Hertfordshire & Middlesex Branch
Saving butterflies, moths and our environment
We invite all our Butterfly Conservation members as well as members of the public to our butterfly walks and moth events. We have been reviewing our booking system and although some walks (when organised by a third party) may still require booking through an online booking provider such as Eventbrite, the majority will either ask you to email the walk leader to confirm your attendance or no advance booking will be needed.
The link to the Big City Butterfly Eventbrite booking page is here and booking links and events will be added throughout the summer: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/butterfly-conservation-42542657503
BUTTERFLY WALKS ARE FOR EVERYONE! You most emphatically do NOT have to be an expert to come on a butterfly walk. Butterfly walks can be enjoyed by anyone with any level of knowledge (or none). Photographers, children (with adult supervision), first-time participants, you are ALL welcome. Butterfly Conservation does not ask for any donation or payment to attend their walks; however some of the walks included in this programme when organised by another organisations may request a donation and/or a fee.
Neighbouring branches also have a wide-ranging programme of walks; some are quite close to our branch borders. The full list of Butterfly Conservation events can be viewed on the national website - here
A printable copy of the walks programme in pdf format can be downloaded here
Last updated 15 July 2024
| Date: | Saturday 27 JULY 2024 |
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| Event Title: | Guided butterfly walk at Therfield Heath for Chalkhill Blue and summer butterflies with Cambridgeshire & Essex Branch (with kind permission of the Conservators of Therfield Heath and Greens). This walk should be close to the peak of the Chalkhill Blue season. |
| Location: | Therfield Heath, near Royston |
| Address and/or grid ref: | TL347405 postcode SG8 5BG (Postcode is same for 3 car parks on the Heath make sure you are at the main one near tennis courts not Golf Club or small one without any buildings near McDonalds) |
| Time/meeting place: | 10:30 at the main Therfield Heath car park. (morning walk to finish before 13:00). Refreshments available from adjacent Heath Cafe Bar before or afterwards. The leader will be at the start whatever the weather, but there will not be many butterflies to see in wet weather so do not travel far if the forecast is poor. |
| What3words: | https://w3w.co/midfield.hiding.bunch |
| Transport & directions: | Nearest station: Royston (Thameslink from London Kings Cross to Cambridge). Directions from the A505 just west of Royston, take the exit to Royston (old road) that runs beneath the Heath; the car park is approx. 1km on the right. |
| Information | There will be some steep slopes. The use of close focusing binoculars might be beneficial when looking at the close detail of some of the smaller butterflies |
| Contact details | Nick Keep ~ 07305 241796 (for queries) |
| Booking details: | No booking is required |
| Date: | Saturday 27 JULY 2024 |
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| Event Title: | Guided butterfly walk to visit Butterfly Conservation's only reserve in the Herts & Middlesex area and see a range of summer butterflies and look at the moths recorded the previous night. Part of the Big Butterfly Count programme of butterfly walks. |
| Location: | Millhoppers Pasture Reserve. |
| Address and/or grid ref: | Postcode HP23 4PE - SP903142 [Landranger Map 165] (Please note this is the grid reference of the meeting place not the Reserve) |
| Time/meeting place: | 10:30 at Wilstone Village Hall for a short walk across the fields to the Reserve. Walk to last approx. 2 hours after the moths have been looked at. |
| What3words: | Meeting place https://w3w.co/serenade.busy.guard |
| Transport & directions: | Nearest railway stations: Tring (West Midlands Trains from London Euston) or Wendover (Chiltern Railways from London Marylebone) Suitable for children and an ideal opportunity to develop Butterfly identification skills. |
| Information | |
| Contact details | Email: millhoppers@hertsmiddx-butterflies.org.uk or on the day Chris Ridley ~ 07463 821287 |
| Booking details: | Email: millhoppers@hertsmiddx-butterflies.org.uk to reserve your place |
| Date: | Saturday 27 JULY 2024 |
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| Event Title: | Demonstration of moth trapping at Heartwood Forest with the Woodland Trust and Heartwood Volunteers lead by local moth expert Mark Sterling |
| Location: | Heartwood Forest |
| Address and/or grid ref: | Heartwood Forest, carpark off the B651, Sandridge AL4 9DQ |
| Time/meeting place: | 21:00 to 00:00 |
| What3words: | https://what3words.com/cheat.post.half |
| Transport & directions: | Nearest station St Albans City (Thameslink from London St Pancras Intl.) approx. 2.45 miles. There are two bus services which stop at Sandridge, one from Hitchin to Potters Bar (via St Albans) and one from Hemel Hempstead to Hatfield via Harpenden. Directions from the south. Head north from St Albans along the B651 towards Wheathampstead. Pass through the village of Sandridge along the main road and turn left at the brown road sign for Heartwood Forest (TL172110). Park in the main car park, situated off the B651, (Postcode AL4 9DQ). |
