PRESIDENT Joan opened our March meeting and welcomed the ladies present.

Notices were read and put on display.

This month there were three birthdays; Joan presented each lady with a birthday card, and happy birthday was sung.

We still need members to take part in the County quiz; first round to be held on Thursday, March 19, 2015.

The theme for Stroud Show will be five bags, to be any size, each made with various crafts.

We have received an invitation for one WI member to attend a special WI Centenary Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in the presence of HRH The Duchess of Cornwall on June 2, 2015.

A draw will take place to choose one member to attend.

Suggestions are needed for our August outing.

At our April meeting the competition will be a hand made Easter card.

Names are needed for members wishing to attend Randwick for tea after the baton ceremony.

It was then time for Joan to introduce our speakers Sue Smith and Sue Dobbs; subject of talk Butterfly Adventures in Norfolk and the Lake District.

The screen and slides were set up and we viewed lovely scenery and various rare butterflies all under conservation.

The first stop was at How Hill near the Norfolk Broads.

At the Norfolk Wild Life Trust they saw a rare butterfly, the Swallow Tail, the species is now so rare down to one per cent.

The next stop was Kinkley Park where we viewed a large hairy caterpillar.

They continued their journey to the Southern Lake District, there we viewed a large striped red and

black caterpillar commonly called the soldier, they eat ragwort.

In Cumbria we saw the Mountain Ringlet butterfly, brown with orange rings on its wings, this is the only true mountain species in England, they like cool conditions.

The journey continued on to the Arnside Knott hill, where we saw the High Brown Fritillary butterfly which lays its eggs on bracken, also the Northern Brown Argus which is brown with rows of orange spots.

On their journey they saw many interesting plants.

All of these butterflies have become very rare indeed, we were privileged to view them.

Tricia Bates gave a vote of thanks for a very fascinating talk about these very rare butterflies.

We then enjoyed a chat and coffee.

We meet the second Wednesday in the month at 10.30am at the Congregational Church, Bedford Street, Stroud, Glos.

Please come and visit us, you would be made most welcome.