Celebrating the biodiversity of Clayton Meadow, Dorset in 2025. #orchids #reptiles #wildflowers #butterflies #insects #conservation

The Yellow Meadow Ant is known for creating anthills in grassland habitats. They build their distinctive soil domes above their nests and there are some great examples in Clayton Meadow. #ants #meadows #anthills #grasslands #habitat #conservation #nature

A common lizard out and about in Clayton Meadow, Dorset last week. #reptiles #lizards #meadows #nature #conservation #grasslands

A Great Green Bush Cricket on the Clayton Meadow stone sign. #insects #nature #conservation #meadows

Delighted that there are a few Autumn ladies-tresses popping up in Clayton meadow. The last orchid of the year. #orchids #wildflowers #meadows #wildflowerhour #nature #conservation #biodiversity

Last of the summer flowers provide nectar for bees in Clayton Meadow. Possibly a buff tailed bumblebee- I.D.confirmation anyone? #bees #bumblebees #meadow #nature #DorsetWildlife

Can anyone ID this insect seen in Clayton Meadow, Dorset? @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @chrispoole050.bsky.social #bugs #nature #insects #meadows

A ladybird on the Knapweed, part of the Daisy family of wildflowers, in Clayton Meadow. #pollinators #DaisyFamily #wildflowers #insects #nature #conservation #meadows #wildflowerhour #ladybird #DorsetWildlife

#Knapweed and #Marjoram lead the popularity stakes for pollinators in Clayton Meadow in Dorset. #PollinatorPals #wildflowerhour #DorsetWildlife #wildflowers #butterflies #meadows #bees #moths

There have been so many butterflies & moths recently in Clayton Meadow. A diversity of wildflowers means there is something for everyone. #Burnetmoths, #Redadmiral #Wall #SpeckledWood #DarkGreenFritillary #CommonBlue #butterflies #bigbutterflycount #nature #wildflowers #moths #

A Painted Lady butterfly in Clayton Meadow. They only have a brief lifespan so their primary focus is on reproduction. #butterflies #BigButterflyCount #nature #conservation #meadows #dorsetbutterflies @lgspace.bsky.social #DorsetWildlife

The Small Copper butterfly is attracted by the Wild Marjoram in Clayton Meadow. The flower is a magnet for the butterflies in the meadow at this time of year. #butterflies #BigButterflyCount #wildflowers #meadows #nature #conservation #DorsetWildlife

Large White butterflies in Clayton Meadow on the ivy and Field Scabious. #BigButterflyCount #butterflies #wildflowers #nature #conservation #meadows #DorsetWildlife

Plenty of Knapweed and Scabious for the bees in Clayton Meadow. #bees #pollinators #meadows #DorsetWildlife

Plenty of moths in Clayton Meadow including a Garden tiger moth.(help with ID appreciated) @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @chrispoole050.bsky.social #DorsetWildlife #moths

Good to see a Grayling butterfly in Clayton Meadow during the #BigButterflyCount. Whilst still seen around the coast this butterfly has seen a large deterioration in numbers in recent years. #butterflies @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social #DorsetWildlife

Lots of Skipper butterflies in Clayton Meadow at the moment. #butterflies #meadows #BigButterflyCount

A lovely shot of a Wall butterfly in Clayton Meadow. Good to see given its general decline in numbers. #butterflies #bigbutterflycount #Dorsetwildlife #dorsetnature #purbecknature

And the female Scabious Longhorn Nemophora Metallica in Clayton Meadow. See previous post. #moths @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Exciting find… a photo by Chris Poole of several Scabious Longhorn Nemophora metallica in Clayton Meadow, Dorset. According to Dorset Moths there have been no recent records. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @lgspace.bsky.social #moths #insects

A Wall butterfly in Clayton Meadow, Dorset. This butterfly has been in serious decline in recent years and is on the Section 41 list of species of principal importance. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @lgspace.bsky.social @britishnatureguide.bsky.social

A nice specimen of the Dark Green Fritillary in Clayton Meadow, Dorset. The caterpillars often feed on the wildflower, Common Dog-violet. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social #butterflies #fritillaries #nature #conservation #biodiversity #BigButterflyCount

A Brown Argus butterfly, often seen in chalk grasslands, in Clayton Meadow, Dorset. #DorsetWildlife @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social #butterflies #BrownArgus #meadows #grasslands

A Small Copper in Clayton Meadow, Dorset. #butterflies @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social #DorsetWildlife #nature #meadows #grasslands

