Big Butterfly count.

Small Copper Butterfly

The fine weather has certainly brought out the butterflies and hopefully, after a poor start, this year could be a good butterfly year after far too many poor ones.
The "Big Butterfly Count" has now been going on in the woods for the last week, and has turned up some nice records. "Old Josiah" lane has recorded many Speckled Wood, Large, Small and Green-veined White, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell, as well as many Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper.
A highlight was a record of Small Copper and Holly Blue, near the ruin of Goitre-wen mine, as well as a number of Peacock butterflies on the Buddleia shrub that someone thoughtfully planted there a couple of years ago.

The Butterfly Count, organised by Butterfly Conservation runs until 11th August, so keep the records coming in.