Thank you to Tony for this report.

Richard Lewington, world-famous illustrator of butterflies and bugs of all sorts, is also President of the Abingdon Naturalists Society, and he gave a talk on Wednesday titled: “50 years as a Wildlife Illustrator … in 30 minutes”.

He spoke of his early years as a child wandering through the fields of North Abingdon, collecting birds’ eggs (now strictly forbidden) and sketching the insects he found. Later, when he became famous, he illustrated many field guides to butterflies, moths, damselflies and dragonflies, caterpillars, oak trees and other insects. He also designed British Royal mail stamps, and during his work, he met many important people like Sir David Attenborough. He showed a picture of his daughter Alex, next to an oak tree on the village green, planted from an acorn when she was born 33 years ago, and one of his granddaughter Florence, with an oak tree, planted from an acorn from Alex’s tree, when she was born 9 months ago. Abingdon Naturalists are lucky to have such a distinguished president. Steve Stevens was re-elected chairman at the meeting.

More about the Society at https://www.abnats.org.uk

More about Richard at https://www.richardlewington.co.uk/