Conservation
& Wildlife/Nature Organisations
Butterflies are disappearing
The numbers of many species of British butterfly are declining as outlined in a BBC News article in March 2004.
There are 2 National organisations that are monitoring the situation in the British Isles:
The Butterfly Conservation
Society
The UK Phenology Network
Habitat loss and climate change are proposed as 2 reasons.
What you can do
If you are a landowner, you can make your patch of earth wildlife-friendly. Even the smallest garden could grow a few plants that provide nectar for passing butterflies - see designing a butterfly garden.
You can also support organisations that help wildlife. Find out who's working to help wildlife in your area. Become a member of a local organisation. Many welcome volunteers to work on reserves. You may be surprised at how many organisations exist.
Gloucestershire/Wiltshire
Let's consider the examples of societies and clubs in my local area - around Cirencester in Gloucestershire.
The nearest nature reserve is about 4 miles south of here and is part of The Cotswold Water Park. Nearby is a Wiltshire Wildlife Trust reserve, which is as near to my home as the closest Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust reserve.
The Butterfly Conservation Society owns the Prestbury
Hill Reserve in Gloucestershire and The
Woodland Trust has several woods in the county.
The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust reserve
at Slimbridge is one location where I've photographed butterflies.
Gloucestershire Naturalists' Society is the natural history recording organisation for Gloucestershire.
All the above groups have important roles in this area. There are probably more local clubs and societies too that I've yet to learn about.
So there are plenty of opportunities here in the Cotswolds to give support. What could you do locally?
Each one of us has a unique set of talents and can make a contribution. This website is mine; if I can help someone identify a butterfly then maybe they will develop an interest in butterflies too.
I was asked recently about my support of conservation organisations. I've provided photographs and an article to a couple of the above groups. But there's one organisation that I forgot to mention to the interviewer. I am a Life Member of The National Trust. As well as conserving the countryside, the National Trust is the guardian of a number of historical and archaeological sites and since I've always been interested in history and archaeology too, the Trust has played an important part in my life. I learned some interesting facts relevant to this website whilst volunteering at the Trust offices.
So what could you do to help conserve our British Butterflies?