Jesmond Harding is author of “Discovering Irish Butterflies & their Habitats” published in 2008 and ‘The Irish Butterfly Book’ published in December 2021. He has had articles reproduced in various periodicals including the Irish Naturalists’ Journal, Peatland News (Irish Peatland Conservation Council), Wings (BirdWatch Ireland) and the online nature magazine Wildlife Extra. He featured in the third series of “Living the Wildlife” (episode 2) and “The Burren: Heart of Stone” (episode 1).

Harding was part of the expert group that drew up the red list for Irish butterflies in 2010. He is a member of the Irish Peatland Conservation Council, Burrenbeo Trust, and a founding member of Butterfly Conservation Ireland. He gives talks on butterflies and advises on habitat creation and management and is currently involved with several Lepidoptera recording programmes.

He is a member of the co-ordination committee for the Butterfly Atlas Project 2017-2021, promotes the establishment of a new national park in Kildare and East Offaly, and works with the Burrenbeo Conservation Volunteers to manage limestone habitats. Jesmond manages Butterfly Conservation Ireland’s reserve in County Kildare and Butterfly Conservation Ireland’s website.

This talk will be of importance to anyone with an interest in the richness of Ireland’s flora, fauna and its diverse ecosystems and the threats to their survival from climate change and habitat depletion. From it audiences can also learn how to develop butterfly-friendly strategies that will will help protect these magnificent creatures for future generations to enjoy.