Butterfly Conservation

Butterfly Conservation (BC) is a UK-wide nonprofit environmentalist organization and charity dedicated to conserving butterflies, moths, and the environment. The charity uses its research to provide advice on how to conserve and restore butterfly and moth habitats and it runs projects to protect more than 100 threatened species of Lepidoptera. Butterfly Conservation is also involved in conserving hundreds of sites and reserves for butterflies and moths throughout the UK.

Butterfly Conservation has more than 37,000 members and 31 volunteer-led Branches throughout the UK, as well as the European Butterflies Group. The organisation's Head Office is based in East Lulworth, Dorset, with additional offices in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

History

The organisation was originally formed in 1968 as the "British Butterfly Conservation Society" by a small group of naturalists and it was registered as a charity on 7 March 1968.

Butterfly Conservation is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England (2206468). Registered Office: Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5QP. Charity registered in England and Wales (254937) and in Scotland (SCO39268) VAT No GB 991 2771 89.

Butterfly Conservation operates three of the world’s largest butterfly and moth recording schemes, which together have gathered more than 60 million records.

This includes the world’s largest butterfly survey - the Big Butterfly Count, launched in 2010). The citizen science survey encourages people to spot and record common butterflies and two day-flying moths during three weeks of high summer.

The charity also runs a number of moths schemes and conservation activities focusing solely on the conservation of moths that people can get involved in.

Butterfly Conservation produces three editions of its membership magazine ''Butterfly'' every year. The magazine is distributed to members, institutions, conservation bodies and others interested or involved in the conservation of butterflies, moths and related wildlife. The publication has an estimated readership of 60,000.

BC celebrated its 50th anniversary year in 2018. Sir David Attenborough became President of the society in 1998.

Function of the organisation

Butterfly Conservation is the UK charity dedicated to saving butterflies and moths.

Why butterflies and moths matter: Butterflies and moths are important parts of the ecosystem. They are beautiful and inspirational and people enjoy seeing them in their gardens and the countryside. They are sensitive to change and their fortunes help us assess the health of our environment. Two-thirds of butterfly and moth species are in decline. This is a warning that cannot be ignored.

Butterfly Conservation aims to maintain and enhance landscapes for butterflies and moths. The charity provides advice to landowners and managers on how to conserve and restore habitats. BC staff and volunteers work to gather extensive butterfly and moth data and conduct research to provide the scientific evidence that underpins and informs the charity's work.

Butterfly Conservation has an established record of reversing declines and run programmes for more than 100 threatened species of butterflies and moths.

Reserves

Butterfly Conservation manages over 30 nature reserves.

England

Scotland

Allt Mhuic
Loch Arkaig

Mabie Forest
Dumfries and Galloway

Wester Moss
Stirling

Wales

Caeau Ffos Fach
Cross Hands

Eyarth Rocks
Ruthin, Denbighshire

Organisational structure

Sir David Attenborough has served as President of the charity since 1998.

Chief Executive Role

2017–present day: Julie Williams

2003 - 2016: Dr. Martin Warren

Vice Presidents: Maurice Avent, Nick Baker, John F Burton, Dudley Cheeseman, Sue Collins, The Earl of Cranbrook, David Dennis, Mike Dilger, Clive Farrell, Julian Gibbs, Ian Hardy MVO, David Hanson, Anthony Hoare, Chris Packham, Prof Jeremy Thomas OBE and Alan Titchmarsh MBE.

Prior to his death in 2004, Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 10th Earl of Shaftesbury served as a Vice president of the charity.Earl of Shaftesbury's Obituary
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The organisation has over 30 volunteer-led Branches across the UK, with offices based in England
Northern IrelandScotland
an
Wales

UK Branch offices

Bedfordshire and Northants Branch

Cambridgeshire and Essex Branch

Cheshire and Wirral Branch

Cornwall Branch

Cumbria Branch

Devon Branch

Dorset Branch

East Midlands Branch

East Scotland Branch

Glasgow and South West Scotland Branch

Gloucestershire Branch

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Branch

Hertfordshire and Middlesex Branch

Highlands and Islands Branch

Kent and South East London Branch

Lancashire Branch

Lincolnshire Branch

Northern Ireland Branch

Norfolk Branch

North East England Branch

North Wales Branch

South Wales Branch

Somerset and Bristol Branch

Suffolk Branch



Sussex Branch

Upper Thames Branch

Warwickshire Branch

West Midlands Branch

Wiltshire Branch

Yorkshire Branch

Th
European Butterflies Group
has also been established as a BC volunteer-led Branch, which promotes the study, conservation and enjoyment of butterflies, moths and their habitats in Europe. See als
BC Europe

References

External links

Butterfly ConservationBig Butterfly CountButterfly Conservation on Facebook

Butterfly Conservation on TwitterButterfly Conservation on Instagram

{{Authority control

1968 establishments in the United Kingdom
Biology organisations based in the United Kingdom

Butterfly organizations
Conservation in the United Kingdom
Environmental charities based in the United Kingdom
Organisations based in Dorset
Organizations established in 1968
Purbeck District