SBBT

Saving swallowtail and birdwing butterflies

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      • Conservation of the Swallowtail in Britain
        • Wheatfen Meeting Agenda and Speakers 27 June 2018
        • Meeting Report: Conservation of the Swallowtail in Britain
        • Swallowtail MSC Studentships
        • Report in the Guardian
      • Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing Project
      • The Bhutan Glories and Shoskom – the Bhutan Glories’ Hill
      • Swallowtail Survey on Fiji Identifies New Species
        • SBBT’s Further Studies on the Natewa Swallowtail
      • Swallowtail Survey on Dominica
      • Homerus Swallowtail DNA Study
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        • Kinabalu Birdwing Project Update 2023
        • Kinabalu Birdwing Project
      • Richmond Birdwing
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    • World Swallowtail Day
      • 2024 World Swallowtail Day – 9th June
      • 2023 World Swallowtail Day – 11th June
      • Saving Swallowtails – 12 June 2021
      • 2020 World Swallowtail Day – 14th June
        • SBBT Photography Competition Winners
        • Swallowtail Limerick Day
        • Colouring Book
      • 2019 World Swallowtail Day – REPORT
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      • Subfamily Baroniinae
      • Subfamily Papilioninae
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        • Macleay’s Swallowtail
        • Richmond Birdwing
        • Small Réunion Swallowtail: Papilio phorbanta
    • Biology
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      • Top Ten Threatened Species
        • Graphium levassori
        • Graphium sandawanum
        • Ceylon Rose: Atrophaneura jophon
        • Southern Tailed Birdwing: Ornithoptera meridionalis
        • Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing
        • Wallace’s Golden Birdwing: Ornithoptera croesus
        • Homer’s or Homerus Swallowtail: Papilio homerus
        • Papilio moerneri
        • Papilio aristophontes
        • Luzon Peacock Swallowtail: Papilio chikae
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  • World Swallowtail Day – 8th June 2025
SBBT » Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Why have you set up a new charity for swallowtails and birdwings?

Back in 1985 the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) published a Red Data Book that reviewed the conservation status of all 573 species of the butterfly family Papilionidae. A number of high priorities were identified, and an action plan was published in 1991, but action on the ground has been limited. In addition to being valued in their own right, swallowtails and birdwings are iconic and act as flagship species for broader conservation aims. We want to help initiate more projects at grass roots level.

  • In what ways do you help conservation?

We do four things: raise financial resources; convene networks and partnerships; catalyse action, and provide scientific and technical support.

  • Do you have staff and offices?

No, we are a small charity run entirely by our Trustees, who are all volunteers. We also have an excellent group of Honorary Advisers, each with special expertise that they make available to us from time to time.

  • What is your registered address?

Our registered address is c/o Hines Harvey Woods, Queens Head House, The Street, Acle, Norfolk NR13 3DY, UK. We collect mail from there.

  • How do you choose what species to help conserve?

In 1991 the IUCN Lepidoptera Specialist Group, now the IUCN Butterfly Specialist Group, published an Action Plan outlining 34 priorities. Most of these are just as relevant today and we are using these to explore future possibilities. In addition to this global view, we aim to support swallowtail and birdwing projects at the local level, where a particular species, perhaps common at the global level, may have special local significance.

  • Where in the world do you have projects?

One of our principle aims is to conserve Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing in Papua New Guinea. A new book has brought the situation up-to-date (see Publications). We have established and supported projects in Australia, Sabah, Fiji, Jamaica, Dominica and the UK. We have a pipeline of new projects and will update the website with information.

  • Do you give grants for projects?

In general, we are not in a position to fund unsolicited projects. However, we may be able to help you raise resources, and from time to time we will make small start-up grants. If you wish to propose a project it will be necessary to complete an SBBT project proposal form, which may be obtained from the Secretary.

  • What do you do in the UK?

We are a UK charity and our work is carried out from the UK. The UK has a single subspecies, the British Swallowtail, confined to the Norfolk Broads. It depends on Milk Parsley, Peucedanum palustre, as its foodplant. One of our interests is in introducing the subspecies to new wetland locations more secure from the effects of climate change, sea level rise and salinization.

  • Do you have members?

No, we don’t have a membership as this would be beyond our capacity at present.

  • Do you have a newsletter?

Yes, we produce a regular newsletter called Papilio!, which we send out every three or four months to all those who sign up to receive it.

  • How may I help your cause?

We raise funds for projects and basic overheads. We also encourage enthusiasts and experts to help us as Honorary Advisors and to step forward with project ideas. We are always looking for enthusiastic and committed new Trustees with particular skills such as communications, IT and finance.

  • How may I get in touch?

Just email us at info@sbbt.org.uk, or write to our registered address, Swallowtail and Birdwing Butterfly Trust, c/o Hines Harvey Woods, Queens Head House, The Street, Acle, Norfolk NR13 3DY, UK

Newsletter





    We want to keep you up to date!
    Sign up to hear from us and we’ll send you our free e-newsletter and keep you up to date with what’s happening at the Swallowtail & Birdwing Butterfly Trust, including news, campaigns and appeals. Don't worry, we take care of your data and never release it to third parties. See our Privacy Policy for details

    Latest News

    The Bhutan Glories: An update from Sonam Dorji

    29th May 2025

    Featured species: Papilio hornimani

    27th May 2025

    Thank you to outgoing chairman N. Mark Collins

    21st May 2025

    Focus on the False Apollo (Archon apollinus)

    7th May 2025

    African Giant Swallowtail (Papilio antimachus)

    21st March 2025

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    Our Mission

    The mission of the Swallowtail and Birdwing Butterfly Trust is to conserve and protect members of the Papilionidae, a worldwide family of more than 580 species that include the largest, most spectacular and most endangered butterflies on the planet.
     

    Aims

    SBBT aims to build the capacity of local people and organisations to achieve long-lasting conservation and sustainable change.

    Methods

    We achieve this in four ways: we raise financial resources; convene research networks and partnerships; catalyse action, and provide scientific and technical support to conservation projects.

    Wider Reach

    Our work is generally planned and executed in the context of wider butterfly faunas, their foodplants, and the ecosystems that they inhabit.

    Giving

    Financial contributions are welcome and will be treasured. We also need your ideas, new information, suggestions and encouragement!

    Donate Today

    What We Do

    We do four things to help swallowtails and birdwings: we raise financial resources; convene networks and partnerships; catalyse action, and provide scientific and technical support.

    Contact Us

    Send an email to info@sbbt.org.uk, or post a letter to SBBT, c/o Stephenson Smart, Queens Head House, The Street, Acle, Norwich NR13 3DY, UK

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    Papilio! Newsletter





      We want to keep you up to date!
      Sign up to hear from us and we’ll send you our free e-newsletter and keep you up to date with what’s happening at the Swallowtail & Birdwing Butterfly Trust, including news, campaigns and appeals. Don't worry, we take care of your data and never release it to third parties. See our Privacy Policy for details

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