I have had a lifelong interest in wildlife and have been a member of Butterfly Conservation since 1985.
Cycling has always been an interest of mine, and I have long held a fascination with the Land's End to John O'Groats challenge., hence the ride in 2021. Follow me on X @sbsaville - views are my own.
Since retiring at the end of 2016, I have focused my time on wildlife, especially butterflies and moths. I live in London and campaign for further improvement of London's 1,600+ local wildlife sites.
I am Chair of the Surrey & SW London Branch of Butterfly Conservation, and I have been a Trustee of BC since 2018. I have been surveying the parks and green spaces in Lambeth, Southwark and Wandsworth, and find that the boroughs are doing a good job in managing the parks more sympathetically for wildlife. Nevertheless, our green spaces and wildlife have never been more under threat, and they urgently need our help. I particularly encourage people in London to get out and explore the green spaces near where they live and work: London is much richer in wildlife than many people think.
I also campaign to promote cycling and active travel in London, as Coordinator of Southwark Cyclists (https://southwarkcyclists.org.uk/), a local group of the fantastic London Cycling Campaign (https://lcc.org.uk/).
I support Extinction Rebellion (XR): urgent and radical action is needed to address the climate emergency. Butterflies are excellent indicators, and the effects of climate heating are already apparent:
Rapid changes in the distribution of butterflies and moths
Migrants are becoming residents (including pests & diseases)
Some species are trying to fit in an extra brood in the year, which can be a bad survival strategy
More - and more extreme - heatwaves : desiccated food plants, lack of honeydew and nectar, and collapses in populations in subsequent years
Warmer, wetter winters, which are better for parasites
Changes in phenology - species risk getting out of sync with larval food plants or nectar sources - I picked blackberries as early as 2nd July 2019 in London - before Gatekeeper butterflies were emerging
I support London National Park City, which aims to make London greener, healthier and wilder. I am a London National Park City Ranger. These are "a network of passionate people with a wide range of experiences and talents who are helping make London greener, healthier and wilder, contributing to the vision to make London a city where people, places and nature are better connected".