Heath Fritillaries - Hockley Woods, Essex (Day Trip)

Summary

In a good year (they fluctuate!), Hockley Woods is one of the most reliable places in the south-east to find one of Britain’s rarest butterflies, Heath Fritillary. Re-established here some 30 years ago, they continue to thrive because of ride-side management aimed at securing their larval food plant, Common Cow-wheat. We will be looking for them at the peak of their flight season, which may also coincide with other woodland butterflies such as Silver-washed Fritillary, White Admiral and White-letter and Purple Hairstreaks. One of the largest continuous ancient woods in East Anglia, we will also be looking for everything else we can find, including the Cow-wheat Shield Bug at one of only two places which it occurs in Essex. Southern Wood Ants’ nests, again scarce in the county, are always fascinating and sometimes support the distinctive beetle Clytra quadripunctata, whose larvae are both predators and scavengers in the nests. Other interesting plants could include Wood Spurge, Enchanter’s Nightshade, Butcher’s-broom and Wild Service-tree, and a range of typical woodland birds includes Nuthatch, Treecreeper and woodpeckers.

We aim to walk 6km during the course of the day. If travelling by public transport, it is a 20-minute walk from Hockley railway station.

• Heath Fritillaries along secluded woodland rides
• Other butterflies may include White-letter Hairstreak, White Admiral and Silver-washed Fritillary
• An interesting array of insects and wildflowers
• Led by an expert all-round naturalist - Chris Gibson