Small blue butterfly (Cupido minimus)

Our smallest resident butterfly is easily overlooked, partly because of its size and dusky colouring, but partly because it is often confined to small patches of sheltered grassland where its sole foodplant, Kidney Vetch, is found.

Scrape with horshoe and kidney vetch

Habitat for Small blue butterflies

Comma butterfly (Polygonia c-album)

The most remarkable feature of the Comma has been its severe decline in the twentieth century and subsequent comeback. It is now widespread in southern Britain and its range is expanding northwards.

Five spot-burnet (Zygaena trifolii)

Found on damp neutral grassland, limestone grassland, chalk downland, breck grassland, sandy heathland, sand dunes, woodland rides and clearings

The Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi)

The Green Hairstreak holds its wings closed, except in flight, showing only the green underside with its faint white streak.

Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus)

The Common Blue is the most widespread blue butterfly in Britain and Ireland and is found in a variety of grassy habitats.

Brown Argus (Aricia agestis)

This small butterfly is characteristic of southern chalk and limestone grassland.

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas)

Commonly found on chalk or unimproved grassland, heathland, woodland clearings, waste ground and moorland

Marbled white (Melanargia galathea)

In July it flies in areas of unimproved grassland and can occur in large numbers on southern downland

Moths & Butterflies at Tidgrove

by Andy Bolton

To date 31 species have been recorded at Tidgrove 26 of which are likely to be breeding on site. Some of the regular highlights are Dingy Skipper, Green Hairstreak, Common Blue, Brown Argus, Small Copper, Marbled White, Small Heath and Small Blue. Some years have seen occasional visits from scarcer species such as Grizzled Skipper, Dark Green Fritillary and Clouded Yellow.

Since 2018 there has been a dedicated butterfly ‘scrape’ and wildflower area which has given a boost to the diversity of lepidoptera, with Small Blue now breeding.

More moth species are being discovered each season and after the most recent moth trapping sessions the species list has risen to 225. Moth highlights include Wood Tiger, Magpie, Pretty Chalk Carpet, Four-spotted Footman, Maple Pug, Beautiful Hook-tip and Nemophora metallica. No doubt many more species of moth await discovery.

Tidgrove is blessed with gentle slopes on a variety of aspects, which together with the areas of sheltering scrub and an ever-improving ground flora, offers more and more habitat niches to suit invertebrates, which are at the base of nature’s food chain. One of the most important helpers in the development of this habitat is the small herd of Belted Galloway cattle – true ecosystem engineers. Their particular style of grazing, browsing and trampling keeps scrub in check and allows for sheltered bare ground where new seeds can germinate and insect life stages have the warmth to develop.