The Sussex Butterfly Atlas
The Sussex Butterfly Atlas project was launched in 2010. It is our aim to map the distribution of the butterflies of our county over the five year period 2010-14.
In order to do this we need to find out which of our 45 butterfly species are present in each 2km x 2km squares (a ‘tetrad’) – and there’s over 1000 of these tetrads in Sussex.
To kick-start the project we included your personalised tetrad recording form with last year’s report. We had a fantastic response and at the end of the 2010 butterfly season our letterbox started flapping as your completed forms were returned.
A big thank you to everyone who recorded butterflies for us in 2010.
Each one of your records was entered into our Mapmate database and each week the distribution maps became larger. As I write this in March 2011 we have received 40,388 individual butterfly records – a fantastic achievement.
It was our plan to write back to everyone individually as their records arrived to thank them however since last Autumn we have been busy applying for new jobs after our current jobs started to look a bit ‘wobbly’ and, if that didn’t keep us on our toes – we decided to get married! So apologies for the delayed ‘thank-you’ – we will try to save you all a piece of wedding cake!
We still have a long way to go and we would appreciate your help in recording the butterflies of Sussex again in 2011. Remember every butterfly record is valuable ; whether it’s a Peacock on your patio in Polegate or a Purple Emperor perched on some poo in Petworth– we want to hear about it.
Best wishes for a great 2011 butterfly season,
Michael and Clare Blencowe
3 Friston Place Cottages, Friston Place,
Friston, East Sussex, BN20 0AJ
email: recording@sussex-butterflies.org.uk
tel: 01323 423711
Please mail me with any questions or records: sussexgrayling@aol.com
Michael Blencowe