The Moths and Butterflies of Oxfordshire



Overview

Moth and butterflies are the most popular group of insects in terms of number of volunteers working on them as they tend to be pretty, large and somewhat easy to identify even for complete beginners. Butterflies and moths are also excellent indicator species for the general health of an ecosystem and can be used to estimate the impact of human disturbances such as management, habitat degradation and climate change.

During this day school, you gain an overview of the ecology and characteristics of the most common species of moths and butterflies that we can find in Oxfordshire. The afternoon will then be spent in the outside in the University Park, with a brief visit to see some of the many preserved specimens in the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, to gain practical expertise in identifying these species in flight and in learn more about how to conduct butterfly surveys.

Please note: this event will close to enrolments at 23:59 BST on 11 June 2025.

Programme details

9.45am:
Registration at Rewley House reception

10am:
Brief introduction to the insect order Lepidoptera
Thomas Hesselberg

10.30am:
Moths’ natural history, characteristics and survey techniques
Lawrence Bee

11am:
Tea/coffee break

11.30am:
Common and notable moths in Oxfordshire
Lawrence Bee

12pm
Butterflies of Oxfordshire (and the UK), Identification and Brief Natural History 
Grahame Hawker

12.45pm
Butterfly Conservation, Upper Thames Branch, Survey Techniques and Recording 
Grahame Hawker

1.15pm:
Lunch break

2.15pm:
Butterflies and day-flying moths’ identification and surveys, Oxford University Parks
All speakers

4pm:
Visit to the Oxford University Museum of Natural History (depending on weather and number of moths and butterflies in the University Park)
All speakers

5pm:
End of day

Fees

Description Costs
Course Fee (includes tea/coffee) £125.00
Baguette Lunch £7.30
Hot Lunch (3 courses) £19.25

Funding

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit or are a full-time student in the UK you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees.

Concessionary fees for short courses

Tutors

Dr Thomas Hesselberg

Speaker and Director of Studies

Thomas is a zoologist who has studied spiders, insects and worms for more than 15 years in both temperate and tropical climates. In addition to his teaching for the Department for Continuing Education, he is a lecturer in biological sciences at St. Anne's College.

Mr Lawrence Bee

Speaker

Lawrence is an independent ecological and environmental education consultant. He has worked in the natural environment for over 30 years and has developed a varied experience as an all-round field naturalist through extensive practical, hands-on work in the field of ecology and nature conservation.

He has provided practical environmental education activities to the primary sector - most recently Rocks and Fossils workshops in Oxfordshire - to secondary and undergraduate students and to adults. He is a Council Member of the British Arachnological Society and executive member of the Oxfordshire Geology Trust. He regularly lectures on British spiders and ancient trees and woodland and leads training workshops on spider identification, plant gall identification and invertebrate survey techniques.

His particular interests include British geology, ancient trees and oak woodland, spiders, moths and plant galls: he wrote the Field Studies Council ID chart – ‘A Guide to House and Garden Spiders’, is currently writing chapters for a forthcoming book on Shotover and is the lead author on a forthcoming photographic field guide to British spiders.

Grahame Hawker

Speaker

Grahame Hawker retired from managing a nature reserve in 2024. He is Vice Chair of the Conservation and Recording committee, Chair of Silver-studded Blue Champion, and the 10k Champion at Upper Thames Branch of Butterfly Conservation. He is also involved with Berkshire Local Nature Partnership, Local Wildlife Site Selection Committee, Berkshire Moth Group and is the volunteers leader at Padworth Common Conservation.

Application

Please use the 'Book' button on this page. Alternatively, please contact us to obtain an application form.

Accommodation

Accommodation is not included in the price, but if you wish to stay with us the night before the course, then please contact our Residential Centre.

Accommodation in Rewley House - all bedrooms are modern, comfortably furnished and each room has tea and coffee making facilities, Freeview television, and Free WiFi and private bath or shower rooms.  Please contact our Residential Centre on +44 (0) 1865 270362 or email res-ctr@conted.ox.ac.uk for details of availability and discounted prices.

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support