Butterfly expert to visit Crocworld
AFTER successfully launching a monthly programme of nature talks last year, Crocworld Conservation Centre is continuing the initiative into 2014 with the first of this year’s sessions scheduled to take place on February 8. The talk, which is entitled ‘Butterflies of the East Coast’, boasts renowned butterfly expert Steve Woodhall as its guest speaker. Mr Woodhall’s knowledge and experience in this field suggests that the Centre is setting the bar high in terms of the calibre of their lecturers for the coming months, while the talk’s subject shares a common theme with past events.
The sessions were set up with the goal of teaching interested parties more about the flora and fauna of Southern Africa, often with a local focus but always with the aim of encouraging and inspiring members of the public to get involved with efforts to conserve the incredible biodiversity of the regions in question. Mr Woodhall’s lecture promises to achieve exactly that, educating guests about the butterfly species native to our local environment and the importance of them to it.
Image supplied by Steve Woodhall
Steve Woodhall was born in the United Kingdom, where he spent his childhood dreaming of hunting butterflies across the ranging plains and untamed landscapes of Africa. Finally, in 1980 he followed these dreams to South Africa, where he indulged in his lifelong fascination with the winged beauties. An industrial chemist by profession, Mr Woodhall’s passion for butterflies began as a hobby, but over the years has transformed him into a respected authority in his field. As well as being an avid photographer of butterflies and moths in their early stages, Mr Woodhall has written and co-authored several books on the species found in Southern Africa.
These books include the Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa, What’s That Butterfly? and most recently, the Pocket Guide to Butterflies in South Africa. Catering to the butterfly enthusiasts of the online generation, Mr Woodhall is currently involved in creating an app based along the lines of the field guide, and is also working on a book tackling butterfly and moth-friendly gardening techniques. In addition to these impressive achievements, Mr Woodhall is the President of the Lepidopterists’ Society of Africa- a non-profit dedicated to the study, appreciation and conservation of butterflies and moths across the African continent.
On February 8, Mr Woodhall will be bringing with him slideshows featuring the most familiar of the East Coast butterflies as well as some of the rarer species, and will be more than happy to answer questions after his presentation. Copies of his books will be available for purchase from the Crocworld Conservation Centre shop. Registration begins at 8:30am with the presentation starting at 9am. Mr Woodhall will speak for approximately an hour, after which tea and coffee will be served and a short question and answer session will commence.
Image supplied by Steve Woodhall
Ticket price includes admission to the Centre, and guests are warmly invited to take the opportunity to explore all that it has to offer, from its resident crocodiles to a walk-through snake display and an array of rehabilitated bird species. The beautifully sculpted indigenous gardens of the Centre are a wonderful place to while away the day, and refreshments and light meals can be purchased from Les Rendezvous, the onsite restaurant with a spectacular ocean view. The admission fee is R70 per adult, with a concession price of R30 for pensioners and scholars/students. Please be advised that booking is essential, due to limited space.
To make your reservation contact Nolean Allun at 039 9761103/083 6549651 or e-mail crocworld@cbl.co.za. Account details: Crocworld (Crookes Brothers Limited) banking details: FNB, branch: Scottburgh, branch code: 220227, account number: 53640119111. Fax your proof of payment to 039 9783279.
