Welcome to Minchinhampton Walking and Wildlife Group

 Minchinhampton Common north side

The group was formed to share knowledge about the unique wildlife habitats in the parish of Minchinhampton and to enjoy the local environment in the company of like-minded people. We also monitor and investigate local habitats in conjunction with conservation organisations. Knowledge that we gain is shared on this website and by creating documented walks around the parish.

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 As the sun emerged fleetingly today we took a walk along the Pinfarthings Banks where it was good to see the emergence of the last of the five species of Blue Butterfly that frequent the Minchinhampton Common area. We have only seen quite small numbers of Common, Adonis and Little Blues this year although more Holly Blues than usual earlier in the season. 

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Category: Butterflies

Visible this morning by the rugby pitch at the top of Windmill Road.

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Category: Flora

A number of male Adonis Blues were seen this morning on the usual bank of Minchinhampton Common, overlooking Pinfarthings. Male Adonis Blue

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Category: Butterflies

One of our neighbours tells us that there are three vixens in the local den (probably last year's mother and two of her daughters). We have counted at least ten cubs visible at the same time - though there could be more. (It is very hard to count a highly mobile group of cubs. We thought we might have seen eleven at one point but could not be certain that there was no double counting.)

Fox Cubs - at least 9 of then

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Category: Fauna

While trying to track down Robert's Pasque flowers (see below) and which we think we found, plus four others on the slope overlooking Bear Hill (where we have failed to find them for several years), we also saw a small number of Duke of Burgundy butterflies being fairly lively in the sun, at the usual place on Rodborough.

The Early Purple orchid are now coming through in good numbers on the Common, and we found our first Green Winged just emerging, not far from Tom Long's Post

Update:  One Duke also seen on Bownham Common recently (8th May).

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Category: Ecology
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