Field Trips
Field trips are for everyone. Walks have been arranged across both counties at a variety of interesting sites, aiming to see target species associated with each location at the optimum time in the season.
These field trips can be enjoyed by everyone, whether butterfly-novice or expert. Photographers, children (with adult supervision) and first-time field trippers - you are all welcome! Please wear suitable footwear, and bring a drink and a packed lunch.
Rough ground over fields and woods could, most regrettably, make access difficult for those with mobility issues. Please check with the walk leader if in doubt.
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The Hampshire programme is organised by Ashley Whitlock, Tel: 07752 182340, ashleywhitlock747@gmail.com
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The Isle of Wight programme is organised by Kay Shaw, Tel: 07562 974343, kay1950shaw@btinternet.com
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If the weather is looking dodgy ...
If inclement weather is forecast, then please phone the leader of the event. Field trip dates may change if the five-day forecast suggests a planned meeting is likely to be affected by rain and/or stormy conditions. Alternatively, nearer the time of each field trip, do check postings here.
Note: the parking/meeting point locations are given in three forms:
satnav postcode, OS National Grid reference and what3words - and
remember that these locations are not always at the featured walk site.
April 2025
Saturday 26 April, 1.30pm| Parkhurst Forest, Isle of Wight |
| Organisation: Butterfly Conservation |
| Site owner: Forestry England |
| Graham Sherratt, 07944 029056 |
| Meet at Parkhurst Forest main car park. This is a woodland walk with uneven paths; wear sturdy footwear. |
| Postcode: PO30 5LZ; OS National Grid: SZ 480900; what3words: country.opposites.enlighten |
| Aiming to see: Brimstone, Comma, Orange-tip, Peacock |
Sunday 27 April, 10am| Broxhead Common, Hampshire |
| Organisation: Butterfly Conservation |
| Site owner: Hampshire County Council |
| Ashley Whitlock, 07752 182340 |
| Meet at the entrance to the nature reserve on Broxhead Farm Road, lay-by parking, B3004, north of Lindford |
| Postcode: GU35 0NY; OS National Grid: SU 803374; what3words: navigate.adopts.strutting |
| Aiming to see: Emperor Moth |
Wednesday 30 April, 10am| Portsdown Hill, Hampshire |
| Organisation: Butterfly Conservation |
| Site owner: Portsmouth City Council |
| Ashley Whitlock, 07752 182340 |
| Meet at Widley Walk car park, off B2177, adjacent to The Churchillian pub, just east of Fort Widley |
| Postcode: PO6 3LS; OS National Grid: SU 660064; what3words: store.juror.lock |
| Aiming to see: Early spring butterflies and moths |
May 2025
Sunday 4 May, 10am| CANCELLED - Butser Hill NNR, Hampshire |
| Organisation: Butterfly Conservation |
| Site owner: Natural England |
| Ashley Whitlock, 07752 182340 |
| Meet in the hilltop car park at Butser Hill (Pay and Display).
A strenuous walk over uneven and very steep slopes. Wear sturdy
footwear |
| Postcode: GU32 1QR; OS National Grid: SU 711200; what3words: checked.pods.vine |
| Aiming to see: Duke of Burgundy, Grizzled Skipper, Dingy Skipper |
Sunday 11 May, 10am| West Wood and Crab Wood, Hampshire |
| Organisation: Butterfly Conservation |
| Site owner: Forestry England/Hampshire County Council |
| Ashley Whitlock, 07752 182340 |
| Meet in Spindle Trees car park, signed off Sarum Road on Pitt Down, one of several Farley Mount Country Park car parks |
| Postcode: SO21 2PA; OS National Grid: SU 420292; what3words: pull.dispose.clenching |
| Aiming to see: Duke of Burgundy, Pearl-bordered Fritillary |
Wednesday 14 May, 10am| Coulters Dean, Queen Elizabeth Country Park, Hampshire |
| Organisation: Butterfly Conservation |
| Site owner: Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust |
