Hi! I was wondering if you have the date for the 2013 or if it has been scheduled yet? Thx! Kathleen

Congratulations for suggesting camera phones on your posters as part of the photography competition. Great to see an organisation that recognises the possibilities rather than the problems of handheld technologies.

Yes, it's on - National Tree Week is traditionally the launch of the winter tree planting season and has been organised by The Tree Council since 1975. The theme for this year is “Grow Your Own” and is part of this year-long drive towards raising awareness, through community action, of the part that trees play in sustainable living. By planting trees for their fruit and seeds - the ever popular apples, pears and plums as well as mulberries, hazel and sweet chestnut - The Tree Council is encouraging people to make the most of the free food that trees can provide. It is also asking anyone considering planting a tree to think about issues such as alternative fuel sources, health, shade and survival of species as they consider what the most appropriate species will be for their site as they “grow their own”.

Hi had to tell some one been a keen watcher of butterflys and moths all my life ....but three days ago i saw my first hummingbird hawk moth feeding on a patch of bizzy lizzies in my garden wow it feels good i hope it comes back ....simple pleasures
Regards Dave

A bumper weekend for spotting the Painted Lady Butterfly!

We've had reports from across the Island of clouds of them arriving with the warm weather and light winds during last weekend 23rd/24th May.

The Painted Lady is a long-distance migrant, which causes the most spectacular butterfly migrations observed in Britain and Ireland.

Each year, it spreads northwards from the desert fringes of North Africa, the Middle East, and central Asia, recolonizing mainland Europe and reaching Britain and Ireland.

Don't forget to record your sightings on the Butterfly Conservation website here

Thank you for your comments.

We have forwarded them to the Isle of Wight Natural History and Archaeological Society's
Marine Recorder who will discuss them with local and regional experts and advise us further
on any additional species which should be included.

I've just come across this site, and congratulate you for your extensive list of species, and I look forward to hearing more about your work with this and other species.

One thing that springs to mind on perusing the list, is that there is a lack of shark species on the fish section. Whislt the basking shark is included, the spurdog and tope see not to be present. Spurdog in particular are under immense threat and under scrutiny with various shark conservation bodies throughout europe. There have also been moves to open commercial tope fisheries in the uk, that have thankfully been thwarted to date. The Isle of Wight is surrounded by some deep channels, known to be frequented by thresher sharks (IUCN listed). Blue shark also visit these waters, and are under threat. I am not sure as to whether another threatened species, the porbeagel visits here.

Many thanks for your work so far.

Mark.