Why not come along to the annual gathering of those interested in recording the wildlife of Leicester and Rutland. It will be held on Saturday 22 February in the Rothley Centre. It is free but booking is required. More...

The latest edition of the Leicestershire & Rutland Recorder journal contains 52 pages with many photographs and articles on subjects such as birds, bats, flowering plants, mammals, caddis flies, fleas, local natural history societies, how to record wildlife. More...

The September edition of the Leicestershire Entomological Newsletter can be viewed or downloaded from the LES page. This edition includes news on the latest insect finds across VC55 plus the winter indoor programme.

The September edition of the Leicestershire Amphibian & Reptile Network newsletter is now available and can be viewed or downloaded from our LARN page.

Burbage is the latest parish to have its own pages on NatureSpot and a volunteer editor is now needed to help add wildlife records and encourage local interest. If you live in or near the parish and are interested in helping, please get in touch.

A momentous report, produced jointly by 25 wildlife organisations and launched by Sir David Attenborough, reveals that 60 per cent of the species studied have declined over recent decades. More than one in ten of all the species assessed are under threat of disappearing from our shores altogether. Amongst other actions, wildlife recording by the public is seen as vital to monitor changing populations and to highlight species in need of help. Read more...

The Green Hairstreak is a rare butterfly in Leicestershire and Rutland but it now has a 'champion'. Andrew Harrop has been appointed species champion for the Green Hairstreak in the East Midlands and is keen to hear of any sightings. More...

Would you like to improve your plant ID skills? The University of Leicester, in conjuction with BSBI, the Wildlife Trust and NatureSpot, are offering a module-based course - starting in May. More info and application form.

The latest newsletter from Leicestershire Fungi Study Group is now available and can be viewed here, with reports on the fungi found locally this season.

Little Egrets have become a relatively common sight in our area but occasional Great White Egrets have been seen too. Learn how to recognise the difference by watching a new BTO bird ID video guide to these two species.

A new report from Butterfly Conservation into the State of Britain's Moths, clearly shows that moths are in decline.Two thirds of moth species show decreasing population trends over the 40 year study and over one-third (37%) of the species decreased by more than 50%. Read the report.

The latest newsletter from the Leicestershire Entomological Society has been published and can be read or downloaded here. Issue 48 is a bumper edition with news of several interesting findings across the county.

The latest newsletter from the Leicestershire Amphibian and Reptile Network is now available here.

A study of the water beetles at Priory Water, near Melton, has just been published by the Leicestershire Entomological Society. Tony Cook and Frank Clark found 29 species of water beetles, including a few nationally rare species. The report can be viewed or downloaded on the LES page.

You might not know your ocelli from your frons, but getting to grips with fly identification requires a good grasp of anatomical terms. A wonderful, interactive online guide is now available to lead you through fly anatomy - complete with a virtual magnifying glass to zoom in closer.

Some species are not welcome in Leicestershire and Rutland and this is the case with the fungus Chalara fraxinea which causes Ash Dieback - a major threat to our native trees. Whilst out and about, look for the signs and report any finds. More...

One of the longest standing mysteries of migration has finally been solved after scientists discovered where the UK’s Painted Lady butterfly population goes each autumn. More...

The latest newsletter from the Leicestershire Entomological Society can now be viewed or downloaded from our LES page. This edition reports on several new species found in Leicestershire and Rutland, plus a provisional checklist of the ants of the two counties.

Links have now been added to the species pages to allow you to jump to the relevant group and family. This is particularly helpful if you want to look at related species. Note also that clicking on any group in the Species Library menu displays links to all the families within that group.

Buglife is reporting an unprecedented number of Hornet hoverfly, Volucella zonaria, records this summer and they appear to be moving north towards Leicestershire. Look out for this striking insect - a harmless mimic of the Hornet. More...