East Midlands Field Trips 2024
These field trips are a great way to learn about butterflies and their habitat, help with identification will be available and there will also be photographic opportunities. Walks are open to anyone to attend. Please check the weather conditions and come suitably prepared.
IMPORTANT. All walks must be pre-booked (with the exception of the Hoe Grange event) with the leader of the walk. This is essential so the leader can inform you if the walk is cancelled for any reason. Also, all walks will be limited to a maximum of 12 participants. If you arrive at a venue without booking, you could be turned away if the number of participants has reached its maximum.
Field Trips 2024Bingham Linear Park
Nottinghamshire
Sunday 19th May
Meet at 10.00am at the bridge on Tithby Road in Bingham (grid ref SK 701393). Approx NG13 8GP.
Target Species: Spring butterflies - hopefully Grizzled Skipper.
Wear stout walking boots or shoes as the ground is rough.
No toilets or facilities so bring your own drink or snack.
The walk is about 6 km and takes approx 2 hours.
Contact: Jenny Craig 07979 355413
Longstone Edge
Derbyshire
Sunday 26th May
I propose meeting at 10.30am at the big layby Grid Ref SK 199 730 on the single-track road that leaves Great Longstone on the left, just at the RHS bend in the village coming from Monsal Head. The St Crispin pub is just beyond this. If you see this you have gone too far!
This is a meet suitable for those who have difficulty getting around as the walking is very short and easy.
There are no conveniences
Last year was very good for all our target species so we can only hope for a repeat performance!
Target Species: - We hope to see Green Hairstreak and Wall Brown if they are out, but also other spring butterflies.
Contact: John & Sylvia Green 07760 136369
Ketton Quarry
Rutland
Saturday 1st June
Meet at 10.00am in the small car park off Pit Lane in Ketton (SK 978 054).
There are some steep slopes so stout footwear recommended.
There are no facilities at this site.
Target Species: Dingy & Grizzled Skippers, Green Hairstreak, Liquorice-piercer and Orange-tailed Clearwing Moth.
Contact Melanie Penson via email: harfangneige2018@gmail.com
Chee Dale and Mosely Bank
(Derbyshire)
Saturday 15 June
Meet at 10.30am in the large lay-by off the A6 at Topley Head, SK 112 725, where there is ample free parking.
Although this walk is relatively short (about 1.5km), there are several steep slopes and rocky terrain so supportive footwear is strongly recommended.
There are no facilities at this site.
Target Species: Cistus Forester and Six-belted Clearwing Moths and Peak District Race Brown Argus. There is a possibility of Dark-green Fritillary. There are also some rare and scarce plants to see, including one endemic to Derbyshire.
Contact Melanie Penson via email: harfangneige2018@gmail.comBagworth Heath Woods Country Park
(Leicestershire)
Tuesday 2 July
Meet at 11.00am in the carpark, Grid Ref: SK 457068
Target Species: Marbled White and other summer butterflies.
Bagworth Heath Woods is located off Heath Road, approximately 0.6 miles south of Bagworth towards Merry Lees and Desford, in West Leicestershire.
This 75 hectare (185 acre) Country Park has been transformed from the scarred industrial landscape of Desford Colliery into a valuable recreational resource. Owned and managed by Leicestershire County Council, Bagworth Heath Woods is made up of woodland, grassland heathland, lakes and ponds. There is a network of grass and surfaced paths through varied habitats.
There is a free car park at Heath Road Bagworth, LE67 1DL, but no toilet facilities.
Contact Eliot Taylor: 0116 2871677Hoe Grange Quarry
Longcliffe, Derbyshire – SK222560
Sunday 7th July
This event does not require advance booking
The 6th Open Day for Derbyshire’s first Butterfly Reserve
From 11.00am to 4.00pm.
Members of Butterfly Conservation East Midlands, including Ray Walker (Hon Warden) together with Pat and Ken Orpe (Derbyshire Butterfly Recorder) and other volunteers, will be able to show visitors around this restored limestone quarry where already 32 species of butterflies have been recorded including Dark Green Fritillary and the Peak District version of the Brown Argus. It will also be possible to see the work that many volunteers have done to enhance the habitat so as to increase the biodiversity at the site. The Information Centre will be open containing charts showing what has been recorded on the site.
Longcliffe Quarries will be offering refreshments and providing toilet facilities.
Please: No Dogs
Car Parking
This will be at Curzon Lodge (DE4 4HN) which is situated down the hill towards Grangemill from the crossroads in Longcliffe village. Mini buses will then take visitors direct into Hoe Grange Quarry.
Contact: Ken Orpe ken@malaga.plus.com
Coombs Dale
Derbyshire
Wednesday 24 July
Meet at 10.00am at the bottom of the Dale by the playing field where there is a parking area - SK236751. It is on the A623 towards Stoney Middleton. There is also parking around Calver Crossroads.
Target species: Dark-Green Fritillary, Brown Argus and other summer butterflies
Morning walk finishes around 12.30pm. Facilities available in nearby pub and cafe.
Contact: Al Roberts: 07752 675363
Belper Private Butterfly NR
Derbyshire
Sunday 28 July
Meet 11.00am. Parking will be signposted at Grid Ref: SK 36554 49188
Target species: Wall Brown, skippers, Small Copper, Small Tortoiseshell, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and other summer butterflies
Please wear sensible footwear as there is some uneven ground.
The walk is on mown paths through interesting meadow and hedgerow habitat.
The reserve has been developed since the owners took over the site in 2009 and consists of two paddocks extending over a couple of acres. These have been developed / rewilded to suit various butterfly species of which 25 have been recorded so far. The last 6 years have seen the arrival of Common Blue, Wall Brown, Essex Skipper, Ringlet, Brown Argus and Dingy Skipper.
Toilets will be available if required in the owners’ home.
The walking will be mindful rather than strenuous although the land is on a slight gradient. There will be plenty of opportunity to reduce the distance walked if required. It should take around an hour and a half to 2 hours in total.
Afterwards you are welcome to join us for tea and cake.
Contact Nigel Davidson: 07799 656439
Pleasley Pit Country Park
(Derbyshire/Nottinghamshire)
Sunday 4 August
Meet at the Pit Head Cafe (NG19 7PH) at 10:45am. Walk to start at 11am.
Top car park (at the pit) shuts at 2.00pm. Bottom car park (SK499642) at the entrance to Local Nature Reserve is open 24/7.
From the M1 Junction 29 follow the signs for Mansfield A617. Go through Bramley Vale, then Glapwell and continue towards Mansfield on the A617. At the first large roundabout take the 4th exit into Pleasley village and after 120 yards take a right turn into Pit Lane and drive up the hill into the car park. If people want to park at the bottom car park (two-minute walk to the pit) they would then have plenty of time to visit other parts of the LNR which is excellent for orchids, other wildflowers and birds.
Walk to last roughly hour and a half to two hours.
Café and toilets open from 10.00am to 2.00pm.
Target Species: countryside butterflies, and early dragonflies.
Contact: Willy Lane: 07790 000770