Despite it being the start of Spring, March 2023 has commenced with a cold blast of Arctic air from the north which has keep our local butterflies deep into their hibernation…but in Exmouth, South Devon it must be a different world to here in Derbyshire as Nick Brown sent me the link below which shows the appearance of a White Letter Hairstreak caterpillar which duly climbed up the branch of the elm tree, where it had changed from an overwintering egg, and then disappeared into an emerging bud where it will spend a few months feeding and growing and then changing into a pupa before emerging as the adult butterfly around June 2023 – have a look at the link below and enjoy nature at its best!
https://twitter.com/i/status/1629834366925914112
The issue of rotas for the new transect season is in full swing but there are a few still to be issued yet so please contact your local co-ordinator as soon as possible so that the remaining rotas can be distributed in good time before the start of the transect season which is on Saturday 1st of April 2023. At the moment, there are a number of sites in the County which require additional volunteers, so if you are thinking of joining the band of 350 Derbyshire volunteers who carry out this important survey work then have a look at the following list and contact me if you would like to be part of a team on a rota during this year :-
Peak District :- Longstone Edge; Chee Dale; Coombs Dale; Ryder Point, Hopton; Cromford Canal North; Peak Village, Rowsley
N E Derbyshire :- Brook Park, Shirebrook; Poulter Country Park; Markham Vale complex
South Derbyshire :- Seale Wood, Overseal; Staunton Harold Reservoir meadow; Woodside NR, Shipley