Butterflies 2020: the verdict

Red Admiral - Andrew Carter

​In November butterflies are thin on the ground, with just the chance of seeing some when the temperatures rise enough and the sun makes an appearance. You may see the odd red admiral, small tortoiseshell or peacock in your gardens and some years other species have been seen flying on the downs - meadow browns and small coppers for example in Crockerton Coombe, near Alvediston -  and this, combined with the beautiful summery aroma of the herbs, made the winter of 2011 seem that much shorter.

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But that was then - you would think 2020 had been a good year for butterflies, after all the beautiful photos sent in by Abby Eaton and others.  But the formal stats here tell a slightly different story, as Andrew Graham's full report on the MoreNews page explains.  

Meanwhile, Chairman Peter Shallcross reminds us that we are optimistic that we can carry on with our winter programme: see the Talks page for full details on COVID-safe procedures now in place -  ie you can't now just turn up as in Normal Times. 

Thursday, 15 October, ​​7.45pm, Victoria Hall​: David Waters, Director, Great Bustard Group.

Thursday 19 November at ​7.30pm, Hinton Hall: Peter Thompson, formerly of the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, on farming and wildlife.
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​and
Saturday 14/Sunday 15 November depending on weather: Young Nature Watch bird-ringing demonstration.  For info and bookings, email youngtnhs@gmail.com.