See the spectacle
for yourself
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1 St Catherine’s Hill Nature Reserve, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust This stunning chalk downland is a haven for 25 species of butterfly, including chalkhill blues and the brown argus. Despite its name, this small brown butterfly is one of the blues, a beautiful blue sheen on the males in sunlight. Where: Winchester, SO23 9PA 2 Arreton Down Nature Reserve, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust The wide variety of wildflowers on Arreton Down have helped make it a hotspot for butterflies, particularly blues. Tens of thousands of chalkhill blues can be seen here, in addition to Adonis blues and the increasingly scarce dingy skipper (which isn’t in the blue family). Where: Newport, PO33 3AA 3 Knighton Down Nature Reserve, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust Panoramic views across the Island and a rugged chalk downland unchanged for centuries make this site spectacular. Look for the electric blue of male Adonis blues or spring caterpillars feeding on horseshoe vetch. Where: Knighton, PO36 0NT
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he blue butterflies are some of our most dazzling and endearing insects; winged gems that come alive in the spring or summer sunlight and dance from flower to flower. They shimmer in shades of blue and silver, though a few of the UK’s nine resident species are misleadingly brown. Some of these butterflies are now only found in the few places their favoured habitat remains. Many of these areas are now nature reserves, protected by The Wildlife Trusts. Some, however, can be seen more widely: common blues emerge around May and fly over many grasslands, including road verges, and holly blues appear around April to flutter through parks and gardens. Your best chance of spotting butterflies is on a calm, sunny day.
4 Noar Hill Nature Reserve, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust This swathe of beautiful chalk grassland is a brilliant spot for blues. You can find chalkhill, small and common blues, splashes of colour within the landscape. Where: Alton, GU34 3LW 5 Daneway Banks, Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust This wonderful wildflower meadow is regarded as one of the best places in the world to see the rare large blue, which was once extinct in the UK. Where: Near Sapperton, GL7 6LN 6 Malling Down, Sussex Wildlife Trust Adonis blue and chalkhill blue butterflies dance over the sun-kissed slopes of this flower-rich chalk grassland, where small blues can also be discovered. Where: Near Lewes, BN7 2RJ
Did you discover any butterflies ? When spotting butterflies, please be sure to follow Government guidance on social distancing and stay local. And remember to tweet us your best photos! @hantsiwwildlife
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