Podcast Episode 11: The Orange-tip

Episode 11 finds us on a bright spring day sitting by a stream with Matthew Oates. Matthew, a remarkable field naturalist and author, has spent his lockdown winter dreaming of springtime at Knepp and the first glimpse he might have of the exotic-looking orange-tip butterfly. We talk about this heart-lifting harbinger of spring, its life-cycle and foodplants, and why Matthew would pick the orange-tip over gramophone records as a desert island companion.

This podcast wouldn’t have been possible without the support of some very talented people so many thanks go to: Lia Brazier for the beautiful artwork, Mat Davidson for the wonderful music and the fantastic Ian Bunn for his patient editing skills.

And huge thanks, of course, to Matthew himself, with whom I never stop learning.

Left: orange-tip male with his beautiful orange flashes. Right: orange-tip female and her snow-white wings. Images copyright: Matthew Oates.

For more information about Matthew and his publications please take a look at his website

Follow Matthew on Twitter @MatthewOates76

Left to right: pretty orange-tip eggs on cuckooflower; an orange-tip larvae; an orange-tip chrysalis. Images copyright: Matthew Oates.