Chineham Conservation Group

02/06/2026

What a great way to celebrate Volunteer’s week locally! Meet some of our wonderful volunteers and hear why they join us every month to give back (and eat cake!) ❤️

05/05/2026

What did we spot on our butterfly survey?

Our volunteers were out yesterday doing our fortnightly butterfly survey in Long Copse and Great Sorrells Copse. We recorded 5 different butterfly species including this lovely speckled wood who settled down for a photoshoot. 📸

We also saw an Early Purple Orchid (one nickname is has is 'Goosey Ganders' which we particularly like) and lots of Germander Speedwell (great nectar source for solitary bees).

18/04/2026

Free tickets are going quickly for our first bat walk of the year! Get them whilst you can. 🦇

Join us for a fun evening exploring the world of bats!

17/04/2026

We have only just started our invasives removal project at Great Sorrells Copse, but finding this native Common Dog-violet among the patches of Variegated Archangel is a great sign. ✨

By getting rid of invasives we aren't just clearing ground; we are actively supporting our local wildlife. These little flowers are the essential food source for rare Fritillary butterflies and vital for our pollinators. 🦋🐝

We have a long road ahead to fully reclaim this woodland, but seeing gems like this bloom makes us incredibly hopeful for what’s to come.

15/04/2026

Today we are focusing on the Peacock butterfly, this beauty was photographed on a butterfly survey near Great Sorrells Copse recently. 🦋🌳

The eyespots: When their wings open to bask, they reveal four large, iridescent blue and purple "eyespots." These are a defensive mechanism designed to startle predators, such as birds, by mimicking the eyes of a much larger animal.

Early risers: The Peacock is one of the few species that overwinter as adults. This means they are among the first large butterflies on the wing in early spring, appearing as soon as temperatures rise enough for them to become active. ☀️

Habitat: You will most often find them along sunny woodland glades, often feeding on early nectar sources like dandelions.

12/04/2026

Huge thanks to the volunteers who came out this weekend to help tackle the patches of Variegated Archangel spreading in Great Sorrells Copse! )🧤

Variegated Archangel is a highly invasive plant that poses a serious threat to woodland health. Like other members of the mint family, it spreads through aggressive runners and brittle underground roots, making it a tough opponent to clear.

Here is why this work is so important:

- It forms thick, evergreen mats that physically block native wildflowers, like Bluebells, from growing.

- It outcompetes local plants for light, water, and nutrients, eventually turning a diverse forest floor into a single-species "dead zone."

- Since native insects and pollinators often cannot use it for food, the displacement of native plants leads to a decline in local wildlife.

By starting the removal process, we have made amazing progress in reclaiming this space for the species that actually belong here! 👏

11/04/2026

Here is the next butterfly in our series, our volunteer surveyors have spotted another woodland beauty waking up from its winter nap, this is the Comma!

Jagged Edges: You might think its wings look "tatty" or damaged, but those deeply scalloped edges are intentional! It’s the perfect camouflage to help it look like a shrivelled dead leaf when resting. 🍂

The Secret "C": Look closely at the third photo. On the dark underside of the wing, there is a tiny, bright white "comma" shape. This little mark is its namesake!

Sun Seekers: Commas love to bask in the sun on bramble leaves or along woodland paths. They are quite territorial, so if you disturb one, wait a moment it will often fly in a circle and land right back on the same leaf!

07/04/2026

Local volunteers are working with the BDBC Rangers for some butterfly surveying this season! Over the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing ID tips to help you spot different species while walking in our woods. 🌳

First up we have the Holly Blue!

Height: Look up! Holly Blues are arboreal, often found flying high around trees and shrubs. The Common Blue stays much lower to the ground.

Underside: Note the pale eggshell blue wings with tiny black dots. Unlike the Common Blue, they have no orange spots.

Gender: This photo is of a female, you can tell by the thick, black borders on her upper wings.

Check out the Wildlife Trust ID guide below for a side-by-side comparison and thanks to Shannon for the lovely pictures! ✨

26/03/2026

Spotlight on The Leopard Slug 🌟

Spotting one of these in the copse is always a treat! Why we love them:

- Unlike other slugs, they don't usually eat your prize plants. They prefer fungi, rotting wood, and even other slugs!

- They turn decaying leaves back into rich soil, perfect for our Early Purple Orchids.

- They are surprisingly speedy and have a very good homing instinct, returning to the same favorite log every morning.

Thanks to Alan for the wonderful photo!

23/03/2026

What does looking at this dead wood tell us?

🔍The winding engravings you can see are called Beetle Galleries and they are trails left by beetle larvae as they feed under the bark. Every species leaves a unique pattern!
🔍The tiny circular holes are where the adult beetles finally emerge to fly out into the woods.

Dead wood like this supports more life than a living tree! By leaving these logs to rot naturally, we create a sanctuary for rare fungi, mosses, and stag beetles that can't survive anywhere else.