17th August 2020

A Thank You From The Committee

The East Midlands Branch Committee wishes to say thank you to all those members who have continued to support the Branch during the recent difficult months. A very big welcome to our new branch members whom we hope to meet in 2021 when Field Trips and Events should be able to resume. Fortunately the good weather has provided excellent butterfly and moth recording conditions which have given us some very interesting results, details of which will be available at the end of the season or with updates from the County Recorders.

Although the AGM, which was such a big success last year, has been cancelled for 2020 the Committee is hoping to hold a ‘Get Together’ Event during the Spring of 2021. We also had some good news that Rhona Goddard, our Midlands Regional Officer, is still being employed by Butterfly Conservation. The focus of her job at the present time is a new Funding Bid for the East Midlands area which will be mostly centred on the Grizzled and Dingy Skippers. The bid means the Branch will be working in partnership with other organisations to improve the habitat in order to extend and maintain the range of these iconic butterflies. If you are a recorder, to whom the Branch is indebted, you will be aware that much needs to be done in these challenging times to maintain habitat for all butterflies.

We will be looking to send out copies of our Branch Autumn Newsletter by the end of October, in the meantime please keep checking our web site for further information www.eastmidlands-butterflies.org.uk.

Please continue to send your sightings to the County Recorders; the Branch appreciates any records from beginners to seasoned transect walkers. The committee members are more than happy to help with identification and our contact details are on the web site. Photographs can be sent to Neil for the web site and this is where any news will be posted as soon as it becomes available.

The 2020 season is not over yet, so continue to enjoy your butterflies and moths in safety.

Jane Broomhead – Branch Organiser

Christine Maughan – Membership Secretary