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NEWSLETTER No. 14 - Winter 1985 / 86

WEST MIDLANDS BRANCH, BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION

(Some information missing here)....

Though conceived as an aid in attracting butterflies to gardens, the Garden Butterfly Survey has emerged as a useful publication on butterfly behaviour which could be the basis of more thorough and detailed observation, especially on flower colour preferred and the habits of the rarer garden visitors.

Margaret Vickery

Brimstone: African Marigold, Asclepsis, Aubretia, Beans, Dandelion, Dianthus, Lavender, Nepeta, Phlox drummondii, P. paniculata, Primrose, Primula denticulata,
Teasel, Thistle, Valerian (pink/ivhite). (15)

Comma: Beetroot, Bramble, Buddleia, Helenium, Ivy (leaves), Plum (fruit and leaves),
Privet, Pear (fruit), Scabious, Sedum, Thistle, Valerian. (12)

Common Blue: Bird's-foot Trefoil, Bramble, Buddleia, Chrysanthemums (annual), Clover, Cornflower, Echinops, Erigeron, Hyssop, Knapweed, Lavender, Michaelmas Daisy, Mint, Nepeta, Phlox,-drumnondii, Rosebay willow herb, Sedum, Thistle, Verbena bonariensis. (19)

Gatekeeper: Aster sinensis, Bramble, Buddleia, Candytuft, Chrysanthemums (annual), Corn Marigold, Cornus variegata, Hebe, Helichrysum, Heliotrope, Marguerite, Marjoram, Mayweed, Mignonette, Mint, Nepeta, Thistle, Thyme, Valerian
(pink/white), Yarrow (pink). (20)

Green-veined White: Aubretia, Aquilegia alpina, Buddleia, Forget-me-not, Heliotrope, Honesty, Lavender, Michaelmas Daisy, Nepeta, Strawberry. (10)

Holly Blue: Forget-me-not, Holly, Ivy, Prunus. (4)

Large Skipper: Feverfew, Valerian (pink/white). (2)

Large White: African marigold, Aubretia, Buddleia, Calliopsis, Ceratostigma willmottiae, Dahlia, Daisy, Dianthus, Echium, Hebe, Heliotrope, Inula, Ivy, Lantana, Lavender, Lilac, Limonium, Lobelia, Marigold, Mignonette, Nepeta, Privet, Sweet Rocket, Teasel, Valerian (red), Verbena bonariensis. (26)

Marbled White: Buddleia, Campanula lactiflora, Candytuft, Delphinium, Erigeron, Nepeta, Thistle. (7)

Meadow Brown: African Marigold, Bramble, Buddleia, Campanula lactiflora, Chrysanthemum maximum "Esther Reed", Heliotrope, Inula, Lavender, Marjoram, Nepeta, Phlox spp., Privet, Thistle, Thyme, Valerian (pink/white). (15)

Orange Tip: Aubretia, Cheiranthus, Forget-me-not, Garlic Mustard, Honesty, Lady's
Smock, Sweet Rocket. (7)

**Painted Lady: Buddleia, Sedum. (2)

Peacock: African Marigold, Ageratum, Alyssum (white), Bramble, Buddleia, B. globosa, Ceratostigma willmottiae, Coltsfoot, Cornflower, Dahlia, Daisy, Dandelion, Dianthus, Echinops, Inula, Lantana, Liatris, Ligularia dentata, Limonium, Marigold, Marjoram, Privet, Scabious, Sedum, Teasel, Thistle, Valerian (red), Virginia creeper, Water mint. (29)

Red Admiral: Buddleia, Dahlia, Fuschia, Hebe, Hydrangea, Ivy (leaves), Michaelmas
Daisy, Plum (fruit), Apple (fruit), Pear (fruit), Sedum, Yarrow (pink).(12)

Ringlet: Bramble, Dianthus, Nepeta, Salvia. (4)

Small Copper: Daisy, Helichrysum, Inula, Knapweed, Lavender, Michaelmas Daisy, Phlox paniculata, Privet, Rosebay willow herb, Sedum, Thistle.(11)

Small--Heath: Thyme. (1)

Small,Skipper: Buddleia, Cheiranthus, Cornflower, Knapweed, Lavender, Lobelia, Marguerite, Salvia, Scabious, Toadflax, Tufted Vetch, Valerian (pink/white). (12)

Small Tortoiseshell: African Marigold, Alyssum (white), Asclepsis, Aster amellus, A. sinensis, Bramble, Buddleia, B. globosa, Candytuft, Ceratostigma willmottiae, Cheiranthus, Cineraria maritima, Coltsfoot, Cornflower, Corn Marigold, Dahlia, Dandelion, Dianthus, Echinacea purpurea, Echium, Escallonia, Chrysanthemum maximum "Ester Reed", French Marigold, Gazania, Hebe, Inula, Lantana, Ligularia dentata, Limonium, Marigold, Michaelmas Daisy, Nepeta, Phlox drummondii, Privet, Sallow, Sedum, Thyme, Thistle, Serphyllum coccineus, Valerian, Virginia creeper, Wallflower (perennial), Water Mint. (44)

Small White: Alyssum (white), Aubretia, Bramble, Buddleia, Calliopsis, Campanula
lactiflora, Ceratostigma willmottiae, Chryanthemum (annual), Echium, Godetia, Hebe, Heliotrope, Ivy, Lantana, Lavender, Limonium, Lobelia, Marigold, Mignonette, Nepeta, Poppy, Radish, Sweet Rocket, Thistle, Valerian (pink/white), Verbena bonariensis, Virginian stock. (27)

Speckled Wood: Bramble, Marigold. (2)

Wall Brown: Forget-me-not, French Marigold, Inula, Heliotrope, Lavender, Marigold,
Nepeta, Privet, Rosebay Willow herb, Sedum, Valerian. (11)

**1984 was a very bad year for Painted Ladies.

Taken from Appendix 2 of the Garden Butterfly Survey with some additional observations. Species omitted as having too localised a distribution for records to be meaningful : Chalkhill Blue, Dark Green Fritillary, Purple Hairstreak, Swallowtail.

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Copies of the 1984 Garden Butterfly Survey report are still available from the branch. Please enclose a cheque/P.O. for 30p and a large S.A.E.

Congratulations.....

......are in order to two of our Shropshire members who have received public recognition for their efforts to make their gardens attractive to wildlife. Some members will already know of Joan Walker's garden at Crumpsbrook on Catherton Common, which has been mentioned in previous issues of the newsletter. Joan is very committed to organic methods of gardening and her garden was featured on the radio programme "Down your Way" when it visited Cleobury Mortimer earlier in the summer. The programme included a radio interview between Joan and Brian Johnstone.
Not very far away at Baveney Wood, Jenny Vanderhook has, through considerable hard work, created a tremendous habitat for wildlife almost from scratch. Large numbers of trees and shrubs have been planted and an area of grassland is carefully managed with butterflies in mind. We were very pleased to learn, therefore, that Jenny has won an award under the Shropshire Village Ventures competition for her contribution to the local environment. We are very fortunate as a branch to have such a fund of gardening knowledge amongst our members.

GARDENS OPEN 1986?

We are looking for members who would be prepared to show off their gardens next year to the public, and gain valuable publicity for butterflies at the same time. This would be an excellent way of promoting butterfly gardening, the work of the BBCS and our native butterflies. We envisage something similar to the National Garden scheme with a small admission charge and perhaps light refreshments. The branch would help with publicity, posters etc. and meet any expenses incurred. We could also provide display boards and sales goods plus help on the day if required. Interested? Please contact Mike Williams.