EuCAN annual camp, AGM and get-together
Daneway Banks, Gloucestershire
Our annual weekend get-together will be held this year at the Daneway Inn which is situated next to the new Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust reserve at Daneway Banks where we hope to coincide with the flight period of the iconic Large Blue butterfly which has been successfully reintroduced to this area. We will also be very close to the new Butterfly Conservation Reserve at Rough Bank and a number of other excellent wildlife sites nearby. Camping facilities are available at the pub and very nice (but more expensive) B&B accommodation is close by. The EuCAN CIC Annual General Meeting will be held on the Saturday morning before the butterflies start flying! All welcome to join in this weekend! Please book in advance. If you are not already a member of the Community Interest Company, you will need to join up – see the Membership page for details. The sub. is only a one-off payment of £10 (or £5 for unwaged).
As well as some superb limestone grassland flowers, we are hoping to see a nice range of butterflies – we should catch the flight times of Silver-washed Fritillary and Dark-green Fritillary, the Meadow Browns, Marbled Whites, Ringlets and Skippers in profusion. See this link for information about species on Rough Bank and this for details of the species found on Daneway Banks.
Large Blue, Maculinea arion Photo: Paolo Mazzei.
During the weekend, there will be identification sessions on butterflies (and perhaps moths if we can put out some moth traps), wildflowers, bees, bats and a host of other groups (depending on the interests and expertise of our members!)
Dark Green Fritillary, Argynnis aglaia
Silver-washed Fritillary Argynnis paphia
The weekend will cost £55 including the pitch for a tent for two nights, the Saturday evening meal, and breakfast, teas and picnic lunches on both days. We will eat together in the pub on the first night but this is not included in the price for the weekend.
If you would like further information about the local B&B facilities with very smart rooms at £70 per night for 2 people or £85 per night in the larger room with the super kingsize bed, please contact nigel@eucan.org.uk
Daniel Greenwood has written an interesting piece about the Cotswolds AONB work in Gloucestershire to enhance some of the nearby grasslands through the Our Magnificent Meadows Project. Read about it here.
If you would like to join us for this weekend, please complete this registration form. Places are limited so please register soon (especially if you want the B&B accommodation).