| Information | Free event but donations will be appreciated to help support the management of the woodland. Come prepared for potentially cold and wet weather and dress appropriately in warm clothes and wear suitable footwear. Bring a torch - a head torch is ideal but not essential. Children under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. This walk is not suitable for anyone with mobility issues and is not wheelchair accessible. No dogs please |
| Contact details | When booking please also email heartwood@woodlandtrust.org.uk with your mobile phone number so that the walk organisers can contact you in the unlikely event of cancellation due to bad weather or unforeseen circumstances. |
| Booking details: | https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/moth-catching-demonstration-at-heartwood-forest-tickets-828361881687 |
| Date: | Thursday 1 AUGUST 2024 |
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| Event Title: | An early morning walk at Claybury Park looking for the elusive Brown Hairstreak at the invitation of Cambs & Essex Branch of Butterfly Conservation. |
| Location: | Claybury Park, Woodford Bridge, London Borough of Redbridge |
| Address and/or grid ref: | Nearest postcode IG8 8NQ - TQ4248391229 [Landranger Map 177 or 167] |
| Time/meeting place: | 09:00 - 11:00 - Please meet outside the gates to the park on Roding Lane North at TQ4248391229 (just south of the junction with Vicarage Road). There is plenty of unrestricted free parking along Roding Lane North |
| What3words: | https://w3w.co/offers.forms.loaded |
| Transport & directions: | Woodford Green tube station (Central Line) is a 15-20 minutes' walk from the meeting point. |
| Information | The Brown Hairstreak had been missing from the Cambridgeshire & Essex Branch area for generations but the discovery of eggs in Claybury Park in December 2022 and again last winter suggests this species is resident once again in Essex. Join us for an early start at Claybury Park to try and see this beautiful and elusive butterfly. This guided walk will aim to locate likely assembly trees to try and catch the morning activity of the Brown Hairstreak males as they seek the attention of females. Along the way we will be keeping an eye out for any females that may be lower down on blackthorn or nectaring on adjacent flowers. |
| Contact details | Ian Watts - see email below for all communications |
| Booking details: | The walk is limited to 10 attendees - please contact Ian Watts ian@ianwatts.co.uk to confirm your place |
| Date: | Wednesday 7 AUGUST 2024 |
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| Event Title: | Guided butterfly walk at Stafford Road Open Space for summer butterflies and the hope of seeing the elusive Brown Hairstreak butterfly in the blackthorn scrub |
| Location: | Stafford Road Open Space in the London Borough of Hillingdon |
| Address and/or grid ref: | Postcode HA4 6NF - TQ100858 [Landranger Map 176] |
| Time/meeting place: | 10:15 at Ruislip Gardens Underground Station (Central Line Zone 7) for 10:30 start. Aim to finish by 13:00 |
| What3words: | Ruislip Gardens Station - https://w3w.co/pace.ashes.bump |
| Transport & directions: | On Central Line, also E7 bus (every 20 minutes) from Ruislip (Metropolitan & Piccadilly) to Ealing Broadway (District and National rail). Very limited pay and display parking at station, some off street parking plus car parks at Sidmouth Drive (HA4 ODA) and Ruislip Gardens shops at New Pond Parade, West End Road (HA4 6LR). |
| Information | We will meet everyone at Ruislip Gardens Station and walk from there - there is an approx. 1km walk to the site along footpaths. Strong shoes are advisable - those attending must be mindful that blackthorn has sharp thorns so care should be taken if taking photos. |
| Contact details | Nick Furtek - see email below for all communications |
| Booking details: | Email Nick Furtek nick_furtek@yahoo.co.uk to reserve your place |
| Date: | Sunday 18 AUGUST 2024 |
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| Event Title: | Guided butterfly walk at Clothall Common, Baldock for 'Summer Blues' including hopefully second brood Adonis and Small Blue with Cambridgeshire & Essex Branch of Butterfly Conservation |
| Location: | Clothall Common, Baldock |
| Address and/or grid ref: | TL257342 [Landranger Map 153] - postcode SG7 6SU (Aleyn Way) |
| Time/meeting place: | 11:00 at the entrance to the Open Space at the north end of Aleyn Way - this is a residential street (morning walk to finish before 13:00). |
| What3words: | https://w3w.co/fame.powder.upper |
| Transport & directions: | Nearest station: Baldock (Thameslink from London Kings Cross to Cambridge). From the A505 just east of Baldock, take the slip road exit to Baldock (old road) into the town and at the traffic lights turn left onto the A507 (directions Buntingford). Just before you cross the Baldock Bypass there is a roundabout; take the first turning onto Wallington Road marked as a dead end. Follow the road around, then at a small roundabout take the 3rd exit onto Yeomanry Drive and then turn right onto Aleyn Way - the meeting point is at the end of the road. Parking will be on street so please respect local residents. |
