Report From the Butterfly Walk July 2015

The Butterfly Walk, led by Mr Richard Smout on Saturday 18 July was another successful event. It was a beautiful English Summer’s day in Ryde Cemetery and 40 Members and friends gathered outside the Heritage Centre in the North Chapel. We walked around the Old Parish Cemetery, which is the conservation area and only cut twice a year. This gives the area a feel of a Summer Meadow, and allows the spring flowers to seed and the grasses to reach their full height. The flowers are attractive to the butterflies, bees and insects.

Butterflies are a passion for Richard and he is very knowledgeable on the subject and shared his knowledge and enthusiasm to the appreciative audience. We strolled along the paths, in a leisurely way, looking at various species. We saw Gatekeepers, Speckled Wood, Marbled White, Large White, Common Blue, Meadow Brown and Red Admiral butterflies as well as Six Spot Burnett moths dancing over the pasture. Richard pointed out the habitat and told us where we could expect to find come of the different species. He also discussed the Big Butterfly Count which is being conducted between 17 July and 9 August and encouraged everyone to take part.

It is very important that we do not lose our local natural habitats and we are so fortunate to be able to enjoy Ryde Cemetery throughout the Seasons and Richard’s interesting talk gave us an insight into the Butterfly world.

After the initial walk and talk some of those assembled spent an extra 15 minutes carrying out the butterfly survey for the Butterfly Count while others went back to the Learning Centre where our Volunteers had prepared tea and cakes.

Thank you to everyone who organized the event, to Richard for giving us a happy afternoon and to all who attended.

Shelagh Gaylard
21 July 2015

Photographs by Dave Bushell and Janette Gregson