Butterflies of Crofton and Sparrow Woods

The woods, and woodland edges, provide an excellent habitat for butterflies particularly speckled woods, like the one above. 

The UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme depends on volunteers to track the butterfly population. Idverde worked with the scheme to set up a transect - a set walking path - around Crofton and Sparrow Woods. In 2020 the Friends of Crofton and Sparrow Woods volunteered to walk the transect weekly to record the butterflies seen. More volunteers are needed to undertake this task - between March and September each year.

In 2020 the transect was walked regularly from mid summer, and 16 species were identified. 

For 2021 we have a full year of data from two set walking circuits that run throughout the woodland and recreation ground. Each route is walked weekly, and the number of butterflies seen along the route have been recorded.  This has been an excellent summer for butterflies, and our records for the year to end of August reveal a grand total of 21 species. In order of number seen they were: meadow brown,  large white, peacock, brimstone, ringlet, speckled wood,  gate keeper, small white, green veined white, orange tip, comma, silver washed fritillary, holly blue, red admiral, white admiral, small copper, purple hairstreak, Essex Skipper and painted lady.

We've put photographs in our gallery. 

Email us if you'd like to be on the list for an invitation for one of our free butterfly walks in 2022. 

We are also looking for people to help out providing cover when our 'weekly walkers' are on holiday.