Wiltshire is one of the finest counties in the United Kingdom for its abundance and variety of butterflies. All but a dozen of the resident species can be found within its borders and some are more abundant here than anywhere else in the country. The most important reason for this is that the county, especially in the east and south, is dominated by chalk – and it is chalk (and some limestone) grassland that holds some of the most specialist and scarce species, such as the Duke of Burgundy, Marsh Fritillary, Chalkhill Blue and Wall Brown.
Wiltshire also holds some exciting butterflies in other habitats too, such as the Purple Emperor, the woodland fritillaries and the hairstreaks.
Butterfly Walks in Wiltshire directs you to the best places in Wiltshire to see these interesting butterflies. Amply supplied with habitat and species photographs, it also gives the most useful information about how and when to find butterflies and some moths at these sites, with clear maps to get you to them easily.
The text has been written by members of the Wiltshire branch of Butterfly Conservation, and all sites in Butterfly Walks in Wiltshire have been specially visited, so that the information given is as up to date as possible.