0PEN DAY - DISCOVERING NEW WAYS OF FINDING BUTTERFLIES & MOTHS

Hertfordshire & Middlesex Branch of Butterfly Conservation

Saturday 3rd October 2026

Open Day – for everyone interested in butterflies & moths

Discovering new ways of recording

To be held at the Box Moor Trust Centre, London Road, Hemel Hempstead, Herts, HP1 2RE

Open Day programme

Morning programme in the Roughdown Room

10:00 - Doors open and the inspection of a moth trap run overnight in the grounds of the Box Moor Trust (location of inspection to be confirmed – weather permitting) (coffee, tea and biscuits will be available)

10:45 - Welcome from Branch Chair Malcolm Hull followed by a review of Branch activities in 2026, plans for the year ahead and committee elections.

11:30 – “The use of pheromone lures to record moths” – Liz Goodyear

Liz has been recording moths for over 20 years, but in 2020, the year of lockdown, she found the lure of using pheromones to record Clearwing moths with remarkable results

12:00 - “Hunting for Hairstreaks with UV methods” – Steven Lofting

Steven is Conservation Manager, South-East England of Butterfly Conservation. Today, Steven will explain how the use of UV light has opened up a ground-breaking method of finding and recording hairstreak butterflies (and other lepidoptera)

13:00 - Lunch Break – a selection of sandwiches and cakes will be provided.

There will be an opportunity to buy raffle tickets and visit the branch sales stand during the break. There is no charge for lunch, but donations towards the cost of food and hall hire are welcome.

Afternoon workshops, talks and walks - times may be subject to change depending on the weather.

Roughdown Room

14:00 - Brief introduction to the Box Moor Trust – with Trustee Steve Wilson.

Following the introduction, there will be a walk from the Trust Centre around Westbrook Hay, discovering the diversity and biodiversity of landscape. We recommend you wear strong shoes as the ground can be uneven.

Gorsefield Room

14:00 – 15:45 - Leaf mining workshop with Andy & Melissa Banthorpe, county moth recorders for Bedfordshire. FULLY BOOKED BUT WAITING LIST ACTIVATED.

Leaf mines are created by insects including some very small moths – finding the mines, identifying the tree species and the type of mine can lead to the identification of the moth. It is a fascinating hobby, and Andy and Melissa are country experts. The workshop, will involve collecting the mines, and then learning the skills to identify some of the mines.

Eventbrite booking for this workshop will be required as numbers are restricted to 15 participants.

Booking link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/leaf-mine-workshop-with-andy-melissa-banthorpe-tickets

15:45 - Raffle Draw

15:55 - Closing remarks

Directions: The Box Moor Trust Centre is situated on A4251 London Road a short distance from the A41 junction to Bourne End. Hemel Hempstead Station (London Euston) is approx 1 1/2 miles walk but the no. 20 bus stops nearby at St. Johns Church with a stop close to the Box Moor Centre (Westbrook Hay School).

About the centre: The Box Moor Trust Centre, is fully accessible including a lift and hearing loop.