| Ashley Whitlock, 07752 182340 |
| Meet in the country park’s Halls Hill car park, off Kiln Lane, about 0.5 mile south-west of Buriton |
| Postcode: GU31 5SL; OS National Grid: SU 733198; what3words: jogging.dumpling.sprinkler |
| Aiming to see: Green Hairstreak, possible Duke of Burgundy, orchids |
Saturday 17 May, 1.30pm| Mottistone chalk pits, Isle of Wight |
| Organisation: Butterfly Conservation |
| Site owner: National Trust |
| Graham Sherratt, 07944 029056 |
| Meet in the Jubilee Car Park, Lynch Lane, Brighstone. A downland walk with steep and uneven slopes; wear sturdy footwear. |
| Postcode: PO30 4JH; OS National Grid: SZ 420845; what3words: oxidation.serves.contents |
| Aiming to see: Dingy and Grizzled Skipper, Glanville Fritillary |
Sunday 18 May, 10am| Martin Down NNR, Hampshire |
| Organisation: Butterfly Conservation |
| Site owner: Natural England |
| Ashley Whitlock, 07752 182340 |
| Meet in the nature reserve’s main car park off A354, 11 miles
south-west of Salisbury |
| Postcode: SP5 5RQ; OS National Grid: SU 036201; what3words: hiked.remark.spectacle |
| Aiming to see: Marsh Fritillary, Adonis Blue, Small Blue |
Wednesday 21 May, 10am| Ivy Wood/New Copse Inclosure, New Forest, Hampshire |
| Organisation: Butterfly Conservation |
| Site owner: Forestry England |
| Ashley Whitlock, 07752 182340 |
| Meet in the Ivy Wood car park on B3055, about 1 mile east of
Brockenhurst |
| Postcode: SO42 7UB; OS National Grid: SU 315024; what3words: empire.mainly.compliant |
| Aiming to see: Pearl-bordered Fritillary; dragonflies and other invertebrates |
Saturday 24 May, 1.30pm| Compton Chine, Isle of Wight |
| Organisation: Butterfly Conservation |
| Site owner: National Trust |
| Sue Davies, 07702 151312 |
| Meet in the NT Afton Down chalk pit car park, off the A305 Military Road. On the No.12 bus route. A downland walk with some steep steps and uneven ground; wear sturdy footwear |
| Postcode: PO30 4HF; OS National Grid: SZ 367854; what3words: wobbles.handlebar.flooding |
| Aiming to see: Glanville Fritillary, Green Hairstreak, Small Blue, Adonis Blue |
June 2025
Sunday 22 June, 10am| Hawkhill Inclosure/Beaulieu Heath, New Forest, Hampshire |
| Organisation: Butterfly Conservation |
| Site owner: Forestry England |
| Ashley Whitlock, 07752 182340 |
| Meet in the Hawkhill Inclosure Forestry England car park, off the B3055, west of Hatchet Pond between Brockenhurst and Beaulieu |
| Postcode: SO42 7WB; OS National Grid: SU 350019; what3words: groomed.microfilm.submitted |
| Aiming to see: Silver-studded Blue, Dark Green Fritillary, Clouded Buff Moth |
Saturday 28 June, 1.30pm| Newtown Meadows and Walter’s Copse, Isle of Wight |
| Organisation: Butterfly Conservation |
| Site owner: National Trust |
| Nikki Kownacki, 07929 614423 |
| Meet at the entrance to the Meadows Butterfly Walk on Town Lane,
parking at the National Trust car park (charge) close by |
| Postcode: PO30 4PA; OS National Grid: SZ 423906; what3words: pricing.cluttered.respects |
| Aiming to see: White Admiral, Marbled White, Ringlet, Brown Argus |
Sunday 29 June, 10am| Abbotts Wood Inclosure, Alice Holt Forest, Hampshire |
| Organisation: Butterfly Conservation |
| Site owner: Forestry England |
| Ashley Whitlock, 07752 182340 |
| Meet at the Abbotts Wood Inclosure car park, off Dockenfield Street, just south-east of what was the Halfway House pub (but is now housing). The car park is pay and display, with a maximum of £3 for the whole day. |
| Postcode: GU10 4HA; OS National Grid: SU 810410; what3words: landowner.likely.splendid |
| Aiming to see: Purple Emperor, White Admiral, Silver-washed Fritillary |
July 2025
Wednesday 2 July, 10am| West Walk, Hampshire |
| Organisation: Butterfly Conservation |
| Site owner: Forestry England |
| Ashley Whitlock, 07752 182340 |
| Meet in West Walk car park, signed off Hundred Acres Road, east of Wickham |
