Sunday 5th May:- Werneth Low
Target species:- Green Hairstreak
Time:- 10.30am to 2.00pm
Meeting Point:- Werneth Low Visitor Centre car-park SJ 960 936 at 10.30 am
Leader:- Phil Kinder - Tel: 0161 430 5107, Mobile: 07747481463, email: Phil Kinder

A good colony of Green Hairstreak is present on this site and given good conditions, the butterflies are usually easy to see and photograph. The walk is about 2.5 km, but does involve some short steep climbs and walking over rough/tussocky terrain, so suitable footwear is strongly recommended. Packed lunch/refreshment also recommended. Please let Phil have your contact details if you plan to come in case of late cancellation; alternatively, if the weather is awful on the day, contact him to determine whether the trip has been cancelled.

Saturday 11th May:- Llanymynech, between Montgomeryshire/Powys and Shropshire
Target species:- Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Grizzled and Dingy Skippers, Green Hairstreak
Time:- 11.00am to 2.00pm
Meeting Point:- See below
Leader:- Simon Spencer (Butterfly Conservation)

Simon has kindly offered to lead this trip. He has advised us that parking on site is very restricted so we will try to organise as much car sharing as possible with use of an off-site car park, probably in the village, and shuttle to the site using a couple of our vehicles. This means that we must know who is coming, so if you plan to join the trip it is imperative that you contact David Tomlinson (Tel: 01663 762596, Mobile: 07732785979, email: David Tomlinson about a week beforehand; please note that I will be out of the country until 4th May, so please phone or email as soon after that date as possible. Details of the meeting point will be given out on that basis.

Sunday 30th June:- Prees Heath, Shropshire
Target species:- Silver-studded Blue
Time:- 11.00am to 2.00pm
Meeting Point:- See below
Leader:- Malcolm Plant - Tel: 0161 483 3535, Mobile: 0776 444 9084, email: Malcolm Plant

Prees Heath lies between the A49 and A41, two miles south of Whitchurch. Take the A41 south of Whitchurch and turn onto the A49 at the roundabout. Proceed south for about a mile and take a track on your left at SJ 5567 3628. There is parking for about 15 cars just off the road; this is our meeting point. Prees Heath Common is now a major Butterfly Conservation reserve, where habitat reconstruction has been conducted to expand the area for Silver-studded Blue butterflies, which are present in large numbers. The continual activity makes it possible to see interactions with ants. We need walk only a few hundred yards on level ground and it will be possible to return to your car to collect refreshments. Please let Malcolm have your contact details if you plan to come in case of late cancellation; alternatively, if the weather is awful on the day, contact him to determine whether the trip has been cancelled.

Sunday 7th July:- Coombs Dale, Derbyshire
Target species:- Brown Argus & Dark Green Fritillary
Time:- 11.00am to 2.00pm
Meeting Point:- See below
Leader:- Tony Pioli (Tel: 01298 77815, Mobile: 07759890957) and David Tomlinson (Tel: 01663 762596, Mobile: 07732785979)

Coombs Dale runs from Stoney Middleton. There are two meeting points, depending on ease of parking. One leader will meet members on the slip road between A623 from Stoney Middleton & A625 at Calver (at SK 2381 7490). The other will be on the recreation ground about 100 metres north-west of that slip road, where there is parking for about 5 cars (at SK 2356 7506). After 1 km walk up the woodland dale an open grassy area is reached that usually has an abundance of butterflies. As well as the target species there have usually been sightings of Brimstone, Green-veined Whites (2nd brood), Common Blue, Meadow Brown, Small Heath, Large and Small Skippers (Essex Skipper is now making good progress into the Peak so all Small Skippers will be worth checking) and recently, Ringlets. In the past, on a few occasions, sightings of the extreme blue form of the female Common Blue have been possible as well as White-letter Hairstreak. Small Coppers are also possible. Moths that are often encountered include Shaded Broad-bar, Cinnabar, Wood Tiger and Six-spot Burnet (since the Burnet is double-brooded it is possible to see all stages of development at one time).
Generally, it is easy walking (no rocky outcrops to negotiate) with slight hillside gradients, refreshments will be required. Horseflies are troublesome – you are advised to bring insect repellent. Please let one of us know your contact details if you plan to come in case of late cancellation; alternatively, if the weather is awful on the day, contact us to determine whether the trip has been cancelled.

