Wren Franklin
@wrenfranklin.bsky.social
Habitat creation and management. Butterflies, moths, plants, water beetles, cows. A simple rural life in Dorset.
It was so good to hear that in other parts of the country, concerted efforts at both site and landscape level have returned Duke of Burgundy to old haunts and newly created habitat. There is hope in Dorset yet!
We heard some wonderful stories of amazing recovery of Dukes in Sussex from Neil Hulme and Kent from Dan Tuson, and latest survey methods from Sue Clarke. Very inspiring
November 7, 2025 at 10:21 PM
It was so good to hear that in other parts of the country, concerted efforts at both site and landscape level have returned Duke of Burgundy to old haunts and newly created habitat. There is hope in Dorset yet!
Essential work for a butterfy species on the edge in Dorset…
Great to start our first task to save the Duke of Burgundy in Dorset. It’s reduced to 6 small colonies and we will be managing 5 of them under a Farming in Protected Landscapes grant. We are grateful to the private owners for permission and EUCAN and @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social for expertise
October 30, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Essential work for a butterfy species on the edge in Dorset…
Saving Brown hairstreak eggs from the flail today. Relocating them on the same site where they can hatch next spring and progress as caterpillars. 55 eggs from 105 mins search bodes well for the coming winter survey. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
October 28, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Saving Brown hairstreak eggs from the flail today. Relocating them on the same site where they can hatch next spring and progress as caterpillars. 55 eggs from 105 mins search bodes well for the coming winter survey. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
Playing around with heat maps of 12 years of Brown hairstreak egg counts. Lots of cool insights. This screen grab shows how the sunny sections of hedge between large Oaks are favoured. Rainy day fun. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
October 23, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Playing around with heat maps of 12 years of Brown hairstreak egg counts. Lots of cool insights. This screen grab shows how the sunny sections of hedge between large Oaks are favoured. Rainy day fun. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
Curious little apple tree, it origins unknown. Possibly a gribble, maybe a rootstock that lost its top or perhaps a known crab variety? Quite delicious and harvested for jelly. @orchardnotes.com @theorchardproject.bsky.social
October 22, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Curious little apple tree, it origins unknown. Possibly a gribble, maybe a rootstock that lost its top or perhaps a known crab variety? Quite delicious and harvested for jelly. @orchardnotes.com @theorchardproject.bsky.social
Garlic to plant from last years crop, compost mulch, and a fist full of carrots with dinner.
October 22, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Garlic to plant from last years crop, compost mulch, and a fist full of carrots with dinner.
The season of mellow fruitfulness......
October 14, 2025 at 11:06 AM
The season of mellow fruitfulness......
On going meadow management - putting wildflower filled swards to bed for the winter. Nearby cider apple and perry pear trees are mulched with the arisings. An organic option to reduce competition for summer rains and hold on to moisture between times.
October 9, 2025 at 2:31 PM
On going meadow management - putting wildflower filled swards to bed for the winter. Nearby cider apple and perry pear trees are mulched with the arisings. An organic option to reduce competition for summer rains and hold on to moisture between times.
Red Admiral nectaring on Ivy at Milborne wood in Dorset today. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
October 4, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Red Admiral nectaring on Ivy at Milborne wood in Dorset today. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
A misty autumns morn.
September 29, 2025 at 7:01 AM
A misty autumns morn.
Last of the Cornish heath in flower on the Lizard. #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social
September 21, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Last of the Cornish heath in flower on the Lizard. #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social
Some stunning female Common blue about at the moment. Comma on autumn fruit and spent seed heads of Saw-wort. I do like September. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
September 5, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Some stunning female Common blue about at the moment. Comma on autumn fruit and spent seed heads of Saw-wort. I do like September. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
Fiddly vegetation mgmt for Marsh fritillary. Taking a percentage of the thicker sward whilst avoiding mapped and marked larval webs and nectar rich areas of DBS and Fleabane. There is no grazing in this area, so we become mechanical cows. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
September 1, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Fiddly vegetation mgmt for Marsh fritillary. Taking a percentage of the thicker sward whilst avoiding mapped and marked larval webs and nectar rich areas of DBS and Fleabane. There is no grazing in this area, so we become mechanical cows. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
Comma and Small copper from the transect today. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
August 22, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Comma and Small copper from the transect today. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
Reposted by Wren Franklin
Sad to see this vital butterfly site up for sale, we really hope a conservation body buys it and maintains the sensitive management by cattle grazing. The Branch have been monitoring and cutting scrub there for years to good effect. Please step up @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @nationaltrust.org.uk
Yikes - the land surrounding the Cerne Abbas Giant is up for sale!
Lot 1 is top-quality chalk downland bursting with wildflowers & butterflies - orchids, skippers… going for £950k. It absolutely needs to be preserved. Hope the NT or similar can buy
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Lot 1 is top-quality chalk downland bursting with wildflowers & butterflies - orchids, skippers… going for £950k. It absolutely needs to be preserved. Hope the NT or similar can buy
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August 18, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Sad to see this vital butterfly site up for sale, we really hope a conservation body buys it and maintains the sensitive management by cattle grazing. The Branch have been monitoring and cutting scrub there for years to good effect. Please step up @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @nationaltrust.org.uk
At our recent moth night Gill Nash found Aplota palpellus. Phil Sterling says "Fantastic record! The last one in Dorset was on 19 Aug 2000, I found one in a trap in Melbury Park. Prior to that, only 19th century records, the latest of which was 1872!" @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
August 15, 2025 at 11:49 AM
At our recent moth night Gill Nash found Aplota palpellus. Phil Sterling says "Fantastic record! The last one in Dorset was on 19 Aug 2000, I found one in a trap in Melbury Park. Prior to that, only 19th century records, the latest of which was 1872!" @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
The polly tunnel crops are well positioned to enjoy the coming heat wave. Summer abundance.
August 10, 2025 at 11:28 AM
The polly tunnel crops are well positioned to enjoy the coming heat wave. Summer abundance.
Big harvest of Dyers greenweed seed coming in today in North Dorset. Horseshoe vetch and Cowslip ready for storage. @bsbibotany.bsky.social
August 8, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Big harvest of Dyers greenweed seed coming in today in North Dorset. Horseshoe vetch and Cowslip ready for storage. @bsbibotany.bsky.social
Privet hawk moth caterpillar on the coast path nr Durlston today. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
August 3, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Privet hawk moth caterpillar on the coast path nr Durlston today. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
A few moths from last night in North Doset. Oak eggar, Black arches, Olive, Mocha and Brown-veined wainscot. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
July 30, 2025 at 10:25 AM
A few moths from last night in North Doset. Oak eggar, Black arches, Olive, Mocha and Brown-veined wainscot. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
Seems a very good year for Wasp spider in North Dorset. Some whoppers about and the first time I have seen the huge egg sack that they make.
July 29, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Seems a very good year for Wasp spider in North Dorset. Some whoppers about and the first time I have seen the huge egg sack that they make.
Opening up this account with today's encounter - an immaculate Brown hairstreak @ Ryewater Nursery in North Dorset. Above average egg count for this species at this site last winter - how well will they fly this summer?
@dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
@dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
July 28, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Opening up this account with today's encounter - an immaculate Brown hairstreak @ Ryewater Nursery in North Dorset. Above average egg count for this species at this site last winter - how well will they fly this summer?
@dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
@dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social