Thanks to Max Maughan for organising the following programme of field trips for the coming year. These field trips are a great way to learn about butterflies and their habitat, help with identification will be available and there will also be photographic opportunities. Walks are open to anyone to attend. Please check weather conditions and come suitably prepared.

This will be a joint field trip with the Lincolnshire branch, who have kindly offered to lead the event. Meet at the Education Centre, map.ref: TF147739 (OS Sheet 121), at 10 am. The target species will be Marsh Fritillary.
Contact Toby Ludlow, telephone 01526 343910

Meet at 11am at the old station at Cotham. SK 798 461 The village is on a minor road between Newark-on-Trent and Bottesford. The old station is to the south of Cotham. Go towards Shelton for about a half mile and at the T-junction turn east for about 400 yards to the bridge over the disused railway. Parking on either side of the bridge on a broad grass verge. The site is flat, but stout footwear is advised for venturing north or south along the old railway line. Please bring your own refreshments Target Species: Grizzled Skipper
Contact Bill Bacon, telephone 01949 838585

This trip is aimed at spring butterflies. The Common consists of a large area of unimproved grassland and woods that are still traditionally coppiced, there is also a recreated wildflower meadow. The area is covered in fairly good, non-strenuous footpaths, so a good pair of walking shoes would suffice. We will be meeting at 2 pm at the visitors centre car park, OS Landranger 140 SP447953. Turn off of the A47 at the Barwell/Hinckley roundabout, towards Hinckley on the A447 (on my OS map) or the B4668 (on Google-map), along this road the Hinckley United Football Club Stadium is on your right, not far past this turn into a lay-by on the left and a narrow lane down to the car park. Note that the Earl Shilton bypass (A47) is now open, possibly not shown on your map and shown in outline on Google-map. Do not approach the common from junction 2 on the M69, otherwise you will be at the wrong end of the site. Contact: Geof Adams 01455 282641

Meet in the carpark in Newstead Village, Nottinghamshire at SK 524 530 at 10 am. From the M1 leave at junc 27 and follow the Mansfield signs on the A608. Turn left at traffic lights onto A611. Take the first turning on the right - signposted "Newstead Railway Station". Follow these signs turning left into Newstead Village. When approaching the level crossing, go straight over and the car park is on your left next to the factory building. If coming from the south of the region (Nottingham) follow the A611 turning off the dual carriageway to Newstead Village. Once in the village take the 2nd right towards the railway and follow above instructions. Target species: Dingy Skipper.
Contact: Philip Burnham, on 07765369590

The target species for this weekend is the Large Blue at its most successful re-introduction site of Collard Hill, which has been publicly accessible for some years now. Other species present at this site include Marbled White and Great Green Bush-Cricket. We will also be visiting Brean Down, just south of Weston-Super-Mare where we hope to see Grayling amongst several rare plants including White Rock-Rose and Somerset Hair-Grass. Opportunities for visiting other sites would include Cheddar Gorge (for Cheddar Pink) and the Somerset Wildlife Trust reserve of Fivehead Arable Fields, where butterflies that have benefitted from sensitive management include Marbled White and Brown Argus. There are also several rare plants at this site, which is one of the four best sites for cornfield flowers in the U.K. On the Saturday, meet in the car park immediately to the north of Cockrod Road, south of the town of Street at 10:00 a.m. From the A39, take the B3151 south, bypassing Street and turn west onto Cockrod Road at the cross roads beyond the houses. The car park is at ST 482 347 and it is a short walk from the car park up onto the down of Collard Hill. On the Sunday, meet in the car park immediately to the south of Brean Down at 10:00 a.m. From the A39, cross over the M5 motorway at Junction 23 and take the A38 northwards, crossing over the River Brue. Take the B3140 through Burnham-on-Sea and bear west at the T junction with Brent Road, onto Berrow Road and westwards again onto Nage Road. Continue northwards along Coast Road and the car park is at the end of the minor road, beyond Brean Village at ST 297 586, which is sign posted to the tropical bird gardens. Both sites contain steep slopes and stout shoes or walking boots are recommended. Leader: Richard Penson

Fermyn Woods is part of the ancient Rockingham Forest. It is an attractive site with grassland and ponds as well as the extensive woodland. Target species: Purple Emperor, White Admiral, Purple and White-letter Hairstreak, and a range of other woodland and grassland species. Location: meet at 9.30 am at SP964859 (opposite the airstrip) on the minor road from Brigstock to Oundle, off the A6116 Corby to Thrapston road. (Roadside parking only at the entrance to the bridlepath through the woods.) Move cars for lunch at Fermyn Woods Country Park Visitor Centre (SP 953849) - cafŽ, toilets and picnic benches. Car parking charge of £2. Continue after lunch to explore other areas of the park. Good number of dragonfly species should be present at the ponds. Contact: Max Maughan 01332 511825

This is an event organised by the Friends of Belper Parks, run by Jenny Steel. Jenny is a leading author of wildlife books which include 'Butterfly Gardening' and 'Bringing a Garden to Life'. She also broadcasts on BBC Radio Oxford and used to work for the National Wildlife Trust. The course will be held at the Heritage Centre, St Johns Chapel, Belper, DE56 1HX. Map ref: SK353475 and the cost will be £50 for the day which includes lunch and refreshments. Full details and how to book are available on her website www.wildlife-gardening.co.uk or on the Belper Parks website www.belperparks.info.

Meet at 2pm in the Coppice Car Park (free parking) DE56 1FZ. This is an event run by the Friends of Belper Parks who will provide teas and coffees, plus a sheet with pictures of all the butterflies and some of the moths which can be found in the LNR, and an indication of where they can be found. On a sunny day in July up to 15 species of common butterflies can be seen. Dave Fisher from the Friends will be on hand to give help and advice. Coppice Car Park is off the Market Place at the junction of the New Road (A609), and King Street. Map ref: SK351474 Contact: Dave Fisher on 0845 370 7760

Meet at the entrance at 11.00am. From Nottingham take the A606 towards Melton Mowbray , just before entering Stanton on the Wolds take the left turning into a single track road called Laming Gap Lane. Park with care on the on the roadside at SK 646322. (Due to the road works there is no longer access available from the A46). Target species are Purple Hairstreak, Brown Argus & possibly White Letter Hairstreak. Mainly easy walking on gravel track although some parts can be remain wet after rain so stout footwear is recommended. In the early 1980s this was the last site for Pearl Boarded Fritillary in the East Midlands. A poignant reminder during "Save Our Butterflies Week" of how vulnerable many species have become. Contact: Eliot Taylor 01162 871677

Our second trip of the yearÊto this site hopes to catch the summer butterflies, especially the Purple Hairstreak. The lower branches of the oak trees are at head height and below, giving good opportunities to get good views and photo opportunities of this butterfly. We should also have good numbers of Knapweed and Betany in flower, helping to attract the other summer species. We will be meeting at 2 pm at the visitors centre car park, directions as for the trip on the 29th May. Contact: Geof Adams 01455 282641

Meet at the Natural England car park (SU 731966) on the north side of the M40 motorway at 9.30 am. Access is signposted from the A40 which can be joined from either Junction 5 or 6 of the M40. Target species are Silver-spotted Skipper, Chalkhill Blue and Brown Argus. Plants include Chiltern Gentian. Bring a packed lunch, and stout shoes are recommended as there are several steep slopes. In the afternoon, if time permits, we may visit the nearby reserve of Whitecross Green Wood for Brown Hairstreak. Contact: Max Maughan 01332 511825