The Beauty of Butterflies - A guided butterfly walk

Dorset Wildlife Trust is inviting you to come and discover the beauty of butterflies on a guided walk this summer. In the tranquil location of one of Portland’s disused quarries, many spectacular species can be seen, including the rare Adonis blue.

What will I find?

Dorset Wildlife Trust’s King Barrow Quarries is a former stone quarry, abandoned around 100 years ago and has since been allowed to regenerate naturally. The quarry is now home to a host of wildlife, including limestone plants that support colonies of several species of blue butterflies - common, chalkhill, silver-studded and Adonis. Situated high on the Isle of Portland, the reserve is close to the New Ground view-point which has stunning views of the Jurassic Coast, Chesil Beach & the Fleet lagoon.

Samantha Dallimore, Community Conservation Officer for Dorset Wildlife Trust, says: “This reserve is a real hidden gem. Nature has re-colonised the old quarry and the wildlife here is stunning. When you walk around the reserve and spot the various blue butterflies, you know you are somewhere really special. I am really looking forward to showing people the magic of this reserve.”

How can I get involved?

The guided butterfly walk is on Tuesday 19th July from 11am to 1pm and costs £1 per person. Meet at the entrance to the reserve by the name stone, on Yeates Road just off the A354, grid reference SY689728. Please wear suitable clothing and footwear, as the ground is uneven. Booking is essential. For more information please contact Samantha Dallimore on 01305 816546.
 

-ENDS-
Notes to Editor

For more information please contact Nicky Hoar at Dorset Wildlife Trust on 01305 264620.

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About Dorset Wildlife Trust www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk

Working for a secure future for Dorset’s wildlife enriching the quality of life Dorset Wildlife Trust works to champion wildlife and natural places, to engage and inspire people and to promote sustainable living. Founded in 1961, DWT is now the largest voluntary nature conservation organisation in Dorset, with over 25,000 members and over 40 nature reserves. Most are open daily and there are visitor centres providing a wealth of wildlife information at Brooklands Farm, Lorton Meadows, Kingcombe Meadows and Brownsea Island Nature Reserves, The Purbeck Marine Wildlife Reserve and the Urban Wildlife Centre at Upton Heath Nature Reserve. DWT plays a key role in dealing with local environmental issues and leads the way in establishing the practices of sustainable development and engaging new audiences in conservation, particularly in the urban areas.

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The Wildlife Trusts (TWT) www.wildlifetrusts.org

There are 47 individual Wildlife Trusts covering the whole of the UK and the Isle of Man and Alderney. All are working for an environment rich in wildlife for everyone. We have more than 800,000 members including 150,000 members of our junior branch Wildlife Watch. Our vision is to create A Living Landscape and secure Living Seas. We manage around 2,300 nature reserves and every year we advise thousands of landowners and organisations on how to manage their land for wildlife. We also run marine conservation projects around the UK, collecting vital data on the state of our seas and celebrating our amazing marine wildlife. Every year we work with thousands of schools and our nature reserves and visitor centres receive millions of visitors. Each Wildlife Trust is working within its local communities to inspire people about the future of their area: their own Living Landscapes and Living Seas.

Adonis Blue Male - Ken Dolbear