Click here for details

January 2013

Tuesday 22nd January 2013
Full details of the Branch Members' Day and AGM are now available.
Days events, speakers and photo competition details
2013 AGM Agenda
2012 AGM Minutes

Monday 21st January 2013
In 2012 we asked recorders to specifically visit the Broxbourne Wood Nature Reserve and submit their butterfly records. We were keen to monitor the effects of the drastic woodland management that had been undertaken the previous winter on the Reserve's butterfly numbers. We would like to thank all the recorders that took this onboard and ask that this is continued in 2013. A report has now been submitted to the managers of the wood which can be downloaded here
Broxbourne Wood NR Report for 2012

2012 Branch Transect Report is now available to read online

Monday 14th January 2013
Brown Hairstreak egg hunts this winter