What butterflies can we find in Tisbury and surrounding areas?
Photo and text: Adonis Blue female (Peter Shallcross)
Where to go to find butterflies locally Living in or near Tisbury we are fortunate to be able to see most of our species of butterflies without going far. Here are a few of the best places. Also see ‘Wildflowers’ in this series, for lots more excellent sites to visit.
The Community Field in Tisbury In and around the community field by the Nadder Centre there you can see up to 17 species of butterflies, including the rare White-letter hairstreak on the elm trees. The best time of year to see the most species is during June and July before the hay is taken. Marbled Whites, Meadow Browns, Ringlets, Small Skippers and Common Blues are the most numerous but migrant species turn up as well, for example the Clouded Yellow.
Grovely Wood From the Roman Road in Grovely wood and along rides leading off it, you can see most of our woodland butterfly species.
During April and May, Commas, Small Tortoiseshells, Peacocks, Speckled Woods, Large Skippers can be found, as well as the possibility of Duke of Burgundy and Marsh Fritillaries. On the downland on the southern edge of the wood both Grizzled and Dingy Skippers are found as well as Small Heaths and Brown Argus.
Summer during late June through to mid-July is the best time to see Silver-washed and Dark-green Fritillaries along with White Admirals, with the chance of a Purple Emperor.
White-Letter Hairstreaks have been seen on the solitary remaining large elm tree in Middle Hills. More elms have been planted by Forestry England so hopefully the butterfly will remain. If visiting on a warm evening during Mid-July it’s possible to see Purple Hairstreaks chasing each other around the tops of the oak trees.
Swallowcliffe Down (Grid Ref.: ST 977 259) and Fovant Down (Grid Ref.: SU 002 266) These downs are North facing and amongst the scrubby fringes in May can be found Duke of Burgundy as well as Small Blues, Grizzled and Dingy Skippers and Marsh Fritillaries along with a good number of other, commoner species.
Ebbesbourne, Prescombe Downs and Gallows Hill These are South facing and favoured by more heat-loving species such as Adonis Blues and Dark-green Fritillaries as well as the more common species.
Wardour Woods The sunlit ridges of these woods and the hedged tracks leading to them are good for a range of species including small numbers of White Admirals.
Great Ridge Wood The diverse habitats of this wood with its large open areas and rides with varied aspects to provide shelter in different wind directions is good for a wide range of species including most woodland and several downland species. Purple Emperors are present if elusive.