| Postcode: PO17 6JD; OS National Grid: SU 596122; what3words: rehearsed.translate.mindset |
| Aiming to see: Purple Emperor, White Admiral, Silver-washed Fritillary |
Saturday 5 July, 1.30pm| Mottistone Down, Isle of Wight |
| Organisation: Butterfly Conservation |
| Site owner: National Trust |
| Nikki Kownacki, 07929 614423 |
| Meet in the Jubilee Car Park, Lynch Lane, Brighstone. A
downland walk with uneven ground, steep slopes and chalk pits; wear
sturdy footwear |
| Postcode: PO30 4JH; OS National Grid: SZ 420845; what3words: oxidation.serves.contents |
| Aiming to see: Dark Green Fritillary, Chalk Hill Blue, Brown Argus |
Wednesday 9 July, 10am| Whiteley Walk, Hampshire |
| Organisation: Butterfly Conservation |
| Site owner: Forestry England |
| Ashley Whitlock, 07752 182340 |
| Meet in the Whiteley Outlet Village car park, opposite M&S (max 3 hours free before payment) reached off Whiteley Way from M27 J9 |
| Postcode: PO15 7PD; OS National Grid: SU 531096; what3words: dares.rationing.listening |
| Aiming to see: Purple Emperor, Purple Hairstreak, White Admiral |
Sunday 13 July, 10am| Farley Mount, Hampshire |
| Organisation: Butterfly Conservation |
| Site owner: Hampshire County Council |
| Ashley Whitlock, 07752 182340 |
| Meet in Spindle Trees car park, signed off Sarum Road on Pitt
Down, one of several Farley Mount Country Park car parks |
| Postcode: SO21 2PA; OS National Grid: SU 420292; what3words: pull.dispose.clenching |
| Aiming to see: Purple Emperor, Dark Green Fritillary, Scarlet Tiger Moth |
Wednesday 16 July, 10am| Micheldever Wood, Hampshire |
| Organisation: Butterfly Conservation |
| Site owner: Forestry England |
| Ashley Whitlock, 07752 182340 |
| Meet in Micheldever Wood car park, off Chillandham Lane, south-east of Micheldever |
| Postcode: SO24 9UB; OS National Grid: SU 530362; what3words: turkey.grumbles.strapping |
| Aiming to see: Purple Emperor, Dark Green Fritillary, Silver-washed Fritillary |
Wednesday 16 July, 2pm| Abbotstone Down, Hampshire |
| Organisation: Butterfly Conservation |
| Site owner: Hampshire County Council |
| Ashley Whitlock, 07752 182340 |
| Meet in the reserve’s car park on the B3046, north of Old Alresford |
| Postcode: SO24 9DT; OS National Grid: SU 585361; what3words: cassettes.voter.people |
| Aiming to see: Marbled White, Dark Green Fritillary, Purple Emperor |
Friday 18 July, 11am| Yew Hill, Hampshire |
| Organisation: Butterfly Conservation |
| Site owner: Butterfly Conservation |
| Rupert Broadway, 07906 227478 |
| Meet at the end of Old Kennels Lane near the junction with Port Lane and Millers Lane (SU452270) or join us on the reserve. |
| Postcode: SO22 4BF; OS National Grid: SU 452270; what3words: caked.copies.insist |
| Aiming to see: Chalk Hill Blue and other summer chalk downland species |
Saturday 19 July, 1.30pm| Kemphill Moor Copse, Havenstreet, Isle of Wight |
| Organisation: Butterfly Conservation |
| Site owner: Private site |
| Kay and Colin Shaw, 07562 974343 |
| Meet at Ashey Cemetery at 1pm as parking is very limited at the site (entrance on Rowlands Lane) or contact Kay about a lift. A woodland ride walk |
| Postcode: PO33 4BS; OS National Grid: SZ 577897; what3words: judges.rebounder.shape |
| Aiming to see: White Admiral, Silver-washed Fritillary (including valesina) and Purple Hairstreak |
Saturday 26 July, 1.30pm| Mount Joy, Carisbrooke, Isle of Wight |
| Organisation: Butterfly Conservation |
| Site owner: Isle of Wight Council |
| Graham Sherratt, 07944 029056 |
| Meet in Whitepit Lane, Carisbrooke, by the fish and chip shop near the junction with Elm Grove, and close to the junction with footpath N24, along which the walk up to Mount Joy proceeds. Some steps are encountered on the route. Car parking is very limited so leave plenty of time to find a space |
