Grafton Wood is a 56 hectare reserve of mature woodland jointly owned by Butterfly Conservation and Worcestershire Wildlife Trust. It is located between Worcester and Stratford-upon-Avon and it has SSSI status.
The Wood is home to the relatively rare Brown Hairstreak and Wood White butterflies plus Purple Hairstreaks and many of the common butterfly species. The visit was timed to coincide with the flight period of the Brown Hairstreaks. Three relatively small ponds at the north end of the wood are home to a wide variety of dragonflies.
A total of seven Group Members and guests attended in warm and sunny weather. The Brown Hairstreaks proved to be illusive, however, and only one was seen towards the end of the visit.
A selection of images is shown here.
- Brimstone by John Plant LRPS
- Brimstone by Maggie Finney LRPS
- Brown Hairstreak by Neil Avery
- Brown Hawker by John Plant LRPS
- Common Blue by Sandy Fothergill
- Common Field Grasshopper by Neil Avery
- Grass Moth by Duncan Locke ARPS
- Green Shield Bug by Duncan Locke ARPS
- Hairy Shield Bug by Dave McKay ARPS
- Humming Bird Hawk Moth by Sandy Fothergill
- Meadow Brown by Maggie Finney LRPS
- Peacock by Alan Hartley ARPS
- Volucella inanis (focus stacked) by Alan Hartley ARPS
- Wood White on Vetch by Dave McKay ARPS
For more events to attend go to Nature (rps.org)