Large white butterfly on a blackberry bush in Clayton Meadow. #butterflies #Dorsetbutterflies #nature

Celebrating National Meadows Day 2025. A snapshot of the biodiversity that meadows have to offer. @plantlifeuk.bsky.social @lgspace.bsky.social @britishnatureguide.bsky.social #DorsetWildlife #meadows #NationalMeadowsDay #biodiversity #30dayswild

A Skipper butterfly on the Pyramidal orchids in Clayton Meadow, Dorset. (Skipper I.D.anyone?) #orchids #butterflies #nature #pollinators #nature #environment @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social #DorsetWildlife @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

One of the many beautiful Pyramidal orchids in Clayton Meadow, Dorset. #Nature #orchids #meadows #DorsetWildlife @ukorchids.bsky.social @lgspace.bsky.social

Lots of Skipper butterflies on the grasses in Clayton Meadow, Dorset. #skippers #butterflies #grasses #Purbecknature #Dorsetbutterflies #nature #meadows #grasslands #conservation

The Knapweed is a popular choice for the Marbled White butterflies in Clayton Meadow. #butterflies #meadows #wildflowers #nature #conservation #DorsetWildlife #Purbeck #Dorsetbutterflies

A Skipper (Lulworth?) on the Knapweed in Clayton Meadow, Dorset. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social #butterflies #wildflowers #pollinators #skippers #meadows

Birds too in Clayton Meadow, with plenty of insects to feed on. #meadows #biodiversity #insects #conservation #grasslands #DorsetWildlife

A few of the Pyramidal Orchids of Clayton Meadow, Dorset. #meadows #orchids #wildflowers #conservation #nature #DorsetWildlife

Six spot burnet moths loving the Knapweed flowers in Clayton Meadow, Dorset. #wildflowerhour #butterflies #moths #pollinators #Dorsetwildlife @lgspace.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Lovely Bee orchids in Clayton Meadow, Dorset. #orchids #wildflowers #DorsetWildlife @ukorchids.bsky.social @lgspace.bsky.social @britishnatureguide.bsky.social

A Meadow Brown butterfly in Clayton Meadow. #butterflies #meadows @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

Pollinators feasting on the beautiful kidney vetch in Clayton Meadow. #kidneyvetch #pollinators #wildflowers #meadows

The Bee orchids are flowering and the Pyramidal orchids on the verge of flowering in Clayton Meadow in Dorset this week. #OrchidChallenge #wildflowerhour #meadows #wildflowers #orchids #Dorsetwildlife #PurbeckNature

The Common Broomrape in Clayton Meadow. A non-photosynthetic plant that has no leaves and is parasitic on a host plant. #parasitic #broomrape #wildflowerhour #wildflowers #meadows #nature

Bee orchid season has started in Clayton Meadow. #orchids #meadows #wildflowers #nature @ukorchids.bsky.social

The first of the Bee orchids in Clayton Meadow. #orchids #meadows #wildflowers

Great photo of a Common Blue on Yellow Rattle in Clayton Meadow. #Conservation #butterflies #meadows #wildflowers #DorsetWildlife

Celebrating #WorldBeeDay. Clayton Meadow is a valuable stepping stone in nature for #bees and other #pollinators.

A beautiful moth on the Yellow Rattle in Clayton Meadow. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @mothiduk.bsky.social #moths #Dorsetwildlife

Clayton Meadow is a useful ‘stepping stone’ or ‘refuelling stop’ for nature like this Red Admiral butterfly. #DorsetWildlife #butterflies #nature #conservation #meadows

A female Orange-tip butterfly on an emerging oxeye daisy flower in Clayton Meadow. #butterflies #DorsetWildlife #DorsetButterflies #nature #PurbeckWildlife #wildflowers #MakeNatureCount

Lots of reptiles soaking up the sunshine in Clayton Meadow. #reptiles #adders #DorsetWildlife #conservation #nature

Plenty of promising Bee orchid rosettes developing in Clayton Meadow. #meadows #DorsetWildlife #PurbeckNature #NatureConservation #orchids #beeorchids

Cowslips, primroses and visiting pollinators in Clayton Meadow. #DorsetWildlife #wildflowerhour #meadows #pollinators #cowslips

First butterfly of the season captured on camera in Clayton Meadow. #butterflies #meadows #DorsetNature #NatureConservation #Dorsetwildlife