Saturday 25th October

Members' Day 2025 will be held at the Village Hall in Benson, Oxfordshire (OX10 6LS). Please come and join us, it is always a great day, a chance to meet and chat with other butterfly enthusiasts, purchase interesting books, buy a Richard Lewington print, and listen to talks from external speakers.
 
Make sure you put the date (Saturday 25th October) in your diary! Entry is free but there will be a donation box, so if you would like to make a contribution to cover costs it is always appreciated. Tea, coffee, squash and biscuits will be provided during the morning and afternoon breaks. Please bring your own packed lunch. We have an amazing set of speakers lined up, so save the date! Although it is called "Members Day" we also welcome friends and supporters. We look forward to seeing you there.
 
Why not have a go at the photo competition? Details below.

Programme

09:45 Doors Open - Registration and Coffee  
10:15 Introduction and Welcome Peter Philp
10:25 Review of Upper Thames Butterflies in 2025 Nick Bowles
10:50 Holtspur (and other sites) update Nick Bowles
11:10 Review of Upper Thames Moths in 2025 Peter Cuss
11:30 Break (Tea/coffee/squash/biscuits provided)  
12:00 Talk 1: Delving into Dung. A look at the amazing world of dung beetles. Sally-Ann Spence
12:45 Lunch (Please bring your own. Tea/coffee/squash/biscuits not provided)  
13:45 Re-election of Committee Members and presentations of awards Peter Philp
14:00 Talk 2: Finding Hairstreak larvae using UV light/RBOR project Steven Lofting
14:30 Talk 3: The weird and wonderful names of butterflies and moths Peter Marren
15:15 Break (Tea/coffee/squash/biscuits provided)  
15:45 Talk 4: Sex, life and death in the world of butterflies Martin Warren
16:30 Photographic Competition Results Peter Thompson
16:45 Closing remarks Peter Philp
17:00 Close  

Photo Competition

There are four categories in the 2025 photo competition:
 
  • UK Butterflies
  • UK Moths
  • Early stages (egg, larva or pupa) of UK Lepidoptera
  • Foreign/non-UK Lepidoptera (all life cycle stages)

A few simple rules to follow please! Pictures should have been taken in either 2024 or 2025. A maximum number of three photos per category per person, and a maximum number of eight photos per individual. Please send your photos (in jpeg format) by email to Peter Thompson, plthompson127@gmail.com . Photos need to be received by Peter no later than October 5th.
 
The photos will be shown as a rolling presentation during lunch time on the day, with the winners shown at the end of the day's programme. It is also hoped that we can publish them in Hairstreak. Good luck!