Wall Brown out in Cambridgeshire now. Just seen some photos of one in the meadows between St Ives and Houghton. It's been many years since we had records of Wall Brown in those meadows. @wildlifebcn.org

Some of my very first practical conservation experience was with volunteer work parties at Hawthorn Dene in the early 90's. This is a magnificent landscape, and I am happy to support this fundraising drive

What are the three ideas why tropical forests hold so many trees? youtu.be/i2jQbhnIxI8?...

Double your impact this week! 🌿🦋 Every donation to our Big Give #EarthRaise campaign will be matched, helping us restore precious grasslands for the Northern Brown Argus. Donate before 29 April and make twice the difference 👇 https://donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05WS00000ArlXiYAJ 📷: John Money

Birders, unless you are doing a point count there's not a lot of point in submitting butterfly records in BirdTrack. The location data are rarely precise enough to be of value. For butterfly records, can you please use iRecord, or iRecord butterflies. With at least Tetrad (e.g TL1234) resolution

Searching for Satyrus is a 2026 documentary by Rena Effendi that follows her quest to find the rare and endangered Satyrus effendi butterfly, intertwining personal, environmental, and geopolitical narratives. Showing in Oxford tonight. Tickets at www.undergroundslate.com/event-detail...

Couple of records of Green Hairstreak from Trumpington Meadows, nr Cambridge in the last few days. Nice to have the emerald of spring at this site. They are on the south side of the M11, in the corner near the footbridge. around TL433539 @wildlifebcn.org

Natural England hasn't protected a single new SSSI since 2023. Are they avoiding making decisions on sites where irreplaceable wildlife is in peril too – eg, Middlewick Ranges, Essex? Appreciate they're working with a nature-hostile government, so not easy. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

A follow up to this. The woods were busy on Sunday. Great to see so many people coming to enjoy nature. Plenty with dogs, every single one following the request that they be on a lead.

65 years of natural colonisation and natural woodland expansion at Monks Wood. Entirely self-sown by Jays, thrushes & wind; zero management: no planting, thinning or fencing. Oak-Ash canopy and Hawthorn-Blackthorn understorey dominate. Roe deer, Muntjac, Grey Squirrels haven't inhibited it.

Waresley Wood in Cambridgeshire doing its glorious Ancient Woodland thing today. @ukorchids.bsky.social @wildlifebcn.org @brianecambs.bsky.social

Redcar's name refers to reed carr, hrēod kjarr, the expansive fen which lay between the Tees estuary and the coast. Coatham Marsh is the last remnant of this wetland and while historical accounts are a little shaky, may have been the scene of one of the final revolts against Norman rule. 🧵

"just exactly how is this better than the cone of shame?"

This Monks Wood #rewilding (natural colonisation) plot is 30 years old this year. It's taken that long for this single Bluebell to migrate 20m from adjacent ancient woodland to colonise the plot. But now it's here, joining the growing trees & shrubs: future ancient woodland in the making.

Two Green Hairstreaks @magogdown.bsky.social this morning. If you would like a chance to see these, then why not attend next Sunday's (26th April) field trip at the Magog Down. Details as follows: butterfly-conservation.org/events/field... @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

Deep dive into 50 years of butterfly data from the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme 📊🦋 The official results, plus fascinating talks on the latest developments in butterfly research and conservation, are now available to watch here 👉 www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_Aj... #UKBMS50 #UKBRM

I am looking to add some sites to this. I'm going to add Paxton Pits, because of the Grizzled Skippers. Where else should I add? Ferry Meadows in Peterborough for another urban site, perhaps? Or somewhere else in the Fens? There a whole load of the county missing out

It's early. But I am seeing reports of Grizzled and Dingy Skipper from elsewhere in the country. So maybe time to get to Paxton Pits, or Devil's Dyke to see if any are out in Cambridgeshire yet

Can any birders suggest what I might be hearing making a call with three low, slow, descending notes? 1st note is slightly longer than the 2nd, which is slightly longer than the 3rd. It sounds like a little like a lower version of a golden-crowned sparrow (but I'm in Oxford, UK). #ukbirds #birdcalls

2026 Guided walks. Information has now been published on the @savebutterflies.bsky.social website. Guided walks are free, and open to all Details on where, when, and how to register @bc-suffolk.bsky.social @bcbedsnorthants.bsky.social butterfly-conservation.org/events?field...

Utterly fantastic news. With the invaluable help of supporters and members, the Dorset Wildlife Trust have secured Upton Heath! Priceless habitat saved by wonderful people.... www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/news/upton-h...

