Chinnor Hill, Oxon

The far-reaching views over the Vale of Aylesbury are not the only reason to visit Chinnor Hill in the summer. The chalk grassland is filled with flowers and butterflies. Look out for wild marjoram, orchids and harebells amongst many other flowers. All of these attract a wide variety of insects including butterflies like the common blue and marbled white.

At the top of the hill you will find shady woodland and areas of scrub that include juniper. The reserve is a great place to watch red kites soaring in the sky as well as kestrels hovering over the slopes looking for prey.

Chinnor Hill

Grangelands and The Rifle Range, Bucks

Summer is the time to see the impressive display of wild orchids at this nature reserve. Pyramidal, chalk-fragrant, common spotted- and bee orchids are all found here. Many other wild flowers grow on the sunny chalk grassland and these attract a great variety of insects. 

The ancient Ridgeway National Trail passes through Grangelands and The Rifle Range making it an interesting place to explore as part of a longer summer walk. 

Grangelands and The Rifle Range

Hurley Chalk Pit, Berks

This tiny reserve includes a small patch of chalk grassland brimming with wild flowers - please take care where you step as there are many wild orchids growing here that can easily be trampled. The warm, sheltered old chalk pit also attracts many butterflies, with 22 different species recorded here including the common blue and gatekeeper.

Surrounding the old chalk pit there is an area of beech woodland, hazel coppice and scrub. The reserve is not far from the River Thames at Hurley and is worth visiting as part of a longer walk exploring the area.

Hurley Chalk Pit

Loddon Nature Reserve, Berks

Beside the River Loddon, this flooded gravel pit, dotted with islands and surrounded by scrub, is the perfect place to watch waterbirds and dragonflies. 

Summer visitors may include common tern and oystercatchers, which are able to nest on the islands away from predators like foxes. Whitethroats sing from the scrub surrounding the lake, and damselflies and dragonflies hunt over the water. 

Loddon Nature Reserve

Rushbeds Wood, Bucks

This nature reserve is excellent for butterflies and you are likely to see the tree canopy aflutter with the fast-flying purple hairstreak in July. The wood also supports white admirals and silver-washed fritillaries along with some of the more uncommon butterflies such as the purple emperor and black hairstreak.

Please remember to stick to the paths when visiting, especially when taking photographs of the butterflies. The rides are carefully managed for their flowers which can easily be trampled by overeager visitors.

Rushbeds Wood also includes two large ancient meadows that brim with knapweed and oxeye daisies as well as meadow butterflies such as marbled whites.

Rushbeds Wood

Warburg Nature Reserve, Oxon

While Warburg Nature Reserve has something for every season, summer is prime time for wild orchids and other wild flowers. In July, you can find broad-leaved, narrow-lipped and violet helleborines.

Out on the chalk grassland a wide array of wild flowers attract many different insects and on hot days the shady woodland offers somewhere cooler to explore.

Warburg Nature Reserve

What's on this summer