Butterfly Conservation
Saving butterflies, moths and our environment
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Branch
Celebrating our 40th Anniversary!
1982 - 2022
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Welcome to the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Branch of Butterfly Conservation

Butterfly Conservation was formed by a small group of dedicated naturalists in 1968 following the alarming decline of many beautiful butterflies and moths, a decline that the society aimed to reverse. Our vision is of a world rich in butterflies and moths for future generations to enjoy. Butterflies are beautiful and intrinsically valuable. Together with moths, their sensitivity to environmental change makes them valuable indicators of the health of the countryside.

Butterflies

46 species of butterfly can be found in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. In any year, between 30 and 40 of these species can be seen on our reserves.
More about our butterflies...

Moths

Around 1940 species of moth have been recorded in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, over 600 of these on our reserves.
More about our moths...

Reserves

Butterfly Conservation has over 25 reserves across the UK, including 3 in Hampshire: Yew Hill, Magdalen Hill Down and Bentley Station Meadow.
More about our reserves...

A digital (non-pdf) version of the 2023 Branch butterfly report is now available

Click here to access the report online.

The 2022 national UKBMS Report has now been published.

Click here ... to access the report.

Butterly Walks in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight


  • You can inspect some sample pages from the book here ...
  • The Press Release about the book is available here ...
  • To order a copy of the book, please visit the NHBS web site - search under the Bookstore tab - or click here.
  • Copies will also be available for purchase (cash only) from Ashley Whitlock on the branch fieldtrips where he is the walk leader (once they resume).
  • To report any inaccuracies in the book please email here.

Sponsorship

The branch is pleased to sponsor the excellent HantsMoths website.

Hants Moths Website

17 Apr 2025: Brown Argus at Magdalen Hill Down

16 Apr 2025: Green Hairstreaks at Freshwater.

12 Apr 2025: Martin Down

11 Apr 2025: More Spring Butterflies at Freshwater.

09 Apr 2025: Fort Widley, Portsdown Hill

09 Apr 2025: Grizzled Skipper at Freshwater Bay.

08 Apr 2025: Chalton Down, Old Idsworth

08 Apr 2025: Conservation Awareness Day in Beaulieu

04 Apr 2025: Spring Test Way walk produced 6 species of butterfly

03 Apr 2025: Portsdown Hill (East)

02 Apr 2025: Havant Thicket

01 Apr 2025: Orange Underwing in Ampfield Wood

31 Mar 2025: Speckled Wood and Orange-tips

31 Mar 2025: Speckled Wood in Garden at Freshwater

31 Mar 2025: Speckled Wood in Garden at Freshwater

31 Mar 2025: Green Hairstreak on Portsdown Hill

29 Mar 2025: First Small White on Hayling Island

28 Mar 2025: Small White at Freshwater

26 Mar 2025: First Small Tortoiseshell of year, Enham Alamein

20 Mar 2025: Brimstones Galore in Havant Thicket