Hertfordshire & Middlesex Branch
Saving butterflies, moths and our environment
The 2025 programme of walks is currently being prepared and events will be added when confirmed.
Whether a member of Butterfly Conservation or not, you are welcome to join us at any of our free butterfly walks or moth events.
We have been reviewing our booking system again and some events will require advance booking through an online booking provider such as Eventbrite, although some walk leaders are happy to have no advance booking.
Sadly the Big City Butterfly Project has ended but we hope to include several walks in the project area this year
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 2025 walks programme in pdf format will be available in due course
Last updated 16 April 2025
| Date: | Tuesday 22 APRIL 2025 |
|---|---|
| Event Title: | Introduction to Butterfly Recording Walk with the Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust - please note there is a £10 fee |
| Location: | Aldbury Nowers HMWT Reserve |
| Address and/or grid ref: | Off Northfield Road, Tring, Hertfordshire, HP23 5QW |
| Time/meeting place: | 12:00 - 14:00 |
| What3words: | |
| Transport & directions: | Nearest station is Tring Station (West Midlands Railways from London Euston) - approx 1/2 mile walk but along busy road with no pavement |
| Information | Take a walk across the beautiful Aldbury Nowers with the HMWT Reserves Officer. See what butterflies you can see, all levels of butterfly enthusiast welcome Please be aware this walk will cover very steep ground, going through gates and stiles. Please dress appropriately for the weather! There may be mud/wet ground, so sturdy boots are advised. This event is weather dependent and may need to be cancelled at short notice. |
| Contact details | 01727 858 901 or email: info@hmwt.org |
| Booking details: | Advance booking with the Herts & Middlesex Trust is essential - link here |
| Date: | Sunday 4 MAY 2025 |
|---|---|
| Event Title: | Spring butterflies and bluebell walk with the Friends of Cassiobury Park and Watford Borough Council |
| Location: | Whippendell Woods |
| Address and/or grid ref: | Cassiobury Park, Gade Avenue, Watford WD18 7LG. TQ091973 [Landranger Map 166] |
| Time/meeting place: | 14:00 - 16:00 meet just into the park from the entrance opposite Langley Way, WD18 3BD |
| What3words: | https://what3words.com/match.case.bliss |
| Transport & directions: | Cassiobury Park is a 2 minute walk from the Watford Metropolitan line station. Exit the station onto Cassiobury Park Avenue and turn right, after about 150 metres turn left onto Shepherds Road - the park is straight ahead of you. Alternatively Watford Junction (1.3 miles) and Watford High Street (2.1 miles) are the two closest Overground stations. There is one official car park for Cassiobury Park at the end of Gade Avenue near the bottom of Cassiobury Park Avenue (WD18 7LG is the nearest postcode). It should be noted that the car park does get very busy if the weather is good and there is a small charge these days. So best to arrive early to avoid parking problems. There is street parking at weekends along the roads off Langley Way, such as Parkside Drive. |
| Information | There are toilets at the ‘Hub’ although the café in the park can get quite busy therefore it is suggested you bring your own refreshments. |
| Contact details | Peter Fewell ~ 07814 282356 or email: p.fewell@yahoo.com |
| Booking details: | Advance booking with Eventbrite will be required - link here |
| Date: | Monday 5 MAY 2025 |
|---|---|
| Event Title: | A Bank Holiday guided walk at Wanstead Flats looking for Green Hairstreak. This historic site, an SSSI consisting of acid grassland and scrub is a largely treeless part of Epping Forest that supports an impressive range of flora and fauna within a heavily urban environment. At the invitation of the Cambridgeshire & Essex Branch of Butterfly Conservation. |
| Location: | Wanstead Flats (London Borough of Redbridge) |
| Time/meeting place: | 10:30 - 13:00. Please meet by the information signs in the A114 Centre Road car park. Please note that parking charges (£4 for 2-4 hours) apply at this car park. Nearest postcode E7 0EF |
| What3words: | https://w3w.co/since.elder.keeps |
| Transport & directions: | Wanstead Flats is a 1.8km (1.1 mile) walk from Leytonstone station on the Central line; a 0.4 mile (0.7km) walk from Leytonstone High Road or Wanstead Park stations on the London Overground or Forest Gate station on TfL Rail. The 58 and 308 buses both serve Wanstead Flats directly. |
| Information | Please note that this walk will only take place if the weather is suitable. It is important that all attendees notify the organiser that they plan to come along because there may be a last minute cancellation or postponement. In that event, the organiser will contact the group by email. |
| Contact details | Ian Watts - see email below for all communications |
| Booking details: | The walk is limited to 15 attendees - please contact Ian Watts ian@ianwatts.co.uk to confirm your place |
| Date: | Saturday 6 JULY 2024 |
|---|---|
| Event Title: | Nature Day including a butterfly walk lead by Steve Bolton at Wormwood Scrubs (London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham) with the Friends of Wormwood Scrubs |
