Butterfly Conservation - saving butterflies, moths and the environment
Butterfly Conservation
40 years of saving butterflies, moths and our environment
   Cambridgeshire and Essex Branch

GAZETTEER

This is where you can find out about some of the best spots in and around Cambridgeshire and Essex for seeing butterflies.
The list is by no means exhaustive and if you can recommend any other good sites with public access,
with your suggestions and details.

Locations have been given using the National Grid Reference system, which is explained on each Ordnance Survey map.
A more detailed explanation can be found by visiting the OS website here.
When visiting a site, we recommend the use of an Ordnance Survey map; the Explorer series (1:25,000) is recommended although the Landranger series (1:50,000) will be adequate for most.

Red dot

Place mouse over the red locations for the site name and left click for details

  
Map of the Branch Area


Barnack Hills & Holes Bedford Purlieus Belfairs Wood Brampton Wood Castor Hanglands Chettisham Meadow Copperas Wood Devil's Dyke Dunmow Railway Cutting Fingringhoe Wick Fleam Dyke Friday Wood Glapthorn Cow Pastures Hadleigh Castle CP Hatfield Forest Hockley Woods Langdon Hills Markshall Wood Monks Wood Orwell Clunch Pit Pound Wood Roman Road Stour Wood Therfield Heath Thrift Wood Wicken Fen Woodwalton Marsh
Where to See Individual Butterflies
NOTABLE SPECIESSITES
Chalkhill BlueDevil's DykeBarnack Hills & HolesFleam DykeTherfield Heath 
Black HairstreakBedford PurlieusBrampton WoodMonks WoodCastor HanglandsGlapthorn
Heath FritillaryThrift WoodHockley WoodBelfairs WoodPound Wood 
White AdmiralBrampton WoodFriday WoodMonks WoodStour WoodBelfairs Wood
Grizzled SkipperLangdon HillsMonks WoodWoodwalton Marsh  
Dingy SkipperDevil's Dyke    
Wall BrownOuse Washes NE of Mepal - but no longer reliable anywhere inland; the Essex coast sea walls may offer best chance
Silver-washed Fritillary*Markshall WoodHatfield ForestBedford PurlieusBrampton Wood 
Purple HairstreakBrampton WoodCopperas WoodFingringhoe WickLangdon HillsMonks Wood
Green HairstreakDevil's DykeFriday WoodFleam Dyke  
White-letter HairstreakHadleigh Castle CPMonks WoodFriday WoodDevil's DykeHockley Wood
Marbled WhiteHadleigh Castle CPBarnack HillsChettisham MeadowTherfield Heath 
* now thought to be established at several sites, having previously been only occasionally sighted



When to See Individual Butterflies

Flight Times Chart