Butterfly Conservation - South Wales Branch

This page lists all current events for the South Wales Branch area. It will be updated regularly as new information is available. Please bookmark this page in your web browser to make sure you are kept up-to-date with all events taking place across the area.

South Wales Branch Events List

The current events list is available for download below. Click on the appropriate link below to find out more. Files are in *.pdf format and need a pdf reader. If you do not have one installed on your computer it can be downloaded, for free, from the Adobe web site

Winter weekdays (until Mid-March 2010)
	Brown Hairstreak Egg Surveys/Work Parties
	Brown Hairstreak weekly egg surveys mainly in Carmarthenshire, but some in Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire. These are mainly weekdays, chosen a few days in advance for weather. Also occasional work parties on Brown Hairstreak sites near Llangeler and Abernant (Carmarthenshire).
	If you are interested, please contact Richard Smith for more details (01446 793 229) or e-mail

Sunday 10th January 2010
	Scrub Management for Marsh Fritillary at Caeau Ffos Fach, Carmarthenshire [CANCELLED DUE TO SNOW]
	Join us at our Reserve to help manage the site for a range of butterflies and moths, including Marsh Fritillary. If you are interested, please contact Richard Smith for more details (01446 793 229) or e-mail

Sunday 17th January 2010
	Scrub Management for High Brown Fritillary in the Alun Valley, Vale of Glamorgan
	Meet at 10.00am at the entrance gate to rifle range on the west side of the minor road (“Wick Road”) between the shop near Ewenny/Corntown and Castle upon Alun. The grid reference is SS913763. If the gate is open, please drive carefully in and park tidily in the car park. If gate is closed, we’ll proceed from there to another site. Contact: Richard Smith (01446 793229) or e-mail

Wednesday 20th January 2010
	Scrub Management for Marsh Fritillary at Caeau Ffos Fach, Carmarthenshire (Joint with Carmarthenshire County Council)
	Light scrub and bramble removal and other light management work needs to be carried out, even with regular summer cattle grazing, on our marsh fritillary reserve near Cross Hands. Bring warm clothes, strong footwear, gardening gloves, a warm drink and lunch if you wish to stay beyond lunchtime. We can supply some hand tools but bring your own if you prefer. Meet 10.30am at far end of Co-op car park, just off A48 roundabout at Cross Hands. SN566131. Contact: Richard Smith (01446 793229) or Martin White (01792 477984) or e-mail

Sunday 24th January 2010
	Scrub Management for Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary at Black Rock Quarry, Gwent
	Work task at Blackrock Quarry, Clydach, in conjunction with Usk Conservation and Environment Group, clearing cotoneaster from this important lepidoptera site with superb views. Tools provided, but bring lunch, drinks etc. Meet at 10am at the lay-by adjacent to the old lime kilns (SO215125). [ Head east along the A465 Heads of the Valleys road from the Brynmawr roundabout. After 1½ miles take the left turn for Clydach Village. Continue along Main Road through Clydach village and the lay-by is then on your right.] If you are interested, please contact Richard Smith for more details (01446 793 229) or e-mail

Tuesday 26th January 2010
	Scrub Management for Marsh Fritillary at Ystradgynlais, Powys (Joint with Brecknock Wildlife Trust)
	Scrub clearance at a site in Ystradgynlais for marsh fritillary butterfly. Meet at 10.30am in car park of Ystradgynlais Miner’s Welfare Hall, at SN787104. 10.30am to 3pm. Bring warm clothes, strong footwear, gardening gloves, a warm drink and lunch if you wish to stay beyond lunchtime. We can supply some hand tools but bring your own if you prefer. Joint event with Brecknock Wildlife Trust. Contact: Phil Sutton, 01874 625708 (office hours) or Richard Smith (01446 793229) or e-mail

Sunday 31st January 2010
	Scrub Management for High Brown Fritillary in the Alun Valley, Vale of Glamorgan
	10am. SS913763. See details as per 17th January (above)

Sunday 14th February 2010
	Scrub Management for High Brown Fritillary in the Alun Valley, Vale of Glamorgan
	10am. SS913763. See details as per 17th January (above)

Sunday 21st February 2010
	Blackthorn Management for Brown Hairstreaks at Cwmduhen, Carmarthenshire (Joint with contractor and the Wildlife Trust for South and West Wales)
	The owner of this marvellous site has given us freedom to carry out management of blackthorn for brown hairstreaks. The plan is to cut a series of short bays into the older blackthorn, using a combination of power tools and hand clearance. Volunteers to help to carry away (within the site!) the cut material would be really useful. Meet at 10.30am in the huge layby (cut off road, old A40) at SN353193, which is where the B4298 to Meidrim leaves the A40 just west of Carmarthen. We'll travel from there in convoy to Cwmduhen Farm at SN346214. Bring warm clothes, strong footwear, gardening gloves, a warm drink and lunch if you wish to stay beyond lunchtime. We can supply some hand tools and leather gauntlets but bring your own if you prefer. Contact: Richard Smith (01446 793229) or e-mail

Sunday 28th February 2010
	Scrub Management for High Brown Fritillary in the Alun Valley, Vale of Glamorgan
	10am. SS913763. See details as per 17th January (above)

Weekday in February 2010 (to be confirmed)
	Habitat Management in Tonyrefail
	Scrub clearance and good outdoor exercise on a marsh fritillary site. Contact: Richard Smith (01446 793229) for details of meeting venue and day selected.

Sunday 7th March 2010
	Habitat Management at Mynydd Ruthin
	Meet at 10.00am at the roadside @ SS974795, just before quarry entrance. Directions: from unclassified Pentre Meyrick to Pencoed road, turn onto common at minor cross roads at SS972796, then immediately right and park 200m along on left, past the parking area on the junction itself. Contact: Richard Smith (01446 793229) or e-mail

26th-28th March 2010
	Butterfly Conservation: 6th International Symposium
	Reading University
	The 6th International Symposium, to be opened by BC President Sir David Attenborough, will be on the theme: The 2010 target and beyond for Lepidoptera. The meeting will address the key target of halting biodiversity loss by 2010, which was set across Europe almost a decade ago. There will be reviews of progress from the UK and around the world, as well as the latest science on how to reverse butterfly and moth declines and conserve habitats. The programme provides opportunities for active members to present papers or posters on practical conservation work and contributions are welcomed. The Symposium will end with a forward look at future challenges, including the impact of climate change. There are various booking options available and also an Early Bird Offer for those who book before 8th January 2010. For more information and to book please visit: www.butterfly-conservation.org/text/2751/international_symposia.html or contact Neil Madigan on 01929 406 003 for any other queries.

26th June-14th August 2010
	Butterflies of Various Habitats Training Course
	Aberystwyth University
	If you would like to learn more about the identification and the habitat requirements of butterflies, then join this course, run by Aberystwyth University. It consists of eight sessions of 2.5 hours each and includes seven field meetings. The course begins on 26th June and finishes on 14th August 2010. For more information go to www.aber.ac.uk/sell or email learning@aber.ac.uk or mth@aber.ac.uk or telephone 01970 621580.

Sunday 25th July 2010
	Butterfly Conservation Guided Walk (part of 'Save Our Butterflies' Week)
	We will be visiting Cors Caron National Nature Reserve, Ceredigion. The event consists of two different walks. The walks begin at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and start at the Cors Caron Car Park on the B4343, 2 miles north of Tregaron. Grid Reference: SN 693 625. If you are interested, please contact Red Lidford on 01974 282672.

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South Wales Branch Events List

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