Emma Whitfield
banner
emmawhitfield.bsky.social
Emma Whitfield
@emmawhitfield.bsky.social
Volunteer for Wildlife Trust BCN, butterfly transect walker at Priory Park, Bedford, interested in conservation, butterflies & all natural history
Reposted by Emma Whitfield
Sunday book review: The Birds of Bedfordshire by Tony Ploszajski
Review: markavery.info/2025/11/09/s...
Publisher: Beds Nat Hist Soc

'Excellent'

The last Northants avifauna is 130 years out of date...

#bedfordshire #birds @wildlifebcn.org #Sandy #TheLodge @rspb.bsky.social @steveblain.bsky.social
November 9, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Reposted by Emma Whitfield
We have added two new pages to our website: habitat management principles for butterflies (and other pollinators) and causes of decline. Check them out here www.bc-europe.eu/webpage.php?...
Habitat Management for Butterflies
Habitat Management for Butterflies
www.bc-europe.eu
November 3, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Reposted by Emma Whitfield
We're thrilled to share this film featuring some of the dedicated volunteers who monitor butterflies for the UKBMS

A huge thank you to them, and everyone who's supported the scheme over the last 50 years.
#UKBMS50

youtu.be/OrF5AgseX1U?...
Celebrating 50 years of butterfly monitoring
YouTube video by Butterfly Conservation
youtu.be
October 30, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Reposted by Emma Whitfield
The Hon Mr Justice Fordham has released his written judgement about why he dismissed Natural England's attempt to increase our costs cap for our legal challenge against Badger cull licences 🦡⚖️

A v important judgement for all environmental groups!

Details 🔽

wildjustice.org.uk/badgers/high...
High Court judgment reaffirms costs cap protection for environmental claims - Wild Justice
The High Court has reaffirmed costs cap protections for NGOs after blocking an attempt by Natural England to hike campaigners’ […]
wildjustice.org.uk
October 29, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Reposted by Emma Whitfield
The new European Butterfly Red List is published today, with worrying findings. Over 1/4 (28%) of Europe’s 442 species are threatened with extinction or are close to being so. The situation is far worse for our 148 endemic species, 40% are now threatened or nearly so www.bc-europe.eu/webpage.php?...
October 11, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Reposted by Emma Whitfield
Fade to grey: as forests are cut down, butterflies are losing their colours
Fade to grey: as forests are cut down, butterflies are losing their colours
The insects’ brilliant hues evolved in lush ecosystems to help them survive. Now they are becoming more muted to adapt to degraded landscapes – and they are not the only things dulling down
www.theguardian.com
October 6, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Reposted by Emma Whitfield
Check out our new website, packed with new features, including updated project and EU policy pages + butterfly species pages with all known hostplants courtesy of Harry Clarke and downloadable country lists. Big thanks to Peter Eeles @ukbutterflies.bsky.social for all his help www.bc-europe.eu
September 30, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Reposted by Emma Whitfield
BBC News - Rare butterfly spotted near Newcastle for first time since 1850 - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Rare butterfly spotted near Newcastle for first time since 1850
The Silver-washed Fritillary has been growing in numbers in County Durham and Teesside.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 13, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Reposted by Emma Whitfield
You can be part of the solution 🤝

Find out more about the Declaration on our website: www.bumblebeeconservation.org/news/declara...

📢 Please share this thread to help build momentum!

5/5
September 12, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Reposted by Emma Whitfield
A warm welcome to the Pollinator Academy which is hosting all types of training materials to learn about European pollinators, including our training materials to identify and monitor European butterflies
The Pollinator Academy is an online platform that provides tools and training to help strengthen your knowledge of the taxonomy of European pollinators. Follow us and visit our website to find out more! #PollinatorAcademy #Pollinators #Taxonomy #Bee #Hoverfly #Butterfly Pollinatoracademy.eu
September 10, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Reposted by Emma Whitfield
Disease-resilient trees improve butterfly habitats www.bbc.com/news/article...
Tonbridge's disease-resilient trees improver butterfly habitats
It is hoped the new trees near Tonbridge will benefit White-letter Hairstreak butterflies.
www.bbc.com
September 11, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Reposted by Emma Whitfield
Happily Northants and Beds branch @savebutterflies.bsky.social have liased with the landowner of the Herbal Ley at Old and now it won't be cut until the butterflies have completed this life cycle. And some will be left uncut as an extra insurance. :-).
August 26, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Reposted by Emma Whitfield
BBC News - Butterfly from Southern Europe spotted in UK for first time - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Butterfly from Southern Europe spotted in UK for first time
Experts have tracked the Southern Small White's expansion northwards through Europe over decades.
www.bbc.co.uk
August 8, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Reposted by Emma Whitfield
Monarch butterflies’ mass die off in 2024 caused by pesticide exposure – study
Monarch butterflies’ mass die off in 2024 caused by pesticide exposure – study
New peer-reviewed research found an average of seven pesticides in each of 10 butterflies tested
www.theguardian.com
August 1, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Reposted by Emma Whitfield
Did u know? Another excellent plant to have for small souls is Wild Marjoram (Origanum vulgare).Pollinators love the composite flowers, so they don't have to travel far to get lots of forage & apparently, it has the best quality nectar of any plant in the UK. A real win-win then..Go, grow! 🌿🌱🇬🇧🌱🌍🐝🪲🪰🦋
July 19, 2025 at 4:54 AM
Reposted by Emma Whitfield
No more Beewashing please! Why beekeeping doesn't help conserve bees. Pls RT if you agree.
youtu.be/fiBYBmlKSYU
No More Beewashing! Why beekeeping doesn't help conserve bees.
YouTube video by Dave Goulson
youtu.be
July 17, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Reposted by Emma Whitfield
Some tips on how to make your garden more butterfly-friendly:
youtu.be/zNrB8xr_yA4
How to encourage more butterflies into your garden
YouTube video by Dave Goulson
youtu.be
July 14, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Chalkhill Blues were the most abundant butterfly at Sharpenhoe today but there were still a few Dark Green Fritillaries around. The flowers, specially the Marjoram, were beautiful & I always love the Woolly Thistles @savebutterflies.bsky.social @midsandeastnt.bsky.social
July 14, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Some years we might get 1 or 2 Brown Argus in our garden but this exceptional year we’re seeing about 8 or 10 on one of our Marjoram plants which is also very popular with the Gatekeepers & many other pollinators @savebutterflies.bsky.social
July 12, 2025 at 1:29 PM
The Mullein plants in our garden are absolutely covered in insects - hoverflies, ladybirds, wasps & bugs - but they’re not taking pollen or nectar as far as I can see - does anyone know what they’re feeding on? The flowers have gone over for the day. @willgeorge.bsky.social
July 11, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Lots of butterflies at Tilwick Meadows, Bedfordshire, including large numbers of fresh Peacocks, a few fresh Brimstones & 3 Painted Ladies. Only a few Marbled Whites but lots of Meadow Browns & this lovely Elecampane flower which comes up every year. @savebutterflies.bsky.social
July 10, 2025 at 7:49 PM