Field Trips for 2022

April 2022

 

Sunday 24th April

New Forest: Matley Heath (SU332073)

Meet at 10:30am: Target Species: Emperor Moth

Leader Ashley Whitlock Tel: 02392 731266 Mob: 07752 812340

 Directions: On Junction 1 of the M27 find the sign to Cadham A337 and then onto Lyndhurst then take the B3056 to Matley Heath, parking there at Matley Passage, this is another look at the Emperor Moth following on from the success of the 2019 season. Please Bring Lunch

N.B. This venue may change at short notice due to car park being closed because of nesting birds in area.

 

May 2022

 

Sunday 1st May  

 Little Butser Hill/Pillow Mound (SU720205) Meet at 10:30am

Target Species: Duke of Burgundy, Grizzled Skipper, Cuckoo

Leader: Ashley Whitlock Tel: 02392 731266 Mob: 07752 182340

Directions: From the (A3) motorway, Butser Hill is well signposted, come off of motorway at Clanfield; look for the telecommunications tower on top of the hill, meet at the Butser Hill car-park where there is a charge. A chance to visit another area of Butser Hill  where there is a substantial colony of Duke of Burgundies, a walk from the car-park with Skylarks and Buzzards, this has spectacular views over towards Ashford Hill and the Meon Valley. Very steep in places, and bring Lunch as we will be visiting another part of Butser in the afternoon.

 

 

Sunday 8th May

Beacon Hill Exton & Stephen’s Castle Down (SU605227 & SU560200)

Meet at 09:30am Target Species: Duke of Burgundy, Brown Argus & Green Hairstreak

Leader Ashley Whitlock Tel: 02392 731266 Mob: 07752 812340

There is no parking at Stephens Castle Down so a car will have to ferry field trippers to the site from Beacon Hill. Please note the time of meeting as the ferry service will take some time! Please Bring Lunch

 

 

Sunday 15th May

New Forest: New Copse Inclosure and Lymington River SU315024)

 Meet at 10:30am Target species: Pearl Bordered Fritillary

Leader Ashley Whitlock Tel: 02392 731266 mob 07752 812340

Directions: Follow the A337 from Lyndhurst approaching Balmer Lawn go left and follow the B3055 underneath Railway Bridge for about a mile. Car Park for Ivy Wood is clearly marked as you head south east, close to the Pig Hotel.  We can walk along the Lymington River in the afternoon for dragonflies and other invertebrates…. Please Bring Lunch

 

 

Wednesday 18th May

(West Wood/Pitt Down) Farley Mount (SU435295)

Meet at 10:30am: Target Species: Duke of Burgundy Pearl-Bordered Fritillary

Leader: Ashley Whitlock Tel: 02392 731266 Mob: 07752 182340

Directions: Well signposted along the old Roman Road known as the Sarem Road from Winchester, the area has many car-parks, but park at the Pitt Down car-park known as Spindle Tree Car-Park.   Please Bring Lunch

 

 

Sunday 22nd May

Stockbridge Down (SU380350) Meet at 10:30am

Target Species: Duke of Burgundy, Pearl-Bordered Fritillary,  

Leader Ashley Whitlock Tel: 02392 731266 Mob: 07752 812340

Directions: On the A272 from Winchester in the East, Stockbridge Down is 6 miles from the city centre. Good parking on both sides of the road. Please if you can park in the Eastern car-park nearest to Winchester, if possible. If not we will meet by the side of the road between the car parks. Good walks around the area. Please Bring Lunch

 

 

Thursday 26th May

Martin Down & Kitts Grave (SU045195) Meet at 10:30am

Target Species: Marsh Fritillary, Adonis Blue, and good Flora & Fauna

 Leader: Ashley Whitlock Tel: 02392 731266 Mob: 07752 182340

Directions: Approach the site from the A354 look for the signpost for Blandford Forum; car-park is a mile or so from the turning off from Martin village on the Fordingbridge road along the B3078. A large tract of open chalk-grassland, with good species of butterflies and moths, including Adonis Blue, Small Blue, with good flora and fauna and excellent birds, and wildflowers. Bring Lunch we may well look for the Duke of Burgundy near to the other car-park in the afternoon.