Japan is playing a pivotal role in the transition to a nature-positive future by hosting the second Global Nature Positive Summit, 14-16 July in Kumamoto. 🌲🇯🇵 Check out the packed schedule and register now: events.nikkeibp.co.jp/event/2026/G... #NaturePositive #GNPS

Volunteer Opportunity: Chequered Skipper and Wood White Surveys at Fineshade Wood, May-June 2026 If you are interested in getting involved, click the link in our bio to sign up to Butterfly Conservation's volunteer platform Assemble. We'd love to have you on board! @savebutterflies.bsky.social

I'm planning to lead walks at Devil's Dyke, and Woodwalton Fen this year. First time we have done a guided walk at the Rothschild Bungalow, where I'm hoping the Purple Emperors will put on a show. Midweek walks this year. Pencil in 21st May for D Dyke, and 9th July for Woodwalton

There's some wonderful celebration & reflections here from Ernie Pollard himself: butterfly-conservation.org/news-and-blo...

50 years of the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme. And the first transect was at Monks Wood (still running), where Ernie Pollard developed the monitoring scheme while working at a precursor of @ukceh.bsky.social One of many long-term legacies of research at Monks Wood, and plenty others still going!

We need more people to help us monitor populations of the Northern Brown Argus. This wonderful butterfly is found in small colonies in northern England and Scotland. Join our free workshop to learn more: butterfly-conservation.org/events/north... @bchighland.bsky.social @bcyorkshire.bsky.social

Our new article in Science Advances, led by Gabriele Midolo, identifies the main factors driving changes in the species composition of plant communities across Europe: eutrophication, denser, more productive vegetation, and drying of wetlands. doi.org/10.1126/scia...

Been quite the week for JD Vance - he's managed to ensure the fall of Viktor Orban and then confirmed Iran's control of the Straits of Hormuz. Poor chap needs a day off.

Want to know where to see butterflies in Cambridgeshire? I prepared a short guide to many of the best sites across the county. From the Small Blues of Magog Down, to Wall Brown in the Fens, to the Skippers of Swaddywell. butterfly-conservation.org/in-your-area...

A few changes to a garden can make an enormous difference. Watching Secret Garden reminded me of this illustration by Marton Zsoldos.

A messy garden is a glorious garden. We need to stop tidying, titivating and paving them over | Emma Beddington

There is an influx of Painted Ladies on Dungeness, Kent this morning Seen 7 in a small sheltered areas at the top Long Pits Plus the Large Tortoiseshell found last Thursday is still present east side of top Long Pits @savebutterflies.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

BBC News - Golden eagles' return to English skies gets government backing www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

First butterfly photo of the year. Holly Blue, Cambridge

"After identifying losses caused by several factors, including rootstock selection, weather conditions, soil nutrient levels and aftercare, we have launched a 50,000 tree trial to test new measures and inform our future planting regime for all our schemes." www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

These 2 environment stories today are linked. UK uses 150,000 tonnes of birdfood/yr from intensive farming. Worried about land use, food security, carbon, climate, water scarcity, pesticides, livestock emissions, habitat loss, food miles, oil, fertiliser, shipping? Don't squander it on common birds.

The Nature Positive film is coming to Cambridge. A free screening in May. (More details in replies)

Welcome to Bluesky @bcbedsnorthants.bsky.social I've added you to this starter pack where you can find other branches and more go.bsky.app/G4nh67F

👏 Hurray the cycle is complete. Adult Clouded Yellow x3 on our Southbourne transect today. All stages monitored overwinter to demonstrate successful overwintering. Thanks to all who helped 👍 @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

Pipped at the post! Here's one from Devil's Dyke today.

Wow. This is a really early Wall. @martinswarren.bsky.social @richardfoxbc.bsky.social @idwatts.bsky.social

**Closing Date Monday 13 April 5pm** CPPF is seeking a Chief Executive Officer to guide our charity through its next chapter - strengthening its voice and ensuring that Cambridge continues to thrive. Full details and application pack: https://cambridgeppf.org/chief-executive-officer/

news.mongabay.com/2026/04/why-... @mongabay.com @rhettayersbutler.bsky.social

It’s definitely Butterfly day in the garden, so far Large White Brimstone Holly blue All first garden ticks of the year #Butterfles

Holly Blue from the first transect of 2026 @magogdown.bsky.social today: Brimstone 15 Orange-tip 1 Holly Blue 1 Peacock 6 @ukbms.bsky.social @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

FIRST REPORT: Painted Lady. 2nd April 2026. St Ives, Cambs

Another early spring (though has recent cool slowed it a bit) The latest from @patrickbarkham.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Amazing lichens on the Healstone at Stonehenge

Cornwall Butterfly Conservation have made the move to Bluesky! We'll use this account to share Branch news, events, and conservation activities, and we would love to hear about your butterfly and moth sightings from across Cornwall.