Female Common Blue ©Amy Lewis
'Since I retired from teaching and moved to Kendal 12 years ago, I've had time to get much more involved in trying to save our wonderfully rich and diverse habitats and their butterflies.'
Chris Winnick
Chris is chair of Cumbria Butterfly Conservation and helps run conservation work parties. From September to March, he works to maintain habitats for the UK's most threatened species, leading guided walks for all to enjoy the beauty of these special places during the spring and summer.
'I have had a lifelong interest in butterflies and moths ever since I first found a Private Hawkmoth caterpillar as an 8-year-old and raised it through to becoming a fantastic and beautiful moth. To see the transformation from caterpillar to pupa to adult moth was magic and inspirational.
I loved to cycle to some of my favourite butterfly sites in the chalk landscape of south Cambridgeshire and to spot and record Common Blue, Small Blue, Small Copper, Wall and Skippers along with seeing buddleias festooned with Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral, Peacock, Comma and Painted Lady. In those days every house seemed to have a private hedge and a buddleia bush!
I joined Butterfly Conservation and the Wildlife Trust over 30 years ago. Since I retired from teaching and moved to Kendal 12 years ago, I've had time to get much more involved in trying to save our wonderfully rich and diverse habitats and their butterflies. I attend conservation work parties, do transect recording, lead guided walks, give presentations and run residential courses.
I am now chair of Cumbria Butterfly Conservation and am delighted to have so many friends in Cumbria Wildlife Trust, who also do so much to help keep Cumbria as one of the very best places in the UK to see rare butterflies.'
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