Sunday 14th July:- Chadkirk County Park
Target species:- White-letter Hairstreak, Purple Hairstreak
Time:- 10.30am to 1.30pm
Meeting Point:- Main car park adjacent to the A627 at SJ 936 896 at 10.30 am
Leader:- Phil Kinder - Tel: 1061 430 5107, Mobile: 07747481463, email: Phil Kinder

An easy walk of approximately 3 km to see White-letter Hairstreak that breed on several elms around the country park. We may also find Purple Hairstreak on oaks and other species nectaring in the wild-flower meadow. Please let Phil have your contact details if you plan to come in case of late cancellation; alternatively, if the weather is awful on the day, contact him to determine whether the trip has been cancelled.

Sunday 18th August:- Longstone Edge, Derbyshire.   Joint trip with East Midlands Branch.
Target species:- Wall Brown
Time:- 10.30am to 2.00pm
Meeting Point:- See below
Leader:- David Tomlinson - Tel: 01663 762596, Mobile: 07732785979, email: David Tomlinson

Longstone Edge is one of the few reamaining areas for Wall Brown in Derbyshire. We may also find Brown Argus (second brood) and some remaining Dark Green Fritillaries. we will meet up at 10.30 am in the Monsal Head Public Pay & Display Car Park (grid ref SK 185 715), where there are toilets and a café. We can then leave some cars there, and then fill up the remainder of the vehicles with members and then drive to nearby Longstone Edge (SK 200 730), where parking space is greatly restricted. As the Wall Brown is in serious decline, we would appreciate any members making notes of their observations of the females egg laying requirements and whether the males appear darker than normal at this location. Also any video clips of the butterfly would be appreciated as this may be of some use to the scientists who are trying to find out the reason for its decline. Please let David have your contact details if you plan to come in case of late cancellation; alternatively, if the weather is awful on the day, contact him to determine whether the trip has been cancelled.

Sunday 25th August:- Grafton Wood, Worcestershire
Target species:- Brown Hairstreak, Brown Argus (second brood), Silver-washed Fritillary
Time:- 11.00am to 2.00pm
Meeting Point:- See below
Leader:- David Tomlinson - Tel: 01663 762596, Mobile: 07732785979, email: David Tomlinson

Grafton Wood is the northernmost locality for Brown Hairstreak; it is also a magnificent tract of woodland, managed by Natural England in collaboration with Butterfly Conservation and is an excellent location for both Silver-washed Fritillary and White Admiral. This trip is planned specifically for Brown Hairstreak; there will be Silver-washed Frits still on the wing, though the White Admirals will almost certainly be over, so those of you who are interested may want to make an earlier visit under your own steam. Since this is a long-distance trip, we ask that those of you planning to go please contact David Tomlinson at least a week in advance – contact details above. This will enable some organisation of car sharing for those who need it and clear instructions about where to meet. For last minute deciders, we will meet in the churchyard at Grafton Flyford (just off the A422 Worcester to Alcester road), grid ref SO 9618 5570, BUT please note that we will move off across fields to the woodland, so advance knowledge of your arrival will help to rendezvous. We will walk approximately 2 km from the churchyard on level ground, which may be muddy, though the going is easy. Bring portable refreshments – it’s a long walk back to the cars.

Safety Code

As with any activity, there are hazards in the countryside and everyone taking part in a field trip has a responsibility (duty of care) for their own safety and that of others. When organising the field trips we take every care to ensure that our events present no greater hazard than any other walk in the countryside.

Please note the following:

Clothing: Wear appropriate clothing and footwear. If there are any special requirements they will be noted in the details. Stout shoes are a minimum requirement for any walk.

Sun Screen: At any time during the season you may have sunshine. Please take a hat, use sun cream or protection for exposed skin. Make sure you have enough liquid to drink.

Landscape Hazards: When following butterflies you are not always looking where you are heading. Be aware of any rabbit holes, barbed wire, fallen branches and logs and boggy areas.

Briefing: The leader will provide a briefing on the event before setting out, with details of any known hazards and will give advice on what to do in an emergency. Please let the leader know if you have a mobile phone and you are taking it with you. If you are leaving early make sure the leader knows.

Contact: Sometime before the event please contact the leader so we can get an idea of numbers. If you are uncertain about any details of the trip, telephone the leader or main contact in advance. There is always a telephone number given with the event details.