Branch news

UK butterflies bounced back in 2018 following a string of poor years, thanks in part to last year’s heatwave summer, a study has revealed.

Nature enthusiasts in the Highlands are being asked to look for the Comma this year.

Nature enthusiasts in the Highlands are being asked to look for the Comma this year.

Thanks to technology it is easier than ever to send in sightings of butterflies. Thousands of records are received this way every year now, and it has helped open the world of butterfly recording to people who may never have recorded an insect. But how can you go about it?

After February's phenomenal mini heatwave no less than 7 Butterfly species were recorded within the East Branch area. Very unusual. Here are a few of the photographs showing Speckled Wood (Robert Wright) Painted Lady (Jim Montana), Peacock and Comma (Iain Cowe)

Street lighting operating all night can alter the natural pollination of a common wildflower, a study involving Butterfly Conservation (BC) has revealed.

Read here for the latest developments on the controversial plans to create a golf course at Coul Links near Embo, Sutherland, in the Highlands of Scotland. 

BC has joined with a number of other organisations to try and protect the wide range of wildlife found at the site.

Read here for the latest developments on the controversial plans to create a golf course at Coul Links near Embo, Sutherland, in the Highlands of Scotland. 

BC has joined with a number of other organisations to try and protect the wide range of wildlife found at the site.

Read here for the latest developments on the controversial plans to create a golf course at Coul Links near Embo, Sutherland, in the Highlands of Scotland. 

BC has joined with a number of other organisations to try and protect the wide range of wildlife found at the site.

Read here for the latest developments on the controversial plans to create a golf course at Coul Links near Embo, Sutherland, in the Highlands of Scotland. 

BC has joined with a number of other organisations to try and protect the wide range of wildlife found at the site.

A butterfly once restricted to a small part of Scotland is making a comeback by expanding its range in the countryside and moving into cities like Edinburgh and more recently, Aberdeen.

A butterfly once restricted to a small part of Scotland is making a comeback by expanding its range in the countryside and moving into cities like Edinburgh and more recently, Aberdeen.

A butterfly once restricted to a small part of Scotland is making a comeback by expanding its range in the countryside and moving into cities like Edinburgh and more recently, Aberdeen.

A butterfly once restricted to a small part of Scotland is making a comeback by expanding its range in the countryside and moving into cities like Edinburgh and more recently, Aberdeen.

In July 2018 Prime Minister Theresa May announced that the Government would bring forward an Environment Bill. Butterfly Conservation (BC) understand that Defra are working on the draft of the Bill, to cover England and reserved matters in devolved countries, and this will be published before Christmas.

A moth normally associated with southern England and Wales has been discovered in Scotland for the first time.

A moth normally associated with southern England and Wales has been discovered in Scotland for the first time.

A moth normally associated with southern England and Wales has been discovered in Scotland for the first time.

Scientists have discovered that moths may play a much broader role as plant pollinators than previously suspected.

Numbers of one of the UK’s best known garden butterflies have plummeted this summer despite the record-breaking hot weather, results from the Big Butterfly Count have revealed.

One of Scotland’s most striking butterflies, the Peacock, has experienced a record summer as it thrived in heatwave conditions, results from the Big Butterfly Count revealed.

One of Scotland’s most striking butterflies, the Peacock, has experienced a record summer as it thrived in heatwave conditions, results from the Big Butterfly Count revealed.

One of Scotland’s most striking butterflies, the Peacock, has experienced a record summer as it thrived in heatwave conditions, results from the Big Butterfly Count revealed.

Scottish Ministers have “called-in” plans for a golf course at Coul Links near Embo, East Sutherland after deciding that the case is of ‘national importance’.

History fans are being asked to take a closer look at castles this summer in a bid to track the changing fortunes of one of the UK’s most striking and overlooked butterflies.

History fans are being asked to take a closer look at castles this summer in a bid to track the changing fortunes of one of the UK’s most striking and overlooked butterflies.

History fans are being asked to take a closer look at castles this summer in a bid to track the changing fortunes of one of the UK’s most striking and overlooked butterflies.

The Prince of Wales has recorded dozens of butterflies while taking part in the world’s largest butterfly survey at his home in Highgrove, Gloucestershire.

Sir David Attenborough has spoken of the mental health benefits of watching butterflies as he urged the public to take part in the world’s biggest butterfly survey over the next three weeks.

In the UK, since 1976, the habitat specialists butterflies index has fallen by 77%, whilst wider countryside abundance is down by 46%.