 

June 2022

 

Wednesday 1st June

 Bentley Wood (SU260300) Meet at 10:30am

Target Species:   Marsh Fritillary, Small Pearl-Bordered Fritillary, Argent and Sable Moth

Leader Ashley Whitlock Tel: 02392 731266 Mob: 07752 812340

Directions: from the West Dean Village from Romsey in the East, approach from the West via Salisbury to East Grimstead, from the north and south can be found from the M3 via Winchester/Stockbridge, along the A30 to Winterslow all well signposted. Good invertebrates and birdlife. Please Bring Lunch

 

 

Sunday 5th June

  Coulters Dean (SU747230) Meet at 10:30am

Target Species: Green Hairstreak, excellent Orchids    

 Leader- Ashley Whitlock Tel: 02392 731266 Mob: 07752 182340

Directions: The site is the same car-park as for Head Down or Holt down, follow the A3 signposted Buriton, and follow the road known as Greenway lane to the Village Inn then turn sharply right into Kiln Lane (narrow road) under Railway Bridge and car-park is in front of you. A small reserve within the confines of Queen Elizabeth Country Park, no parking at the site but park at Head Down car-Park with a walk to the site, excellent Cowslip and good Dingy and Grizzled Skipper with Green Hairstreak. Please bring lunch

 

 

Sunday 26th June

Broxhead Common (SU805376) Meet at 13:30pm

Target Species: Silver-Studded Blue

Leader: Ashley Whitlock Tel 02392 731266 Mob: 07752 182340

Directions: Follow the main road A 325 north or south until you reach Bordon camp go right follow the Lindford road signposted Lindford /Headley. Broxhead Common can be found the first left as you go along the B3004. See signpost for Broxhead Common Nature Reserve Park in the cricket ground.

 

 

 

Wednesday 29th June

Danebury Hill Fort (SU323376) Meet at 10:30am

Target Species: Dark Green Fritillary, Possible Wall Brown

Leader: Ashley Whitlock Tel: 02392 731266 Mob: 07752 182340

Directions: A Old Ancient Hill Fort West of Stockbridge: If approaching from the east on the B3049 find Stockbridge or the A3057 from the south or north, follow signs for the A30 west until you see a sign for Danebury Hill, follow Kentsboro Road heading North West and turn west for the car-park. Please bring lunch

 

 

 July 2022

 

 

Sunday 3rd July

 West Wood/Pitt Down - Farley Mount (SU435295)

Meet at 09:30am

Target Species, Purple Emperor, Silver-Washed Fritillary (Valezina)

Dark Green Fritillary on Pitt Down

Leader - Ashley Whitlock Tel- 02392 731266 Mob: 07752 182340

Directions: Well signposted along the old Roman Road known as the Sarem Road from Winchester, the area has many car-parks, but park at the Pitt Down car-park known as Spindle Tree Car-Park.   Please Bring Lunch

 

 

Wednesday 6th July

Whiteley Pastures / Botley Wood (SU530095)

Meet at 09:30am

Target Species: Purple Emperor, Purple Hairstreak, White Admiral

  Leader - Ashley Whitlock Tel- 02392 731266 Mob: 07752 182340

Approach from the West or East on the M27, and at (Junction 9 Solent Business Park) drive towards the Whitley Outlet Village. At the Solent Business Park meet in the car-park (Marks and Spencer’s) opposite (3 hours maximum free-before payment) of the Whitley Outlet Village. A walk around one of the best woods in Hampshire for Silver-Washed and White Admiral butterflies. Please bring lunch

 

 

Sunday 10th July

Pamber Forest  & Silchester Common (SU616621)

Meet at 09:30am

Target Species Purple Emperor, White Admiral,

Silver-Washed Fritillary

Leader-Ashley Whitlock Tel- 02392 731266 Mobile 07752 182340

 You can join us for the full day (bring lunch) or for just the morning or the afternoon.  Meet at the car park at Impstone Road, Pamber Heath at 10.30 a.m. for the morning walk and 2 p.m. for the afternoon walk. 

 

 

Wednesday 13th July

  West Harting Down (SU737157) Meet 09:30am

Meet at 09:30am: Target Species: Purple Emperor, Silver-Washed Fritillary, Dark-Green Fritillary, and Hummingbird Hawk Moth

Leader Ashley Whitlock Tel: 02392 731266 Mob: 07752 812340

Directions: Follow signs from the A3 motorway for the Village of Chalton, turn left at the Red Lion Inn and then over Railway bridge where there is limited parking at the side of the road going up to Ditchem Park School. Following on from the success in the 2015 and 2018 season where the Purple Emperor was seen at least twice on two occasions, plenty of good flora and fauna for the wildflower connoisseur. Buddleias on the ride side verges were packed with Comma, Peacock, and Small Tortoiseshells on past field trips. . Please Bring Lunch

 

 

Sunday 17th July

  Creech Wood (SU640110) Meet at 09:30am

Target Species: Purple Emperor, Silver-washed Fritillary, White Admiral

Leader Ashley Whitlock Tel: 02392 731266 Mobile: 07552 182340

Directions: Follow the A27 Motorway east then north along the A3 until signposted Waterlooville at Junction (3) then follow the B2150 and over four roundabouts until you see a sign for Denmead/Hambledon Road. Turn Left onto Bunkers Hill and the wood will be in front of you. Car-park is on the left.

