Welcome
We have over 2000 members and the branch stretches from Peterborough in the north of Cambridgeshire to south Essex and the suburbs of NE London.
Across these two great counties we are lucky to have a rich tapestry of butterfly and moth habitats including The Fens, ancient woodland, classic chalk grassland and miles and miles of coast.
Our committee and members are active throughout the year and we meet regularly for conservation work parties, informative field trips and a number of various other get togethers.
If you live in our region and are a member of Butterfly Conservation you automatically become a member of the Cambridgeshire & Essex branch - and we'd love to see you out in the field.
So if you have any questions about butterflies, moths and conservation in our region, please don't hesitate to get in touch with any of us on the committee.
Species to look out for
Crucial to a healthy environment
Moths are indicators of a healthy environment and healthy ecosystems. Areas that are rich in moths are also rich in other invertebrates.
They are an important element of the food chain and are prey for a wide range of birds, bats and other insectivorous animals. For example, in Britain and Ireland, Blue Tits eat an estimated 50 billion caterpillars each year.
An important component of a rich biodiversity
Moths are intrinsically valuable and are worthy of conservation in their own right, part of life on earth and an important component of its rich biodiversity.
It is estimated that they have been around for at least 50 million years and likely first evolved some 200 million years ago!
Why Sir David Attenborough loves moths!
"We hear a lot about the threats to conspicuous and charismatic animals such as birds and mammals, but far less about the insects that make up over half of all the species known to science and which play a vital role in the functioning of the world’s ecosystems"
12 Magnificent Moth Facts
The weird and wonderful world of moths is full of fascinating facts that many people don’t know! Gone are the days they were regarded as the dull runner up to the butterfly! They are spectacular and wonderful in their own right. Here are 12 magnificent moth facts that show you how amazing these creatures are.
What Butterfly Conservation does to save moths
Moths have experienced worrying declines over the past 40 years with several species even becoming extinct in the UK. Sadly, the numbers of many species continue to decline, and it may start feel like there is nothing that can be done… but this is abundantly not true - not on our watch. Butterfly Conservation works across the disciplines of conservation, research science, recording, and education, all of which help prevent moth species from further declines, and even extinction.
News
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Boost garden butterfly numbers by up to 93% with one simple step, new study reveals
Letting parts of your garden grow wild with long grass can increase butterfly numbers by up to 93% and attract a wider range of species, according to new research from leading wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation.
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Double your donation today with the Big Green Match Fund!
From today, for just 7 days, your donations to support our critical conservation work will be doubled!
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More than 26,000 people help Kent moths in biggest project of its kind
Volunteers counted moths on White Cliffs of Dover, created new habitat and even found new moth populations.
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Winning big with the Butterfly Conservation Lottery!
Congratulations to Chris from Derby who recently scooped £1,000 in the Butterfly Conservation lottery.
Events
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Field Trip: Devils Dyke – May 25th 2024
Saturday 25th May 2024, 11:00am-1:00pm
July Racecourse entrance near A1303/A1304 roundabout with horse statue
Join the County Recorder for a walk along one of our region's favourite locations to see a wide range of late spring butterflies, including Dingy Skipper, Green Hairstreak and Adonis Blue.
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Field Trip: TBC – July 14th 2024
Sunday 14th July 2024, 11:00am-1:00pm
TBC
Field trip in North Cambridgeshire to be confirmed soon.
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Field Trip: Claybury Park - August 1st 2024
Thursday 1st August 2024, 9:00am-11:30am
Claybury Park, Woodford Bridge, Essex.
Join us to see the Brown Hairstreak, the branch's newest resident species.
Meet our 'MothMaticians': George Tordoff
As you can imagine, our moth scientists are a very knowledgeable and interesting group of people. For MothsMatter 2022 we interviewed George Tordoff, one of our resident moth experts on his role at Butterfly Conservation and chatted with him about why #mothsmatter so much to him.
Volunteer with us
Butterfly Conservation relies on the support of thousands of volunteers, and we are always looking for more help inside the office and out in the field. Whether you want to volunteer at a local branch, get outside and help manage our nature reserves, or help with one of our events, we have something for everyone to get involved in! Your time can make a real difference.
Branch information
In your area
Contact branch
- Chairman:
Mike Gittos - County recorder (Cambs):
Edward Pollard - County recorder (Essex):
Rob Smith