| Location: | Wormwood Scrubs |
| Address and/or grid ref: | See details below |
| Time: | Butterfly walk lead by Steve Bolton 11:30 in the Scrubs Lane carpark, W12 0HU. Walk to last approx. 1 hour |
| Information: |
Join RSPB officer Kate McVay for a weekend of nature events which will include a butterfly walk lead by Steve Bolton
Provisional programme includes:- Saturday 10 May
|
| Booking details | For more information please email : Kate McVay |
| Date: | Sunday 11 MAY 2025 |
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| Event Title: | Guided butterfly walk at Hounslow Heath and Feltham Marshalling Yard to see spring heathland species - the target is Green Hairstreak and also Small Heath and Small Copper |
| Location: | Hounslow Heath Nature Reserve, nr. Hounslow (London Borough of Hounslow) |
| Address and/or grid ref: | Nearest postcode TW4 6AE. TQ119748 [Landranger Map 176] |
| Time/meeting place: | 14:00 at the Hounslow Heath Car Park, 450 Staines Road, TW4 5RB - approx. 2 ½ hour duration to including walking to and from the Marshalling Yards |
| What3words: | https://w3w.co/tables.safely.once |
| Transport & directions: | Nearest underground station is Hounslow West (Piccadilly Line) - 25 minute walk. Local buses stop nearby (Frampton Road Bus Stop) |
| Information | No toilets or refreshments on site. Although the site is relatively flat, walking boots and long trousers are recommended. |
| Contact details | Malcolm Hull~ 07768 154324 or email: malcolmhull@hertsmiddx-butterflies.org.uk. |
| Booking details: | No booking for this particular event is required |
| Date: | Sunday 11 MAY 2025 |
|---|---|
| Event Title: | Spring butterfly walk at Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park with the Friends of Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park (London Borough of Tower Hamlets) |
| Location: | Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park and Local Nature Reserve |
| Address and/or grid ref: | Soanes Centre, Southern Grove, E3 4PX. TQ367823 [Landranger Map 177] |
| Time/meeting place: | 13:00 - 15:30 The Cemetery Park Lodge, the red brick building straight ahead of you as you enter via the main gates on Southern Grove E3 4PX |
| Transport & directions: | Mile End Underground Station (Central, District and Hammersmith and City Lines) is approx. 5 minute walk from the Tube entrance/exit. |
| Information | Weather permitting, we should see 10 or 11 species, including, Brimstone, Speckled Wood, Orange-Tip, Peacock and Green Hairstreak. In poor weather, we’ll look at habitats, caterpillar food plants and nectar plants. Donations will be appreciated. |
| Booking details: | Ticket Tailor booking link |
| Date: | Thursday 22 MAY 2025 |
|---|---|
| Event Title: | Introduction to Butterfly Recording Walk with the Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust - please note there is a £10 fee |
| Location: | Aldbury Nowers HMWT Reserve |
| Address and/or grid ref: | Off Northfield Road, Tring, Hertfordshire, HP23 5QW |
| Time/meeting place: | 12:00 - 14:00 |
| What3words: | |
| Transport & directions: | Nearest station is Tring Station (West Midlands Railways from London Euston) - approx 1/2 mile walk but along busy road with no pavement |
| Information | Take a walk across the beautiful Aldbury Nowers with the HMWT Reserves Officer. See what butterflies you can see, all levels of butterfly enthusiast welcome Please be aware this walk will cover very steep ground, going through gates and stiles. Please dress appropriately for the weather! There may be mud/wet ground, so sturdy boots are advised. This event is weather dependent and may need to be cancelled at short notice. |
| Contact details | 01727 858 901 or email: info@hmwt.org |
| Booking details: | Advance booking with the Herts & Middlesex Trust is essential - link here |
| Date: | Saturday 7 JUNE 2025 |
|---|---|
| Event Title: | Guided butterfly walk at Heartwood Forest - looking for the rare Small Blue butterfly ~ organised by the Woodland Trust. This is a very popular walk and unfortunately places will be limited |
| Location: | Heartwood Forest |
| Address and/or grid ref: | Heartwood Forest, carpark off the B651, Sandridge AL4 9DQ |
| Time/meeting place: | 11:00 - 13:00 |
| 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 | Guided walk in Heartwood Forest with local butterfly experts Andrew Steele and Malcolm Hull. We will look for a range of species including the rare Small Blue. |
| Contact details | Andrew Steele & Malcolm Hull (07768 154324) or email: malcolmhull@hertsmiddx-butterflies.org.uk |
| Booking details: | To be confirmed |
| Date: | Sunday 8 JUNE 2025 |
|---|---|
| Event Title: | South West Herts Great Big Green Week - Green Market Takeover |
| Location: | Watford High Street |
| Information | The 2025 South West Herts Great Big Green Week (GBGW) will take place over the 7-15 June 2025 across Three Rivers and Watford. Volunteers from the branch will be helping on the sales stand at the Green Market Takeover |
| Details | Full details are available here |
*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