Not my finest moment on TV, but grateful to BBC News (UK) for airing this report on elm trees in the south-east on Saturday. David Herling's pioneering work provides fantastic opportunities for genomics research Kew Science Centre for Forest Protection

26/4/24 Kent - Dropped by Kent in preparation of our Mariposa Nature Tours orchid tour in early June that I'm co-leading with Jon Dunn 🇺🇦. Was a nice excuse to catch up with this awesome mirrorless Early Spider #Orchid (Ophrys sphegodes). Reminds me of my hairline! #wildflowerhour

There are still some spaces available on the two Kent orchid daytrips that Dr Richard Bate & Jon Dunn 🇺🇦 will be leading for us on 1 & 2 June... great orchids and a great pub lunch are guaranteed! Full details & booking on our website.
mariposanature.com/calendar

27/4/24 Dorset - I led my first home tour for Mariposa Nature Tours this weekend. We made many great finds including reptiles and deer antlers as well as several fantastic plants, from peloric Spider #Orchids (Ophrys sphegodes) to Early #Gentians (Gentianella anglica) #wildflowerhour

Despite some challenging weather earlier today in the Spanish Pyrenees, we persevered on our Spring Butterflies of Central & N Spain tour, and finally got our just rewards - sunshine, orchids and butterflies! Highlights this afternoon many Lady Orchids, and smart Panoptes Blues.

One of several confiding Iberian Sooty Coppers enjoyed today by our guests on our Spring Butterflies of Central & Northern Spain tour. We're now in the Spanish Pyrenees for the next couple of days - looking forward to seeing what we find.

The EU's plant biosecurity regime is not working theguardian.com/environment/20…

A marvellous start to our Spring Butterflies of Central & Northern Spain tour this afternoon, with good numbers of fresh Spring Ringlet and Berger's Clouded Yellow flying together over flowery hillsides. Happy guests, and happy tour leaders!

One of the reasons our orchid tours do well is the network of supportive and helpful friends our tour leaders have in the European scene. We firmly believe in supportive collaboration with one another. Everyone benefits!

Our Orchids of Sicily tour finished yesterday, with over 40 species seen during the course of an enjoyable and laughter-filled week that featured, as well as orchids, delicious food, cultural history, birds and reptiles, and even song from our amazing tour leader Andrea Corso. 🇮🇹

The disease-busting hybrids that could bring back the majestic English elm theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/a…

News from the field from France where, on our A Spring in Provence tour, leader Dave Fairhurst reports 'Yesterday was about the birds,  today it was butterflies that stole the show.  We popped into the department of Var and in glorious sunshine saw over 30 species of butterfly...

It's been such a pleasure to have Dr Richard Bate as a core member of the tour leading team here at Mariposa Nature Tours from day one, and it's fair to say that his superb knowledge and insight greatly enhanced our Orchids of Rhodes tour. Thanks so much, Richard!

Our Orchids of Sicily tour is off to a flying start today, with immaculate Orchis brancifortii & Ophrys grassoana within minutes of our Etna hotel. With Sicilian native naturalist Andrea Corso co-leading with Jon Dunn 🇺🇦, we're getting an unrivalled Sicilian experience already. 😊

Just a handful of the over 50 species of #orchid we found with our guests on last week's wonderful #OrchidsOfRhodes tour.

Next year's tour is already filling fast. If you'd like to travel with those who know Rhodes' orchids best, full details here:
mariposanature.com/tours/botanica…

Good evening from Rhodes! 🇬🇷

Today marks the end of our first orchid tour of 2024 - delighted to have been asked to run this tour by the Orchid Conservation Alliance. We've repaid that trust with a truly stellar haul of 51 species/taxa.*

*depending whether you Delforge or Kew😉

Back from Tenerife on Mariposa Nature Tours inaugural tour. Good time had by all despite the weather bomb😬- snow down to 1000m! African Migrant (Catopsilia florella) on 3rd attempt in Playa San Juan (nearby road gave a clue) with females (f. pyrene) nectaring & egg-laying on Cassia.

Canary Blue (Leptotes webbianus) images from our recently concluded Butterflies of Tenerife tour, kindly shared by one of our guests, Gillian. 🦋 We're already looking forward to returning there next year!