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This was a day trip to this beautiful ancient woodland, which is home to some very interesting wildlife, both flora and fauna. The guide was excellent with an encyclopedic knowledge of all things wild. It was the perfect day to see the Heath Fritillaries, one of the rarest butterflies in the country, plus many other bugs and insects. Naturetrek stole a march on the other wildlife travel companies by introducing these one day tours, which have proven to be very successful. They are the premier tour company in the field.
G.B. Essex, Jun 21
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Heath Fritillaries - Hockley Woods, Essex (Day Trip)
Tour Code: GBR221Enjoy a summer’s day in Hockley Woods with all-round naturalist Chris Gibson, looking for Heath Fritillaries, one of Britain’s rarest butterflies, and all the other woodland insects, plants and birds we can find.
1 days
from
£60
£60
Highlights
- 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
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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.
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Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?
For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.
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