Thank you to everyone who took part in the Big Butterfly Count in Chiselborough.

It was heartening to become more aware of the Butterfly's gentle presence and favoured habitats, including in wilder areas and on certain flowers - I'm thinking of a patch of Buddleia outside my window and a Peacock that settled on my hand one afternoon when outside having lunch - magical! Perhaps you learnt some names of butterflies that were previously unfamiliar, or perhaps you simply enjoyed them?

At least 19 species were spotted—Peacock, Red Admiral, Small /Large Tortoiseshell, Comma, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Painted Lady, Green Veined White, Shipper, Large/Small White, Brimstone, Common Blue, Ringlet, Marble White, Burnet Moth, and Jersey Tiger. See them vividly noted on the photos of the 2 blackboards below!

Amongst the sightings was the Comma Butterfly—once widespread over most of England and Wales, and parts of southern Scotland, by the middle of the 1800’s the Comma had suffered a severe decline that left it confined to the Welsh border counties. It is thought that the decline may have been due to a reduction in Hop farming, a key larval foodplant at the time. Since the 1960’s this butterfly has made a spectacular comeback, with a preference for Common Nettle as the larval foodplant, and it is now a butterfly success story after having a huge increase in the last 40 years. It is believed climate change and the increase in temperatures are the reason this butterfly is thriving.

Also spotted was the Painted Lady Butterfly—this is a long-distance commuter! It does not hibernate in Britain; instead it migrates to and from northern Africa. It can arrive in early spring, but late May and June are more usual.

The unseasonal weather may have washed away a few entries on the boards, so apologies if we have missed your counting. Also, butterflies can be difficult to catch in photographs, so as well as photos, to complete our Gallery we have original drawings and even a Lego butterfly below!

—Every good wish from Hannah, Helen and Sara

To view an image more closely, simply click on it

Many thanks to Hannah and Helen for originating this brilliant idea. My visiting little ones certainly loved it and are now ever on the look out for fluttering butterflies and cool moths! If anyone in the village has an idea for a nature focus, or any new community project for publication on the website—please feel welcome to get in touch with me, Sara, by email or when you see me.