Most people enjoy the sight of colourful butterflies fluttering over a wild flower meadow on a warm sunny day, so it was no surprise there was a good turn out when Mike Swindells spoke to the Southwold Group of Suffolk Wildlife Trust in early October about the butterflies of Suffolk.

Most people enjoy the sight of colourful butterflies fluttering over a wild flower meadow on a warm sunny day, so it was no surprise there was a good turn out when Mike Swindells spoke to the Southwold Group of Suffolk Wildlife Trust in early October about the butterflies of Suffolk.

Just under 30y species breed in the county he said, with a few more, notably red admiral and painted lady, which migrate in from the continent every year. Most were holding their own, thought the once familiar over wintering small tortoiseshell was in serious decline. By contrast the speckled wood was spreading throughout Suffolk, and he expected the red admiral would soon start breeding here as the effects of global warming increased.

Mr Swindells said we were very fortunate in living in the Sandlings, as this was the richest area for butterflies in the county, and most notably the tiny silver studded blue, whose life cycle was dependent on a relationship with black ants. The highlight this year had been the tens of thousands of painted ladys which arrived, mainly in May, from North Africa. Gardens in the coastal strip had been teeming with them on occasions. Thanking the speaker, the secretary Joy West said she and her husband Michael, had just been on a training day in preparation for carrying out detailed surveys of butterflies in Suffolk next year by Suffolk Wildlife Trust and Butterfly Conservation.

The next meeting will be on Thursday, November 19, when Chris Durdin from Honeyguide Holidays will give an illustrated talk called Wildlife of the Mediterranean. The holidays he organises are to the lesser well known countries of Europe like Romania and Bulgaria as well as underdeveloped parts of Spain, Portugal and Greece. This talk will be in St Edmunds Hall, Southwold at 7.30pm and everybody is welcome. Entrance is �1.50 including refreshments. There will be a raffle, bring and buy stall and SWT Christmas cards on sale. These are also on sale at Boydens Store, Reydon, Moffatts, Southwold and Southwold Angling Centre.