Sunday 18th May Bingham Linear Park and Saxondale (Nottinghamshire)
Saturday 14th June Ulverscroft (Leicestershire)
Saturday 28th June Prees Heath and Whixall Moss (Shropshire)
Sunday 6th July Bunny Old Wood (Nottinghamshire)
Saturday 19th July Wyre Forest (Worcestershire)
Saturday 27th July Tadington (Derbyshire)
Sunday 3rd August Eaton & Gamston Woods (North Nottinghamshire)
Weekend Away 9th & 10th August
Saturday 9th August Draycott Sleights
Sunday 10th August Martin Down (South)

Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th April Thrumpton Hall, Thrumpton South Nottingham
Sunday 11th May Kings Mill Reservoir, Countryside Event
Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th May Burbage Common Countryside Open Day
Sunday 1st June Hills Farm Open Day (Nottinghamshire)
Sunday 8th June Go Wild (Derby)
Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th July Hardwick Hall Wildlife Weekend
Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th July Clumber Park Wildlife Weekend (Nottinghamshire)
Sunday 17th August Rutland Water Bird Fair
Saturday 15th November RSPB Narborough Xmas Fair

Saturday 31st May Photography Workshop - Vicar Water Country Park (Nottinghamshire)
Saturday 7th June National Moth Night
Saturday 19th - Sunday 27th July Save Our Butterflies Week

Meet at 10am at the Tythby Road entrance, SK 700 393. Parking is easy along Mill Hill Road, which is 100 metres to the north of the crossroads half way along A52 Bingham bypass. Meet at the top of the steps to the park at the northern edge of the spinney.
Bingham Linear Park comprises about 2 miles of disused railway and includes stretches of deep cutting and high embankment. Probably the largest number of butterfly species in Nottinghamshire has been recorded here. Substantial activity, which is ongoing, has taken place to maintain the rich biodiversity, and this efforts includes measures specifically aimed at increasing the Grizzled Skipper population
In the early afternoon we shall move on to the site at Saxondale, approximately 1 mile from Bingham. At Saxondale Creeping Cinquefoil is common throughout and abundant in parts and the Grizzled Skipper is likely to be seen, given suitable weather. Parking here is limited and not particularly easy, so it is suggested that we consolidate car usage and then return to Bingham Linear Park afterwards.
Walking is flat and easy at both sites, but stout footwear is advised. Please bring your own refreshments.
Contact: Bill Bacon

Meet at the Visitor Centre at 10.30am.
SK 588627 (OS sheet 270)
From the Mansfield take the B6030 Clipstone Road West.
From A614 take the B6034, turn left at the traffic lights and take the B6030 to Clipstone. The Country Park is signed close to the shops in Clipstone.
There will be an indoor session starting at 10.30am, followed by a walk at 1.00pm around the country park with its varied habitats. Hopefully weather permitting we will be able to try out our photographic skills on Common Blue, Small Copper & Dingy Skippers, the site also has a wide variety of day flying moths. If we get some good photos I will make a page on our website to showcase the results.
There is a cafe that will provide drinks and snacks, (please note that if bringing your own snacks these must be consumed outside). A small donation towards the hire costs for the room would also be appreciated.
Contact: Simon Jenkins

Twenty one years ago this was the very first field trip of the newly former East Midlands Branch of the British Butterfly Conservation Society (as it was known in those days) and we are able to run our trip on exactly the same date, if not day, and at exactly the same starting time, 2 pm.
Ulverscroft is a Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust nature reserve and covers nearly 60 ha of various habitats. We will be making our way through the woods to Herbert’s Meadows, a flower rich meadow at the far side of the site.
There is no specific target species, but we would expect to see a good selection of both grassland and woodland butterflies, the target species 21 years ago were Holly Blue and Green Hairstreak.
The reserve is 0.5 km east of Copt Oak in Charnwood Forest. Access is from Whitcroft’s Lane, which leaves the B591 Copt Oak to Loughborough road 300m north of Copt Oak. Limited parking is available along Whitcroft’s Lane adjacent to the reserve, but we are hoping to be allowed to park on the site. SK 490124 (Sheet 129). Stout walking shoes or boots are recommended.
Contact: Geof Adams

Meet in the car parking area at Prees Heath at 10:00 a.m. This site directly adjoins the eastern side of the A49, to the west of Prees Higher Heath village at SJ 558 368. If you reach an M.O.D compound you have gone too far (O/S sheet 126).
In the afternoon, meet at the western car park at Whixall Moss at 14:00. From the village of Hollinwood, take the minor road westwards to Platt Lane and carry straight on over the cross roads. Do not cross over the first bridge but turn left and carry on as far as you can go on the road, where there is a car park at the end, to the north of the canal at SJ 500 359 (O/S sheet 126).
Prees Heath has recently been acquired by Butterfly Conservation and is the last remaining site for Silver-studded Blue in the Midlands. At peak emergence there can be literally thousands of butterflies, including a variety of the female with blue on the hind wings. Whixall Moss is a National Nature Reserve, where the target species is the Large Heath. Dragonflies at this site include Black and White-faced Darters. This last site can be very wet so stout boots are strongly recommended.
Contact: Richard Penson

