Butterfly Conservation has developed a trial methodology to survey for Purple Hairstreaks

which are under recorded on conventional transects. Even if you don't plan to undertake a transect, this makes interesting reading and gives clues as to when and how you might find these elusive butterflies.

BIG COUNT AT NATIONAL STONE CENTRE

On Sunday 25th July 2021, East Midlands Butterfly Conservation joined forces with the National Stone Centre, near Wirksworth, to help mark this year’s Big Butterfly Count (16th July – 8th August).

The two organisations welcomed visitors to this attractive and varied site that usually focuses largely on geology, but on this occasion switched attention to butterflies. And they and the families that turned up to enjoy the bright and (occasionally) sunny conditions were not disappointed with an impressive 16 species noted in just a few hours.

Branch Organiser, Jane Broomhead was able to stage her first sales display for a long time, while Derbyshire Recorder, Ken Orpe welcomed visitors – many of them families with youngsters – and organised a small body of experienced guides to take the visitors around, to find and help identify the butterflies.

A wealth of wild flowers poked their heads out from the rich grassland, one habitat the butterflies clearly enjoyed, while the sparser quarry areas nevertheless still held a good range of species.

On the edge of one of these more open areas, the day’s main highlight was discovered and observed by a few lucky visitors as a White-letter Hairstreak flitted around brambles before settling on the flower heads of marjoram plants.

Fresh Commas, Small Coppers, Common Blue, Small Skippers and Small Heath added colour, a few Red Admirals and Peacocks had emerged, Large Skippers and Small Tortoiseshells were seen, and most plentiful of all were Meadow Brown, Ringlet and Gatekeepers among the grassy areas, while good numbers of Large, Small and Green-veined Whites sped across the site. The day-flying Shaded Broad-bar and Six-spot Burnet moths were also noted.

Garden Open Days 2021

Download the for the full programme and make a note of the branch's four opportunities which begin this weekend (Sunday 11th July) at Silver Birches, Loughborough.

Other local venues are:

• Yew Tree Grange, Derbyshire. Open Saturday 17th and 24th July.
• Waxwings and Goldcrest. Nottingham. Open Tuesday 27th July
• West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire. Open Saturday 28th August