Hello Everyone,

At last we managed to get a few days of sun and warmth which was just what we humans and our local lepidoptera were waiting for!

Now that the sun has crossed the equator, hopefully we can expect more of the same but the fickle month of March is likely to turn colder this weekend with possibly some frosty nights, but to be fair we haven’t had many frosts in the Derby area this last Winter – in fact only 18 nights compared to 31 nights with frost during Winter 2022/2023.

Please find attached details of a special Insurance for volunteers in the Region that has been organised by Butterfly Conservation  for all volunteers that carry out transects and WCBS surveys – it is necessary to register on the web portal  Assemble – please use the link below to enter your details. It is not an Annual Registration but you stay on it until you request to come off it at a future date.

https://volunteer.butterfly-conservation.org/signup/9hvf528

Could I ask that Local Coordinators ensure that their volunteers are aware of this Insurance provision and registration before they commence their transects this year.

There is also a National Agreement between Butterfly Conservation and Forestry England and full details can be found on this link:-

Forestry England and Butterfly Conservation National Agreement 2024

Meanwhile out in the field there have been sightings of 3 new butterfly species this week , as follows :-

Speckled Wood :- First sightings in the County this year have come from Alvaston on the 18th of March 2024 (Steven Porter) and also on the 19th of March 2024 from Stanton by Bridge ( Jim Alder)

Orange Tip :- The first sighting of this harbinger of Spring occurred on the 19th of March 2024 at the Meteor Shopping Centre in Derby (Sally Fisher)

Green Veined White :- An individual was seen on the 19th of March 2024 in a Belper garden (per Dave Evans)

The Total Numbers of other species seen this week amounted to 154 individuals making it by far the most busy week of the year with 61 Brimstone sightings, 36 Small Tortoiseshells seen, 35 Commas seen, 20 Peacocks seen and only 2 Red Admirals noted – the highest count of Brimstones being 11 no on the 18th of March 2024 at Creswell Crags (Jim Anderson), the highest count of Commas being 11 no seen on the 18th of March 2024 at Foxley Wood, Linton (Chris Leverington) and the highest count of Small Tortoiseshells being 5 seen on the 19th of March 2024 in Paradise Wood, Linton (Chris Leverington).

With just over a week to the start of the new butterfly transect season, there is still time to become involved in this very rewarding method of monitoring our local butterflies – additional help from volunteers is still required at the existing transects along the Cromford Canal towpath from Cromford to Whatstandwell (in 2 Sections), Seale Wood, Overseal, Staunton Harold Reservoir wildflower meadow and also at new transects being started this year at Foremarke Reservoir, in Grindleford and also in Notts at  Besthorpe – let me know if you are interested and I will put you in contact with the Local Organiser.