Meet at the eastern entrance to Bunny Old Wood at 10:00 a.m. on Wysall Lane (SK 596286). There is very limited parking on the A60 entrance and parking here could cause an obstruction. Stout boots are recommended as this wood can be muddy even in a dry summer. Target species: white-letter hairstreak with small numbers of purple hairstreak. Other common woodland species should also be seen.
Contact: Richard Penson

This is the second of our anniversary field trips, besides 1987, we have also visited it in 1991, 1996 and 2000, although earlier in the year, and it has always been a popular destination.
This large forest is designated as a Forest Nature Reserve, much of it being a Site of Special Scientific Interest and several areas are managed as National Nature Reserves, which include the meadows we will be making for in the valley by the Dowles Brook. One of these meadows used to be a Butterfly Conservation reserve, being managed by the West Midlands Branch.
Our target species is the Silver-washed Fritillary, but in such a rich habitat we should see plenty of other woodland and grassland species.
Meet at 11 am at the Hawkbatch car park (SO 762776 sheet 138) to the north of the B4194 approximately 2 miles north west of Bewdley.
Unfortunately the car park is on the opposite side of the road to the forest, so special care will be needed for the first part of our walk along and across this busy road. Some of the forest paths are rough and steep, so stout footwear is recommended. We will be taking our lunch with us, the walk down to the meadows (SO 756767) is over a mile so be prepared for both hot and wet weather conditions. The meadows do not have public access, but I have been advised that we should be okay going into them, therefore please have consideration for the flora and fauna, especially if they are hay meadows.
Contact: Geof Adams

Meet at 10.30am, in the car park at SK 169 706, OS Sheet 119 (Buxton & Matlock) also Outdoor Leisure 24 (East Sheet), you will see the ref PC (Public Conveniences), this is at a lay bye on the main A6 between Ashford in the Water and Taddington. It is a pay and display car park and can get quite busy. It is best to leave some cars here and then using the available cars, drive to the top of the Dale at SK 158 685 via Taddington Village to High Low where there is a large free lay bye. Then it is all downhill back to the A6 where the other cars are parked. It is well worth doing the walk one way downhill !!! The target species Dark Green Fritillary are usually seen from about half way down the dale at SK 165 697, and also lower down the dale. Look out for Ringlet and also Essex Skipper which is about to colonise the Peak District.
Contact: Bill Bacon

Meet at 10.00am
There is no car park but cars can be parked in the mainly disused minor road on the right just before the woods. (Please keep off the road verges which are themselves part of the SSSI).
The reserves are approached from the A638. This road runs from the A1 at Markham Moor to Retford. After passing through Gamston take the second road on the right signed to Upton and Headon. The woods are about 1 mile down the road on top of the hill.
SK729772 (O/S sheet 270)
There are no refreshments. The nearest are in Retford or Markham Moor. There is a very nice café at Thaymar Tea Room/Ice Cream Shop. This is 3 miles south on the B6387. Tel: 01623 860320.
Gamston Wood is an ancient parish wood mentioned in the Domesday Book. It is owned and managed by Notts Wildlife Trust. The wood is predominantly made up of ash, oak and birch with bramble and honeysuckle common throughout. The wood also has a diverse selection of flora. As well as the more common woodland plants the rides support species characteristic of heavy clay soils. A variety of breeding birds are also present.
Eaton Wood is mainly ash, elm and overgrown hazel coppice. The flora present includes several species of orchid, moschatel, herb Paris, wood sorrel and many more. At least a dozen species of butterfly have been recorded and the site is home to many woodland birds.
The terrain is mostly on level ground but can be rough and extremely muddy especially after rain.
Our target species is the White Admiral Butterfly.
Contact: Jane Broomhead

Andrew Daw, formerly our branch trip organiser, as kindly agreed to us joining him and the Wiltshire Branch on their trips during this weekend.

11:00 am Draycott Sleights is a Somerset Wildlife Trust reserve situated opposite side of the road to Stoke Camp Butterfly Conservation reserve. It is a rich site for grassland species, and with a small wooded area Speckled Wood and Holly Blues have been recorded here too. This is a joint trip with the Bath Natural History Society.
Target Species: Chalkhill Blue with possible Grayling
Location: Meet at ST 484 514 (Map 183) From the B3135 road that goes into Cheddar down Cheddar Gorge, turn left onto the minor road towards the Gliding Club and the village of Draycott. Just over a mile down the road the entrance gateway is on the right. Park alongside the road verges where space is available. Parking is limited, so car share where possible. There are some steep slopes to walk up and down so wear stout shoes. The afternoon will be spent on the other side of the road at the Stoke Camp Butterfly Conservation reserve.
Contact: Andrew Daw (Wiltshire Branch)

11:00 am This year we are holding a later visit to Martin Down to see Silver-Spotted Skipper and Chalkhill Blues. Other grassland butterflies should be in abundance too. This is a joint trip with Hamphsire and Dorset and will start with opening the catch from the Moth Trap held the night before by the Hampshire Branch.
Target Species: Silver-Spotted Skipper and Chalkhill Blue
Location: Meet at SU 058 192 (Map 184) Take a left turn off of the A354 dual carriageway section (Salisbury to Blandford Forum road) into the village of Martin. Take the second right turning in the village. This will take you to the South car park.
Contact: Andrew Daw (Wiltshire Branch)