Learn more about the butterflies of Kent and their habitats
About the event
Butterflies can tell us much about habitat quality and the impacts of climate change. Learn about the identification and ecology of Kent’s species. Weather permitting, spot and identify some of the common and possibly rarer species of chalk grassland.
The day will begin with indoor session at Oak Lodge* which will cover:
- What is a butterfly?
- An overview of the Kent species and their identification features
- Butterfly lifecycles and behaviour
- Butterfly habitats and good places to visit
- Useful books and equipment
In the afternoon, we will travel to White Hill and possibly Fackenden Down to practice finding and identifying butterflies and hope to see some of the less common species of chalk grassland.
By the end of the course it is expected that you will:
- Have an overview of the species found in Kent
- Understand how species differ in ecology and behaviour
- Understand more about butterfly lifecycles, habitat management and species reintroductions
- Be able to identify several butterfly species with confidence
Led by Bob Harrop, Butterfly Conservation Volunteer, BSc Ecol & Cons
Suitable for beginners and improvers
*The indoor venue for this course is Oak Lodge, a cottage close to the visitor centre at Sevenoaks Wildife Reserve. If you look directly at the visitor centre and then go right, you will see a large circular sign on the front of Oak Lodge itself. See also google maps for the location of Oak Lodge.
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Cafe/refreshments
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Parking
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Toilets
MORE INFORMATION
What to bring:
Suitable outdoor clothing (some prickly bushes to walk through)
Walking boots or strong walking shoes
Packed lunch and something to drink
Optional, but helpful for identification: Close focus binoculars (e.g. Pentax Papilio); 10x magnifying lens / loupe; Zoom camera
Other sites to be visited:
White Hill, Fackenden Lane, Shoreham, Sevenoaks
OS Map Reference
TQ 529 611
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Parking at Shoreham Station
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Additional booking information:
Please note that poor weather on the day may lead to cancellation or an early finish to the study day.
Parking charges apply at Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve car park but this is included with your ticket if you book at least 72 hours in advance. To receive free parking you must email the correct number plate of the car you will be using to [email protected] at least 72 hours before the event start time. Please include the date of the event you have booked and the name the booking was made in as part of your email. If you are booking within 72 hours of the event, or do not confirm your number plate by this time, you will need to pay for parking on the day.
Visitors in wheelchairs have access to the visitor centre (with the exception of the first floor), three hides and most of the nature trail. Access to Oak Lodge may not be ideally suited for disabled users. Please contact us to discuss specific accessibility requirements:[email protected].
White Hill and Fackenden Down are not accessible to wheelchairs. There are medium mobility kissing gates and other gates. Paths are steep and very narrow, and path surfaces are slippery and uneven in places. We will be walking about 2 miles in total while on the site.