| Information | This is our first visit to Clothall Common which was created when the Baldock Bypass was built and now become established as a very good site for 'blue' butterflies! |
| Contact details | Malcolm Hull ~ 07768 154324 or email: malcolmhull@hertsmiddx-butterflies.org.uk |
| Booking details: | No booking is required |
| Date: | Saturday 24 AUGUST 2024 |
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| Event Title: | Guided butterfly walk at Therfield Heath for Adonis Blue and other second brood butterflies with Cambridgeshire & Essex Branch of Butterfly Conservation (with kind permission of the Conservators of Therfield Heath and Greens). |
| Location: | Therfield Heath, near Royston |
| Address and/or grid ref: | TL347405 postcode SG8 5BG (Postcode is same for 3 car parks on the Heath make sure you are at the main one near tennis courts not Golf Club or small one without any buildings near McDonalds) |
| Time/meeting place: | 10:30 at the main Therfield Heath car park. (morning walk to finish before 13:00). Refreshments available from adjacent Heath Cafe Bar before or afterwards. The leader will be at the start whatever the weather, but there will not be many butterflies to see in wet weather so do not travel far if the forecast is poor. |
| What3words: | https://w3w.co/midfield.hiding.bunch |
| Transport & directions: | Nearest station: Royston (Thameslink from London Kings Cross to Cambridge). Directions from the A505 just west of Royston, take the exit to Royston (old road) that runs beneath the Heath; the car park is approx. 1km on the right. |
| Information | There will be some steep slopes. Separate your blues - at this event last year we saw 5 species of Blue (Adonis, Chalkhill, Common, Holly and Brown Argus). We are still hopeful that the Small Blue will colonise from nearby sites on private land to make six. Maybe this year? The use of close focusing binoculars might be beneficial when looking at the close detail of some of the smaller butterflies |
| Contact details | Nick Keep ~ 07305 241796 (for queries) |
| Booking details: | No booking is required |
| Date: | Sunday 29 SEPTEMBER 2024 |
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| Event Title: | Guided walk at Normansland Common for Small Copper and other early autumn butterflies. |
| Location: | Nomansland Common, near Sandridge |
| Address and/or grid ref: | Nearest postcode AL4 8EJ - TL171123 [Landranger Map 166] |
| Time/meeting place: | 14:00 in the public car park at Ferrers Lane in the middle of the Common. This walk to last 1 to 1 ½ hours |
| What3words: | https://w3w.co/voting.racing.chill |
| Transport & directions: | Nearest station is Harpenden (Thameslink from London St. Pancras Int.) - approx 3 miles. From St Albans take the B651 north towards Wheathampstead. Pass through Sandridge Village and you will reach the common half a mile further on. At the cross roads in the centre of the common, turn left into Ferrers Lane. The car park is 500 yards along on the left. |
| Information | |
| Contact details | Malcolm Hull ~ 07768 154324 or email: malcolmhull@hertsmiddx-butterflies.org.uk |
| Booking details: | No booking required |
*The Branch sells the FSC Identification Guide to Butterflies. Contact Malcolm Hull for more information (07768 154324 or email: malcolmhull@hertsmiddx-butterflies.org.uk)
Children
Children are welcome at our events, but if under 16 they must be accompanied by at least one adult for two children. It is the responsibility of the accompanying adult(s) to ensure that the event is within the children's ability.
Dogs
Dogs are normally welcome on walks but must be kept under control. Any exceptions are shown in the individual event details.
Bad weather
Leaders of Branch-led walks will be at the meeting point whatever the weather, but may cancel the event if conditions are unsuitable. Any exceptions are shown in the individual event details. Other organisations and BC branches have different policies. Please contact the named leader for the walk before travelling if you have any concerns.
Lyme Disease
We recommend that all attendees understand the symptoms of Lyme Disease and take the relevant precautions. For more information visit the branch website -
here
Special needs
Unfortunately, most walks will not be suitable for wheelchair users and pushchairs. Please contact the named leader in advance if you have any concerns about accessibility.
What3words
We have tried to include the What3word link for each event. To download the App visit: https://what3words.com/products/what3words-app
Public Transport
We aim to give as much information as possible, although unfortunately some of the Hertfordshire events are not easily accessible by public transport. Train times should be checked, as timetables change and engineering works take place on Saturdays and Sundays. In 2024 industrial action may also affect travel arrangements. We recommend using public transport for all events in London.
If using your car please check you are ULEZ compliant https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone