Butterflies and Moths Study Week

Monday 9 Jun 4pm — Friday 13 Jun 12pm, 2025

To make a booking enquiry please complete the form below. We will contact you to confirm availability and complete your booking.

Pricing

This course is currently sold out. We do sometimes get cancellations - if you would like to be added to the waiting list, please fill in an enquiry form and tick the 'Waiting List' box.

Full board per person (tuition, activities, all meals & accommodation):

£460 – single occupancy ensuite room/cabin
£420 – sharing an ensuite room/cabin
£420 – single occupancy non-ensuite room
£380 – sharing non-ensuite room

Camping per person (tuition, activities, all meals):

£275

Non Resident (tuition, activities, all meals except breakfast):

£255

Get a closer look at the accommodation options here.

This course is currently sold out. We do sometimes get cancellations – if you would like to be added to the waiting list, please fill in an enquiry form and tick the ‘Waiting List’ box.

World-renowned butterfly and moth expert and author David Brown leads a week of field trips, workshops and lectures focusing on rare and interesting summer butterflies and moths of Somerset.

“I enjoyed seeing species that were new to me but also meeting like minded people. David Brown is very knowledgeable and willing to give every assistance. Halsway is a lovely venue with good food, accommodation and friendly staff.” Participant

This course provides an opportunity to view some of Great Britain’s rarest butterflies. Each year, different target species are chosen as a focus for field trips, learning about their life cycles and fascinating habits.

Light traps will be operated in the wooded grounds of Halsway Manor where it is possible to see up to 100 species of moth during the week including specialties Brussels Lace, Cream-spot Tiger, Lead Belle and Ruddy Carpet. Illustrated evening talks and workshops will help sharpen identification skills and provide knowledge on the ecology of selected species.

Participants may be asked to car-share to help with transport on field visits.

The Programme

Please note that there may be alterations to the timings of the field trips to make best use of the weather conditions. The programme is usually as follows:

Monday

4.00  Arrival and tea
6.30  Dinner
7.30  Introduction to course
Tuesday
8.30  Breakfast
9.15  Inspection of light traps
11.30 Field visit (Haddon Hill)
4.00  Afternoon tea
6.30  Dinner
7.30  Identification workshop / slideshow
Wednesday
8.30  Breakfast
9.15  Inspection of light traps
11.30  Field visit (Collard Hill)
6.30  Dinner
7.30  Identification workshop / slides
Thursday
8.30  Breakfast
9.15  Inspection of light traps
11.30 Field visit (Bossington)
4.00  Afternoon tea
6.30  Dinner
Friday
8.30  Breakfast
9.30  Inspection of light traps
11.00 Local butterfly walk (time allowing)
12.00 Analysis, results and conclusions.

Who is it for?

This course is open to anyone who would like to know more about butterflies and moths. There will be field trips – whatever the weather! – so please bring suitable clothing and footwear for walking outdoors.

The Team

David Brown has enjoyed a life-long passion for butterflies and moths. Several decades have been spent exploring lepidoptera-rich habitats throughout the British Isles, leading to extensive studies of all the British species of macrolepidoptera in addition to many scarce immigrants. David has been Warwickshire County Recorder for larger moths since 1971 and also serves as the County’s Moth Conservation Officer. Over many years, he has tutored successful adult classes at both Warwick and Birmingham Universities and currently runs residential courses throughout the British Isles for the Field Studies Council and Adult Residential Colleges Association. Other work has involved lepidoptera surveys for ecological consultants, English Nature and Forestry Commission. David writes regularly for the National journal ‘Atropos’ and has been a member of the editorial panel since its inauguration.