Butterfly Conservation

Butterfly Conservation (BC) is the UK wildlife charity dedicated to saving butterflies, moths and our environment. The charity uses its research to provide advice on how to conserve and restore butterfly and moth habitats and it runs projects to protect more than 100 threatened species of Lepidoptera.[1] Butterfly Conservation is also involved in conserving hundreds of sites and reserves for butterflies and moths across the UK.

Butterfly Conservation
Logo of Butterfly Conservation
AbbreviationBC
MottoSaving butterflies, moths and our environment
Formation1968
Legal statusNon-profit company
PurposeImproving the environment for butterflies and moths.
Location
  • Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5QP
Area served
UK-wide
Membership
More than 37,000
President
Sir David Attenborough
Chief Executive
Julie Williams
Websitewww.butterfly-conservation.org

Butterfly Conservation has more than 37,000 members and 31 volunteer-led Branches across the UK, as well as the European Butterflies Group. The organisation's Head Office is based in East Lulworth, Dorset, with additional offices in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

History

The organisation was originally formed in 1968 as the "British Butterfly Conservation Society" by a small group of naturalists and it was registered as a charity on 7 March 1968.

Butterfly Conservation is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England (2206468). Registered Office: Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5QP. Charity registered in England and Wales (254937) and in Scotland (SCO39268) VAT No GB 991 2771 89.


Butterfly Conservation operates three of the world’s largest butterfly and moth recording schemes, which together have gathered more than 60 million records.

This includes the world’s largest butterfly survey - the Big Butterfly Count (launched in 2010). The citizen science survey encourages people to spot and record common butterflies and two day-flying moths during three weeks of high summer.

The charity also runs a number of schemes and conservation activities focusing solely on the conservation of moths that people can get involved in.


Butterfly Conservation produces three editions of its membership magazine Butterfly every year. The magazine is distributed to members, institutions, conservation bodies and others interested or involved in the conservation of butterflies, moths and related wildlife. The publication has an estimated readership of 60,000.


BC celebrated its 50th anniversary year in 2018. Sir David Attenborough became President of the society in 1998.

Function of the organisation

Butterfly Conservation is the UK charity dedicated to saving butterflies and moths.

Why butterflies and moths matter: Butterflies and moths are important parts of the ecosystem. They are beautiful and inspirational and people enjoy seeing them in their gardens and the countryside. They are sensitive to change and their fortunes help us assess the health of our environment. Two-thirds of butterfly and moth species are in decline. This is a warning that cannot be ignored.

Butterfly Conservation aims to maintain and enhance landscapes for butterflies and moths. The charity provides advice to landowners and managers on how to conserve and restore habitats. BC staff and volunteers work to gather extensive butterfly and moth data and conduct research to provide the scientific evidence that underpins and informs the charity's work.

Butterfly Conservation has an established record of reversing declines and run programmes for more than 100 threatened species of butterflies and moths.

Reserves

Butterfly Conservation manages over 30 nature reserves.[2]

England

Wales

Organisational structure

Sir David Attenborough has served as President of the charity since 1998.

Chief Executive Role

2017 - present day: Julie Williams

2003 - 2016: Dr Martin Warren

Vice Presidents: Maurice Avent, Nick Baker, John F Burton, Dudley Cheeseman, Sue Collins, The Earl of Cranbrook, David Dennis, Mike Dilger, Clive Farrell, Julian Gibbs, Ian Hardy MVO, David Hanson, Anthony Hoare, Chris Packham, Prof Jeremy Thomas OBE and Alan Titchmarsh MBE.

Prior to his death in 2004, Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 10th Earl of Shaftesbury served as a Vice president of the charity.[3]

The organisation has over 30 volunteer-led Branches across the UK, with offices based in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

UK Branch offices

The European Butterflies Group has also been established as a BC volunteer-led Branch, which promotes the study, conservation and enjoyment of butterflies, moths and their habitats in Europe. See also BC Europe.

References
  1. "Science". Butterfly Conservation. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  2. "Reserves". Butterfly Conservation. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  3. Earl of Shaftesbury's Obituary
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