| Postcode: PO30 1ND; OS National Grid: SZ 496883; what3words: material.hotspot.unpainted |
| Aiming to see: Chalk Hill Blue, Common Blue, Brown Argus and Wall |
August 2025
Wednesday 13 August, 10am| Soberton Down, St Clair’s Meadow and River Meon, Hampshire |
| Organisation: Butterfly Conservation |
| Site owner: Hampshire County Council; Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust |
| Ashley Whitlock, 07752 182340 |
| Meet in the village hall car park, Soberton |
| Postcode: SO32 3PF; OS National Grid: SU 611166; what3words: paler.inhaled.luxury |
| Aiming to see: Brown Hairstreak |
Saturday 16 August, 1.30pm| Brading Downs, Isle of Wight |
| Organisation: Butterfly Conservation |
| Site owner: Isle of Wight Council |
| Emma Brown, 07817 504992 |
| Meet at the most easterly car park on Brading Down Road. A
downland walk, uneven and steep ground in places; wear sturdy footwear. |
| Postcode: PO36 0ES; OS National Grid: SZ 601867; what3words: divisible.vibrate.cleanser |
| Aiming to see: Brown Argus, Chalk Hill Blue |
Sunday 17 August, 10am| Broughton Down, Hampshire |
| Organisation: Butterfly Conservation |
| Site owner: Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust |
| Ashley Whitlock, 07752 182340 |
| To avoid a rough track up to the reserve (SU296325), park in Buckholt
Road (coordinates below), west out of Broughton, or in the village, from which walk along Queenswood Road, bear right along the B3084 then go left along Buckholt road; where this ends take the middle of the three ongoing tracks to climb to the reserve |
| Postcode: SO20 8DA; OS National Grid: SU 304327; what3words: them.culling.huts |
| Aiming to see: Silver-spotted Skipper, Adonia Blue, Chalk Hill Blue |
Wednesday 20 August, 10am| Shipton Bellinger, Hampshire |
| Organisation: Butterfly Conservation |
| Site owner: Various |
| Ashley Whitlock, 07752 182340 |
| Meet in the village hall car park |
| Postcode: SP9 7TL; OS National Grid: SU 229456; what3words: headlight.panning.smooth |
| Aiming to see: Brown Hairstreak, Wall Brown, Magpie Moth, Oak Eggar
Moth |
Wednesday 27 August, 10am| Portsdown Hill, Hampshire |
| Organisation: Butterfly Conservation |
| Site owner: Portsmouth City Council |
| Ashley Whitlock, 07752 182340 |
| Meet at Widley Walk car park, off B2177, adjacent to The Churchillian pub, just east of Fort Widley |
| Postcode: PO6 3LS; OS National Grid: SU 660064; what3words: store.juror.lock |
| Aiming to see: Brown Hairstreak, possible Wall, Oak Eggar Moth |
Sunday 31 August, 10am| Old Winchester Hill NNR, Hampshire |
| Organisation: Butterfly Conservation |
| Site owner: Natural England |
| Ashley Whitlock, 07752 182340 |
| Meet in the nature reserve’s car park, which is signposted off the A32 at Warnford. Steep hillsides in places; wear sturdy footwear |
| Postcode: GU32 1HW; OS National Grid: SU 645214; what3words: overhear.dramatic.handyman |
| Aiming to see: Adonis Blue, Silver-spotted Skipper, Clouded Yellow |
September 2025
Wednesday 3 September, 10am| Beacon Hill NNR, Hampshire |
| Organisation: Butterfly Conservation |
| Site owner: Natural England |
| Ashley Whitlock, 07752 182340 |
| Meet in the reserve car park, Beacon Hill lane, west of Warnford and north-west of Exton; wear sturdy footwear |
| Postcode: SO32 3LG; OS National Grid: SU 598227; what3words: credible.swordfish.rocky |
| Aiming to see: Silver-spotted Skipper, Small Copper, Clouded Yellow |
Saturday 6 September, 1.30pm| Thorness Bay, Isle of Wight |
| Organisation: Butterfly Conservation |
| Site owner: Parkdean Resorts |
| Graham Sherratt, 07944 029056 |
| Meet in the lane on the north side of Thorness Bay Holiday Park. Park on the roadside with consideration; field walk with some uneven ground |
| Postcode: PO31 8NJ; OS National Grid: SZ 453931; what3words: vines.eternity.annual |
| Aiming to see: Small Copper, Clouded Yellow, Wall, Brown Argus |
