Welcome to the New Forest Butterfly Transect Group. The New Forest Butterfly Transect Group was established in 2011 and is now responsible for more than 50 transects across the area of Hampshire covered by the New Forest District Council (NFDC) (click here for a map).
Transects are the main method of measuring how butterfly populations change with time. The technique involves walking the same set route every week in suitable weather from 1st April to 30th September, and noting down the numbers of each species seen within a 5 metre cube. Each transect is walked on a rota by a team of up to 6 walkers led by an experienced team leader.
We have over 130 volunteers recording butterflies on our transects. We provide full training and a weekly rota for the surveys, and perform record checking, database recording and weekly/annual reporting for all our transects.
On behalf of the Branch we also provide oversight of the other transects within the NFDC area. There are around 20 of these largely on reserves or private land. The majority of our transects are on Crown Land managed by Forestry England but we also have transects on National Trust, RSPB and HIWWT land amongst others. We are also involved in the specific monitoring of scarcer species to aid their conservation, including Grayling and Pearl-bordered Fritillary. Sadly the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary has not been recorded in the New Forest for a number of years, however we keep looking.
You can also help conservation by recording any butterfly and moth sightings that you make yourself. They are much appreciated as there are still parts of the New Forest and South West Hampshire that need better coverage, especially if it is one of the scarcer species. Sightings can be submitted by using one of the methods described in the Recording > How to Submit Records page of the branch website.
If you would like to join us in recording butterflies or for more information please contact the New Forest Butterfly Transect Group at