Collard Hill, in pursuit of the Large Blue - National Trust · Collard Hill, in pursuit of the...
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near Street, Somerset TRAIL Walking GRADE Easy DISTANCE 1.5 miles (2.5km) TIME 30 minutes OS MAP Explorer 141; Landranger 182 Contact 01643 862452 [email protected] Facilities http://nationaltrust.org.uk/walks In partnership with Collard Hill, in pursuit of the Large Blue In 2002 Collard Hill was opened by the National Trust on behalf of the Large Blue Partnership as a great place for the public to come and see this rare and fascinating butterfly. Having disappeared from the UK in the late 1970s, the large blue is flourishing here and even at busy weekends, you’ll find plenty of quiet spots in which you can get a good glimpse of them. Terrain Steep to moderate grassy and chalky slopes, which are hard and bumpy when dry, and slippery when wet. Cross the busy B3151 crossroads with particular care. Things to see Large blue The butterflies usually fly within a three-week period between early June and July, though the timing of this depends on the weather. Individuals live for just four or five days. Numbers tend to be best during the third week of June: earlier in hot summers, a bit later if it is cooler. Stunning views Enjoy the views from Collard Hill towards the Polden Hills, the Somerset Levels, and Glastonbury Tor. Collard Hill is a great picnicking spot. On a hot summer day though it can be exposed and stifling, so bring plenty of water, youll need it. Outside the butterfly season, the slopes are grazed by ponies and cattle to keep vegetation short. This gives the right conditions for the type of red ant, whose grubs the large blue caterpillars eat. Other butterflies Other resident butterflies include marbled white, meadow brown, small heath, brown Argus and, in August, a few brown hairstreak (pictured here). Only two other blues occur on Collard Hill: the common blue and holly blue both are smaller than the large blue, and they fly earlier in the season. Black spots on the large blues forewings distinguish it from all other blue butterflies. The common blue is brighter and the holly blue has plain azure-blue wing upper sides without black borders. 90 per cent of the blue butterflies you see here are large blues.
Transcript of Collard Hill, in pursuit of the Large Blue - National Trust · Collard Hill, in pursuit of the...
near Street, Somerset
TRAIL
Walking
GRADE
Easy
DISTANCE
1.5 miles (2.5km)
TIME
30 minutes
OS MAP
Explorer 141;Landranger 182
Contact01643 862452
Facilities
http://nationaltrust.org.uk/walks
In partnership with
Collard Hill, in pursuit of the LargeBlueIn 2002 Collard Hill was openedby the National Trust on behalf ofthe Large Blue Partnership as agreat place for the public to comeand see this rare and fascinatingbutterfly. Having disappearedfrom the UK in the late 1970s, thelarge blue is flourishing here andeven at busy weekends, you’ll findplenty of quiet spots in which youcan get a good glimpse of them.
TerrainSteep to moderate grassy and chalky slopes, which are hard and bumpy when dry, and slippery whenwet. Cross the busy B3151 crossroads with particular care.
Things to see
Large blue
The butterflies usually fly within athree-week period between earlyJune and July, though the timingof this depends on the weather.Individuals live for just four or fivedays. Numbers tend to be bestduring the third week of June:earlier in hot summers, a bit laterif it is cooler.
Stunning views
Enjoy the views from CollardHill towards the Polden Hills,the Somerset Levels, andGlastonbury Tor. Collard Hill isa great picnicking spot. On a hotsummer day though it can beexposed and stifling, so bringplenty of water, youll need it.Outside the butterfly season, theslopes are grazed by ponies andcattle to keep vegetation short.This gives the right conditions forthe type of red ant, whose grubsthe large blue caterpillars eat.
Other butterflies
Other resident butterflies includemarbled white, meadow brown,small heath, brown Argus and, inAugust, a few brown hairstreak(pictured here). Only two otherblues occur on Collard Hill: thecommon blue and holly blueboth are smaller than the largeblue, and they fly earlier in theseason. Black spots on the largeblues forewings distinguish itfrom all other blue butterflies. Thecommon blue is brighter and theholly blue has plain azure-bluewing upper sides without blackborders. 90 per cent of the bluebutterflies you see here are largeblues.
near Street, Somerset
Start/endStart: National Trust car park,grid ref: ST488340End: National Trust car park,grid ref: ST488340
How to get thereBy bus: Bus 377 from Yeoviland Street to Collard Hill (alightMarshalls Elm crossroads)
By car: 1 mile (1.6km) southof Street and to the east of theB3151
http://nationaltrust.org.uk/walks
1. From the car park near the youth hostel, head east, following the blue-topped posts, which we putup to direct visitors to Collard Hill during the large blue season.
2. Follow the path through woodland glades and out into rough grassland. Look out here for marbledwhite and ringlet butterflies, plus several types of orchid.
3. Cross over a (blind) summit crossroads with great care. Go to the opposite, south-east sector ofthe crossroads, heading towards the Scots pine trees, and a National Trust stile and interpretationboard.
4. Head right, towards and through the scattered pine trees. The blue-topped post route guides youthrough some key large blue areas, but feel free to explore.
5. Start climbing the lower slopes of Collard Hill then continue walking straight ahead, traversinghalfway up the hillside. Large blues fly all along here. They tend to use the lower slopes in windyweather, but never fly north of the new fence that runs along the crest of the slope. In the distance isButleigh Monument on Windmill Hill.
6. A favoured area for the large blue is the East Bank, a grassy open area east of the track that runsdiagonally down the slope. Explore and leave via a path cutting through the scrub at the bottom of theslope.
7. Turn right and follow the bottom of the slope back to point five and return to the start of the walk.
