Colin Pratt’s Silver Trophy Cup for Sussex Lepidopterists

Colin Pratt’s Trophy

"On about 1 May during the following few seasons I will be awarding a silver trophy cup containing a cheque for £100 to the person making the most significant addition to our knowledge of the Sussex lepidoptera. The cup will be held by the winner for one year. The award is open to all and will be for the most important altruistic study of the county’s butterflies or moths during the past season. Analyses of butterfly transects or of garden moth-trap results will be considered but, for example, new exploratory research into the local distribution and/or bionomics of a scarce species would take precedence. The simple discovery of a rare insect is unlikely to be a cup winner, but its subsequent investigation might well be." Colin Pratt

To be considered, applicants need to send me a summary of their work and results by late March 2009. Contact details are: postal address - 5, View Road, Peacehaven, East Sussex, BN10 8DE; e-mail address - colin.pratt@talk21.com

This generous award offered by Colin Pratt is run, judged and funded independently of Butterfly Conservation. We would like to sincerely thank Colin for creating this award, which will undoubtedly further the cause of butterfly and moth conservation in Sussex. Good luck with your entries!

This year's winner:

This year the Silver Trophy Cup, together with a cheque for £100, has been awarded to John and Crispin Holloway for their field research into the butterflies on Malling Down.

The results of their weekly transect walks over Malling Down over the past 26 years provides future enthusiasts with a uniquely valuable insight into the varying numbers which have occurred within each species on one of the county's premier downland sites for butterflies.

Previous winners:

2009

The Silver Cup being presented to Neil Hulme by Colin Pratt at the Sussex Moth Group meeting last night for his work helping Duke of Burgundy butterflies. (Photo: Chris Glanfield)

2008

This year’s winner (2008) of the silver trophy cup was Michael Blencowe. He was awarded the trophy at the AGM of the Sussex Moth Group, for his intensive research looking into the county’s Grayling colonies and for his splendid field-work on the Scarlet Tiger at Friston Forest during 2007.