Butterflies of Kent

Adonis Blue Butterfly perched on a leaf with its underwings showing
Butterfly
A brown argus butterfly basks on a stalk of purplish-red grass. Its wings are spread open, revealing choclate brown uppersides with bold white margins and bright orange spots

Brown argus © Vaughn Matthews

Comma butterfly

Comma ©David Longshaw

A northern brown argus visits a bright yellow bird's-foot-trefoil flower. Its wings are open, revealing the white spot on the dark brown background

Northern brown argus © Tom Hibbert

Butterflies of Kent

Location:
Tyland Barn, Sandling, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 3BD
Book
Learn more about the butterflies of Kent and their habitats

Event details

Meeting point

Meet at Tyland Barn. OS Map Reference TQ 754 593 What3Words: cunning.tugging.buckling

Date

Time
10am - 3/4pm
A static map of Butterflies of Kent

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 Tyland Barn 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 in our own cars to Bluebell Hill and Burham 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

Led by Richard Moyse. Botanist & entomologist with more than 35 years’ experience studying and conserving wildlife in Kent.

Suitable for beginners and improvers

Booking

Price

Normal fee: £37.50 per person per day.
Concessionary fee: Kent Wildlife Trust volunteers, senior citizens, unemployed and students £5 off.

Additional booking information

Please note that poor weather on the day may lead to cancellation or an early finish to the study day.

Also visting Bluebell Hill and Burham Down:
Bluebell Hill

Know before you go

Mobility

The grounds and teaching space at Tyland Barn are accessible to wheelchair users.

Bluebell Hill and Burham Down are not accessible to wheelchairs. There are medium mobility kissing gates and other gates. Paths are steep and path surfaces are slippery and uneven in places. We will be walking about 1½ miles in total while on the site.

What to bring

  • Suitable outdoor clothing
  • Walking boots or strong walking shoes
  • Packed lunch and something to drink.  There is now an independent café in the Barn which is usually open on Saturdays so you may be able purchase additional refreshments there.
  • (FSC Butterflies Guide. ISBN 9781908819451  recommended)

Contact us

Jill Evington