During last week's talk by Jacky Adams and Nigel Owen about some of the special butterflies of the New Forest the subject of helping with transects was raised. Jacky has provided the following information for anyone interested in joining in the survey.
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Pearl-bordered Fritillary, New Forest © Richard Coomber |
The New Forest Butterfly Transect Group was established in 2011 and is now responsible for more than 50 transects across the New Forest and surrounding area
The group has been given the responsibility for a number of new transects in
recent years at the request of Butterfly Conservation, Natural England, The
National Trust and the Forestry Commission (now Forestry England). In addition
we have now started 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.
The group coordinates the recording rota, reporting and record checking for the
transects it is responsible for. Each transect is walked once per week for 26
weeks from April 1st, by a team of up to 6 walkers. A map showing the transect
locations can be found on the Hampshire and IOW Butterfly Conservation website.
If you would like to join one of these teams or for more information please
contact the New Forest Transect Group at: nftg-inbox@googlegroups.com.