Heath Fritillary Foodplant Monitoring Volunteer
West Blean and Thornden Woods,
Thornden Wood Road. To access the Wilder Blean project, use West Blean and Thornden Woods car park. , Canterbury, Kent, CT6 7NZPosition details
Duration:
-Commitment:
Any DayOverview of the role
To survey specific areas of the site, systematically recording the abundance of the two main foodplants of the heath fritillary butterfly (common cow-wheat and ribwort plantain). This will allow us to understand how grazing affects the availability of these plants and therefore the butterfly itself.
A day in your life might include…
Exploring different corners of this woodland site and noting the numbers of the two different foodplants that you encounter. Using an app on your phone to record this and keeping an eye out for the heath fritillary butterfly itself.
Experience/Skills Required
No previous experience required. You will need to cover rough, uneven ground, which is off the footpaths. The site is in a rural location and therefore this role is most suited to someone who lives or works close to the reserve or has access to a car.
Days & times we would like you to be available…
There are no specific times or days when this needs to be carried out – it can fit around your commitments – but we are looking for volunteers in June and July.
Benefits to Volunteering & Training Opportunities
A chance to explore areas of the reserve that you may not normally have access to. Detailed guidance is provided and extra support, as required. Reasonable travel expenses covered.