Butterfly sites in Derbyshire.

[Davebutterflyman]

Hi everyone,

I have just moved recently from Cheshire to Derbyshire and was wondering if anybody can give me a few pointers as to butterfly sites within the county.I did manage to get to Crich tramway village and on the woodland walk there were good numbers of Ringlet,Gatekeeper,Meadow Brown and Small Skipper,also a visit to the Crich memorial stand offered up a number of Small Heath's.Carsington water and Allestree park have been mentioned but nothing other than that and any info would be greatly appreciated.

[DaveN]

Hi everyone,

I have just moved recently from Cheshire to Derbyshire and was wondering if anybody can give me a few pointers as to butterfly sites within the county.I did manage to get to Crich tramway village and on the woodland walk there were good numbers of Ringlet,Gatekeeper,Meadow Brown and Small Skipper,also a visit to the Crich memorial stand offered up a number of Small Heath's.Carsington water and Allestree park have been mentioned but nothing other than that and any info would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Dave, if you try posting this on the Derbyshire thread then hopefully someone can point you in the right direction. http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=90112

I have heard of a good place for Butterflies but It's in the middle of Derby. It's on top of Friargate Bridge where 24 species have been recorded. It's an old railway line which is apparently a haven for wildlife. Not sure if it's still any good there so hopefully somebody else can give you a few pointers.

[Clive A]

www.derbyshire-dragonflies.org.uk has a butterfly section which may help, also www.derbyshire-butterflies.co.uk
Not sure if they give much info about sites, but may be of interest to you.

[peter hill]

you could check last years bird sighting on carsington bird club website they somtimes metion what butterflys have been seen

[Davebutterflyman]

Thanks very much for all the information,much appreciated.I have just done a couple of site reccies at Carsington and Allestree Park and both these have a good range of habitat.I'll certainly try Friargate Bridge DaveN,old railway lines and cuttings do offer up a number of good species including day flying moths,Narborough disused railway line in Norfolk is a prime example.

Cheers again for all your kind help.

[Gomphus]

Hopton Quarry NR has Green Hairstreak, Dingy Skipper etc, DSkipper also in Millersdale Quarry I seem to remember,....Combs Dale near Stoney Middleton for DGreen Frit, the contentious Brown Argus's and other stuff. Essex Skipper has now colonised the south well and is moving north.

Carsi holds some good species, and there used years ago to be Small Blues in Derbys but I haven't got a clue as to if they are still around, they were confined to one dale somewhere "up north" and its one of only a couple of Derbys breeding species I have never seen in Derbys :-C Not sure if we have any of the Pearl Bordered/Small Pearl Borders now in the county don't think so......

Cheers

Steph'