Why do we need you?
Butterfly transect surveys are an extremely important method of robustly measuring changes in butterfly populations. Some of the existing transects have been carried out for many years giving a fantastic amount of data on how our management of our reserves is helping butterflies. We will need your help walking these transects weekly or sharing a transect with others, identifying butterfly species and recording them as you go.
What will you be doing?
- Walking a fixed route through the above reserves once a week in suitable weather conditions (ideally in the middle portion of the day)
- Identifying and recording butterfly species
Experience, knowledge and skills needed for this role
- Enthusiastic
- Basic Butterfly identification skills are beneficial
- No previous experience required
- Willing to work alone
- A passion for nature and wildlife
What does the volunteer need?
Ability to travel regularly to reserve site
What's in it for the volunteer?
• A chance to explore areas of the reserve that you may not normally have access to
• Detailed support and guidance available on the UKBMS itself, the transect and butterfly identification if needed
• Experience assisting one of the longest running insect monitoring programmes in the world
Where is the role based?
We have spaces for volunteers all over Kent, here are a list of the reserves we need surveying.
N.B You are not expected to survey all the reserves, just the one or ones near to you.
• Darland Banks (Near Rainham)
• Lydden Down NNR (Near Dover)
• Lydden Temple Ewell Downs (Near Dover)
• Queendown Warren (Near Newington)
• Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve (Near Sevenoaks)
• Polhill Banks (Near Sevenoaks)
• Stonelees Nature Reserve (Near Ramsgate)
• Pegwell Bay Country Park (Near Ramsgate)
• Thornden Wood (Near Canterbury)
• West Blean Wood (Near Canterbury)
• Nashenden Down (Near Rochester)
Things to consider before applying:
- UKBMS transects generally traverse established footpaths, but being reasonably physically fit is beneficial as some the grazing areas have rough terrain, tussocks, boggy ground etc. that you need to be able to negotiate.
- Full training is given and you’ll only be asked to do work you are comfortable with.
- The volunteer role is open to applicants over the age of 18
