The Cotswolds - Exploring the Painswick Valley (Day Trip)

Summary

The day will be spent exploring some fabulous unimproved grassland sites and Beech woodlands surrounding the Painswick Valley. Starting the day on Rudge Hill, we will take in the fabulous views out over the Cotswolds towards the town of Painswick and search for a range of orchids, butterflies and birds. Throughout the season, an array of special species can be found here but arguably the site is best known for its helleborines which tend to flower in late June, July and into August though each season can be different with the timings of course. At this site we have a chance to enjoy White, Broad-leaved, Green-flowered, Narrow-lipped and possibly even Violet Helleborine! A range of butterflies may include Silver-washed and Dark Green Fritillary while a host of other flowers and plants can be enjoyed including Dyer’s Greenweed, Rest-Harrow, Common Scabious, Lady’s Bedstraw, Fairy Flax, Horseshoe Vetch and Rock-rose to name but a few. Moving into August the final orchid of the season can be found nearby, the Autumn Lady's Tresses, and Chalk Hill Blue butterflies will be on the wing. The day will be split across two sites and after our explorations at Rudge Hill and a lunch stop at the Edgemoor Inn, we will drive the short distance to Painswick Beacon. Here we will enjoy a varied walk in woodland and open grassland, visiting the Iron Age hill fort and taking in the far-reaching views. As we explore we may enjoy Cuckoo, Redstart and Tree Pipit with Skylarks often overhead and Spotted Flycatcher in the woodlands while later in the season in August, Whinchats, Yellow Wagtails and Wheatears pass through. The day will cover a broad range of natural history and across the day we will walk around 6-7 miles with a short drive between the sites. Our meeting point, the Edgemoor Inn, is a classic Cotswold pub and the day will be broken with the chance for refreshments here for those who wish.