Butterfly Conservation
Saving butterflies, moths and our environment
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Branch
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1982 - 2022
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Sites

This page provides information on sites found in the Hampshire and Isle of Wight area. You can also click here to see the butterfly and some of the moth species found in our area.

NameBeacon Hill
Grid ReferenceSU 605 225
Nearest Village/town/cityExton
DirectionsTake the A32 and turn off at Exton, on left if travelling north. Pass the Shoe Inn public house and follow the track called Shoe Lane into Beacon Hill Lane, travel for 1.5 miles and you will see the car park on the right at SU599228.
DescriptionA chalk downland site managed by Natural England
Butterflies of NoteGreen Hairstreak, Dingy Skipper, Brown Argus, Chalkhill Blue and Dark Green Fritillary. May/June: Green Hairstreak, Dingy Skipper, Brown Argus (1st brood) July/August: Chalkhill Blue August/September: Brown Argus (2nd brood)
NameBeaulieu Heath
Grid ReferenceSU 350 000
Nearest Village/town/cityBeaulieu
DirectionsFor Beaulieu Heath take the B3054 from Beaulieu towards Brockenhurst. After one and a half miles near Hatchet Pond the B3055 branches off to the right to Brockenhurst. Continue driving along the B3054 towards Lymington, Beaulieu Heath is on the right and there are three or four car parks along this stretch of the road. Alternatively you can take the B3055 from Hatchet pond, the road runs along the northern edge of Beaulieu Heath and there are several car parks on this route.
Description
Butterflies of NoteThe Silver-studded Blue and Grayling can be seen on heathland throughout the New Forest, but not always in large numbers. This site is representative of heathland areas within the New Forest. Dark Green Fritillary is also present at this site. June/July: Silver-studded Blue, Dark Green Fritillary. July/August: Grayling
NameBentley Station Meadows
Grid ReferenceSU 802 433
Nearest Village/town/cityBentley
DirectionsLeave the A31 east of Bentley, turning right if travelling north into Gravel Road, signposted Alice Holt Research Station. Go along this road, over the railway bridge, the car park is on the right about 500 yards beyond the bridge
DescriptionDamp meadow with woodland adjacent to Alice Holt Forest. Managed by Butterfly Conservation
Butterflies of NoteOrange Tip, Marbled White, Purple Hairstreak and Silver-washed Fritillary May: Orange Tip June/July: Marbled White July/August: Purple Hairstreak, Silver-washed Fritillary
NameBentley Wood
Grid ReferenceSU 250 295
Nearest Village/town/cityWest Dean
DirectionsFrom west Dean take the minor road, north towards West Tytherley; after one mile take left fork towards the Winterslows. Drive about a quarter of a mile and turn left into a gravel track. Drive along track to car park. Grid ref. of car park SU 258 292.
DescriptionMixed woodland, managed by the Bentley Trust.
Butterflies of NotePearl- bordered Fritillary, Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, White Admiral, Purple Emperor and Silver-washed Fritillary. May/June: Pearl-bordered Fritillary June: Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary June/July: White Admiral July/August: Purple Emperor, Silver-washed Fritillary
NameCoastal Footpath between Keyhaven and Lymington
Grid ReferenceBetween SZ 310 915 and SZ 335 945
Nearest Village/town/city
DirectionsParking in Keyhaven is at SZ 306 914 and the closest car park to the coastal path in Lymington is at SZ 333 950
Description
Butterflies of NoteThis coastal footpath is currently the best place to see Wall in Hampshire. The Wall has two main broods, May-June, then July-September and sometimes there is a partial third brood in October.
NameMagdalen Hill Down
Grid ReferenceSU 510 292
Nearest Village/town/cityWinchester
DirectionsFrom Winchester take the B3404, Alresford Road going east and after 2 miles (from city centre) park in the gravel car park, grid ref. SU 512 295 on the left, opposite the cemetery. Cross the road and walk along track, going south, towards the reserve. Managed by Butterfly Conservation
DescriptionManaged by butterfly Conservation this site is made up of three areas, the ‘Original’, chalk downland on a steep slope not previously farmed, and the two restored areas called the ‘Extension’ and ‘North’ which was previously farm land and were converted into chalk grassland in 1997 and 2004 respectively.
Butterflies of NoteGrizzled Skipper, Green Hairstreak, Brown Argus, Common Blue, Chalkhill Blue, Small Blue and Marbled White. April/May: Grizzled Skipper, Green Hairstreak, Common Blue (1st brood) and Brown Argus (1st brood). June: Small Blue (1st brood), Brown Argus (1st brood) and Common Blue (1st brood) June/July: Marbled White July-August: Chalkhill Blue August/September: Common Blue (2nd Brood), Brown Argus (2nd brood) August: Small Blue (partial 2nd brood) Clouded Yellow (migrant)
NameMartin Down
Grid ReferenceSU 050 200
Nearest Village/town/cityMartin
DirectionsFrom Fordingbridge take the road to Damerham, called Station Road. Keep on the same road and drive through Damerham to the village of Martin, approximately 7 miles. On entering the village turn left into Silken Lane, after half an mile this lane finishes at the car park; SU 058 191. There is alternative parking at the northern end of the site off the A345 at SU 037 201.
DescriptionA chalk downland site managed by Natural England.
Butterflies of NoteGrizzled Skipper, Dingy Skipper, Small Blue, Small Heath, Adonis Blue, Dark Green Fritillary, Chalkhill Blue. May/June: Grizzled Skipper, Dingy Skipper, Small Blue (1st brood), Small Heath (1st brood) and Adonis Blue (1st brood) June/July: Dark Green Fritillary July/August: Chalkhill Blue August: Small Blue (partial 2nd brood)
NameNoar Hill
Grid ReferenceSU 740 320
