The Field Studies Council are offering their usual varied programme of week-long
and weekend courses for 1986. Of particular interest to BBCS members is "An
introduction to the Moths & Butterflies of Pembrokeshire" at the Dale Fort
Centre from 23-30 July and "Butterflies & Moths in S.E. England" at Juniper Hall
from 8-15 August.
Branch member, Tony Wharton, is running a course on "Nature Photography" at
Flatford Mill, Essex from 6-13 June.
Prices start from around £52 for a weekend course and £135 for a week.
Full details can be obtained by writing to Field Studies Council, Preston
Montford, Montford Bridge, Shrewsbury SY4 1HW.
"The Nature of Things" by Brian Mitchell.
Published by Feather Publications at £2.00 and available by post from 127,
Watling Street, Grendon, nr. Atherstone, Warks, CV9 2PH.
Members who have enjoyed the poetry in recent issues of this newsletter will be
pleased to learn that a selection of thirty-three of Brian's poems has recently
been published. Although not many are directly concerned with butterflies, a
large number are based on personal experience of natural history subjects,
including wild flowers and birds. Brian has a keen eye for detail in his writing
and his poems are closely observed, often bringing a new slant to a familiar
subject, whether it be a summer storm, stubble burning or a lowly hedgerow weed.
The poems about Brian's schooldays will also strike a chord with readers, as
will those concerning the theme of bereavement and loss. For each copy sold to
BBCS members, Brian has agreed to donate £1.00 to the Butterfly Woodland Appeal.
Mike Williams
"Creating and maintaining a garden to attract butterflies" by
John Killingbeck.
Published by the National Association for Environmental Education at £2.00*.
With natural habitats disappearing at an alarming rate those of us who care for
butterflies must turn to artificial ways of attracting and retaining these
beautiful insects, however much the purists amongst us may decry such methods.
There are now several books available on butterfly gardening but, for us, John
Killingbeck's scores particularly as being the distillation of experience gained
at the Martineau Studies Centre, Birmingham - the heart of the West Midlands.
Although published mainly for use by schools the book is addressed to all who
wish to attract butterflies, whether their gardens be large, small or just a
back yard.
The book is divided into four main parts - the nectar garden; the ecological
garden; management of borders; and plans for borders and whole gardens.
Extensive lists of recommended plants are given, based mainly on direct,
personal observation. Nectar plants which are outstandingly good at attracting
butterflies are noted, an inclusion which I particularly welcomed as being
helpful to those of us with small gardens. All in all this is a very useful book
for anyone in the West Midlands wishing to attract butterflies to their garden,
and it is excellent value for money.
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