 

 

August 2022

 

 

Sunday 14th August

Noar Hill / Selborne Hill Meet 10:30am

Brown Hairstreak, Brown Argus, Clouded Yellow, good flora and fauna

Leader - Ashley Whitlock Tel- 02392 731266 Mobile 07752 182340

A look around the Noar Hill site for the elusive Brown Hairstreak, and other interesting invertebrates, especially in the set-aside fields on the North-East side of Noar Hill, in the morning and please bring lunch as in the afternoon we walk over to Selborne Common, on the way looking at the Blackthorn hedges for any indication that the Brown Hairstreak is not confined to Noar Hill. On Selbourne Hill we shall also be looking again for the Brown Hairstreak, where it has been noted from this site in the past.  Park on the small road alongside Charity farm marked on the (OS Map Explorer 133)

 

 

Wednesday 17th August

Shipton Bellinger (SU222465) Meet at 09:30 am:

Target Species: Brown Hairstreak, Wall Brown

Leader: Ashley Whitlock Tel: 02392 731266 Mob: 07752 182340

Directions: Meet at the Village Hall car-park, and then it is straight walk up to the Blackthorn thickets, where hopefully Brown Hairstreaks will be observed. From the A303 (T) the main Amesbury to Andover road, look for the A338 Shipton Bellinger/Tidworth road, this road goes underneath the main road of the A303 (T). The village of Shipton Bellinger is 2-3 miles on the left on the A338. Bring lunch as we will visit another site in the afternoon

 

 

Sunday 21st August

  Broughton Down (SU294327) Meet at 10:30am

 Target Species: Adonis Blue & Silver-Spotted Skipper

Leader: Ashley Whitlock Tel: 02392 731266 Mob: 07752 182340

Directions: From Romsey follow the A3057 north for signs to Spearywell, from B3084 follow north until you see a sign for Broughton.  Turn left along a rough track Broughton Down is in front of you. Or from A343/A30 from the north follow A30 until you see a sign for the B3084 for Broughton. Please Bring Lunch

 

 

Wednesday 24th August

Butser Hill (SU712205) Meet at 10:30am

 Target Species: Adonis Blue & Clouded Yellow

Leader Ashley Whitlock Tel: 02392 731266 mob 07752 812340

Directions: Follow the signs from the A3 turnoff for Clanfield and then on towards signs for Butser Hill. There is a large mast on the top of the hill, park in the car-park where there is a charge. This will be a strenuous walk taking in the views on the way. With very uneven steep slopes not for the feint hearted. . Please Bring Lunch

 

 

Wednesday 31st August

Beacon Hill NNR (SU605227) Meet at 10:30am

Target Species: Silver Spotted Skipper, Adonis Blue, Clouded Yellow

Leader: Ashley Whitlock Tel:02392 731266 mob 07752 812340

Directions: Located just of the A32 the Wickham road from the south drive through Droxford village, and Corhampton Villages, then turn immediately left into the village of Exton (Easily missed) Past the public house called the Shoe Inn and along the narrow tracks up to Beacon Hill, to where the car-park is. Please bring lunch

 

September 2022

 

Sunday 4th September

Old Winchester Hill (SU640208) Meet at 10:30am

Meet at 10:30am: Target Species: Adonis Blue, Silver-Spotted Skipper, & Clouded Yellow

Leader Ashley Whitlock Tel: 02392 731266 mob 07752 812340

Directions: The reserve can be found from the north through West Meon on the A32 well-marked as a NNR Reserve, also from the south throughout the village of Droxford, again along the A32, very steep hillsides in places. Please Bring Lunch

 

 

 

Wednesday 7th September

Portsdown Hill (SU) Meet at 10:30am

Meet at 10:30am: Target Species: Possible Brown Hairstreak, Clouded Yellow, Small Copper Flora and Fauna

Leader Ashley Whitlock Tel 02392 731266 MOB 07752 82340

Directions: Directions: From the (A3) south into Portsmouth look for sign for Queen Drive towards Fort Widley. From the M27 find Junction 12 Southampton road (A3) then signposted to Queen Alexandria Hospital along London Road turn left at traffic lights, past hospital Alexandria Hospital. Southwick Hill Road very steep up to B2177 onto James Callahan drive roundabout then head east where the car-park is situated on the left hand side as you steep hill look for James Callahan Roundabout and follow signs for Fort Widley where the car park is on the left hand side.

 De-brief on the 2022 season in the Churchillian public house

 

Message from the field trip co-ordinator

Depending on the Covid state is whether these Field Trips go ahead

Footnote:  If the weather looks inclement then please phone the leader of the field trip advertised. I will personally change the date of my field trips if the long range weather suggests the weather is going to be wet and windy, on the Hants Butterfly website page a few days before and also on the Hampshire Butterfly Facebook page and my website, Ashley Whitlock Butterflies and Moths at

http//:www.purple-emperor.co.uk