Nearest Village/town/citySelbourne
DirectionsLeave Selbourne on the B3006, heading south and turn first right into the road to East Tisted, after half a mile turn left into a minor road. Park on the verge on the right, the reserve can be reached by one of two tracks on the left. The grid ref. for parking is SU 738 323.
DescriptionChalk grassland and scrub mosaic. Managed by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust
Butterflies of NoteDingy Skipper, Green Hairstreak, Duke of Burgundy, Common Blue, Small Heath, Marbled white and Brown Hairstreak. May/June: Dingy Skipper, Green Hairstreak, Duke of Burgundy, Common Blue (1st brood), Small Heath (1st brood) June/July: Marbled White August: Brown Hairstreak August/September: Common Blue (2nd brood), Small Heath (2nd brood)
NamePamber Forest
Grid ReferenceSU 616 608
Nearest Village/town/cityTadley
DirectionsFrom junction 6 of the M3 take the A339 to Newbury until you see signs for the A340, take this road towards Aldermaston, continue into Tadley and turn right at the roundabout and right again at the T junction into Silchester Road. Continue and turn right into Impstone Road. The car park is on the left near the end of this road at SU 616 620.
DescriptionAncient Oak and Birch woodland with open heathland and stream valleys; managed by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.
Butterflies of NotePurple Emperor, Purple Hairstreak, White Admiral and Silver-washed Fritillary. June/July: White Admiral July/ August: Purple Emperor, Purple Hairstreak and Silver-washed Fritillary
NamePignal/Ramnor/Parkhill Inclosures
Grid ReferenceSU 315 045
Nearest Village/town/cityBrockenhurst
DirectionsTake the A337 to Brockenhurst and turn into the B3055 at the Balmer Lawn Hotel; this is a left hand turning if travelling south from Lyndhurst. After a quarter of a mile branch left onto a gravel track and drive about three quarters of a mile to the second car park called Standing Hat. Grid ref. of car park SU 314 035.
Description
Butterflies of NotePearl-bordered Fritillary, White Admiral and Silver-washed Fritillary. May/June: Pearl-bordered Fritillary June/July: White Admiral July/August: Silver-washed Friitllary
NamePitt Down
Grid ReferenceSU 420 292
Nearest Village/town/cityWinchester
DirectionsFrom the M3 come off at junction 11 and take the A3090 through Olivers Battery to the roundabout which meets the B3040, take the second exit driving towards Winchester. Turn left at the next roundabout then first left into Sarum Road. After approximately 2 miles the road meets the road to Sparsholt, go straight across and travel for another mile or so until the trees give way to downland, there are several small car parks along the road overlooking the down.
DescriptionChalk downland site managed by Hampshire County Council.
Butterflies of NoteDingy Skipper, Grizzled Skipper, Small Blue, Dark Green Fritillary and Marbled White. May/June: Dingy Skipper, Grizzled Skipper, Small Blue (1st brood) June/July: Marbled White, Dark Green Fritillary August/September: Small Blue (Partial 2nd brood)
NameSt Catherine’s Hill
Grid ReferenceSU 484 281
Nearest Village/town/cityWinchester
DirectionsLeave the M3 at junction 11 and take the B3335 going north towards the centre of Winchester. After approximately 1 mile turn right into Kingsgate Road then second right into Garnier road. Travel for half a mile, the car park is on the right just past the bridge over the Itchen Navigation. Take the footpath along the Navigation going south the entrance to the reserve is about 800 yds. on the left.
DescriptionChalk downland; managed by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.
Butterflies of NoteBrown Argus, Small Heath, Marbled White, Chalkhill Blue and Silver-spotted Skipper. May/June: Brown Argus (1st brood), Small Heath (2nd brood) June/July: Marbled White July/August: Chalkhill Blue July-September: Brown Argus (2nd brood) and Small Heath (2nd brood). August: Silver-spotted skipper
NameStockbridge Down
Grid ReferenceSU 380 348
Nearest Village/town/cityStockbridge
DirectionsLeave Stockbridge heading east on the A272 towards Winchester. There are two car parks, the first is 2 miles on the right SU 374 346, the second is another 1.5 miles SU 388 345 on the left.
DescriptionChalk downland, managed by the National Trust
Butterflies of NoteGrizzled Skipper, Dingy Skipper, Green Hairstreak, Chalkhill Blue, Dark Green Fritillary, Small Copper and Silver-spotted Skipper. May/June: Grizzled skipper, Dingy Skipper, Green Hairstreak and Small Copper June/July: Dark Green Fritillary July/August: Chalkhill Blue, Small Copper August: Silver-spotted Skipper (rare)
NameYew Hill
Grid ReferenceSU 455 264
Nearest Village/town/cityWinchester
DirectionsPark in Old Kennels Lane, near the junction between Port lane and Millers Lane in Oliver's Battery, Winchester, grid ref. SU 451 269 Take the footpath on the opposite side of the road to the junction and follow the path to Yew Hill Nature Reserve (approximately a 1mile walk). Grid ref. for parking SU 451 269
DescriptionChalk downland managed by Butterfly Conservation
Butterflies of NoteCommon Blue, Marbled White and Chalkhill Blue. May/June: Common Blue (1st brood) June/July: Marbled White July/August: Chalkhill Blue August/September: Common Blue (2nd brood)

Additional Sites

There, of course, many more sites that can be found in our area. The map shows the National Grid, shown in black text on the map, and the Irish National Grid, shown in green text on the map, each consisting of a number of 100 x 100 kilometre grid squares. Clicking a grid square will take you to the UK Butterflies website, and will show a more detailed map of butterflies found in that square (site information for moths is not yet available), if more information is available. The Hampshire and Isle of Wight region is centred around the SU and SZ grid squares.