Butterfly boom: North Northamptonshire Country Parks and Woodlands flourish with biodiversity

05 August 2025

With the National Butterfly Count 2025 now underway (18 July–10 August), it’s the perfect time to celebrate the remarkable rise in butterfly numbers across North Northamptonshire Country Parks and Woodlands, thanks to dedicated conservation efforts and habitat management.

Visitors to Fermyn Woods Country Park may be lucky enough to spot the Purple Emperor, a species once rarely seen but now making more frequent appearances in open countryside, gravel pits, and even residents’ gardens. Maps tracking its spread show a dramatic expansion across the region, with sightings becoming increasingly common.

The park is also home to the nationally scarce Black Hairstreak, one of the UK’s rarest butterflies, which relies on well-managed blackthorn thickets, dense stands of native shrubs that provide essential food and breeding habitat, further highlighting the ecological value of the site.

Meanwhile, Weldon Woodland Park has been officially designated a Local Wildlife Site (LWS) following the discovery of two nationally rare moths: the Liquorice Piercer and the Concolorous. The park’s wildflower-rich grasslands, a habitat increasingly rare in the UK, are a haven for butterflies such as Marbled Whites, Ringlets, Common and Holly Blues, Gatekeepers, Peacock Butterflies, Green-veined, Small and Large Whites, and Red Admirals. 

Skippers are also well represented, including Large, Small and Dingy Skippers, the latter of high conservation priority according to Butterfly Conservation due to its rapid decline, linked to habitat loss and the disappearance of its food plants, horseshoe vetch and bird’s-foot-trefoil, which are abundant in Weldon Woodland Park.

In Hazel and Thoroughsale Woods, butterfly numbers are soaring. Strategic improvements, such as widening and scalloping paths to let in more light, have created ideal conditions for species like the Orange-tip, Comma, and Speckled Wood. One visitor even captured a female Purple Emperor near the Boating Lake and shared the moment on social media. 

These are just a few of the many species now thriving across the parks, thanks to a wide range of ongoing conservation efforts.

Butterflies are more than just a summer delight. They’re vital indicators of a healthy environment, and their presence signals that nature is in balance. With over 80% of UK species in decline, every sighting helps conservationists understand where action is needed most.

The NNC Country Parks and Woodlands team is working hard to support butterfly populations. Through careful mowing schedules, woodland management, and habitat enhancements, they’re creating the light-filled, flower-rich spaces butterflies need to feed, breed, and flourish. 

These efforts are part of a broader programme that includes scalloping shaded paths, restoring meadows, and protecting rare moth habitats, actions that support the health of entire ecosystems.

It’s incredibly encouraging to see butterflies and other pollinators becoming more visible across our North Northamptonshire Country Parks and Woodlands. It’s a testament to the hard work of our teams, volunteers, and partners to create spaces where wildlife can thrive.

Initiatives like the Big Butterfly Count are a great way for people to get involved, enjoy our parks, and help us understand how nature is changing, while also playing a part in protecting it. Whether you're out with family, walking the dog, or simply taking a moment to enjoy the outdoors, every sighting helps build a clearer picture of local biodiversity.
Cllr Ken Harrington, Executive Member for Assets, Waste and Environmental Services.

Here in North Northamptonshire, we are truly blessed with beautiful countryside and the rich tapestry of wildlife, birds, and insects that inhabit our open spaces. It's important to recognise how fortunate we are to share our community with such an incredible array of natural species.Cllr Martin Griffiths, Leader of North Northamptonshire Council.

Get involved

The Big Butterfly Count 2025 is running from 18 July to 10 August, and it’s a great way to enjoy nature while helping protect it. 

With the school holidays in full swing, it’s a perfect time for people of all ages to get involved. Whether you're a keen wildlife watcher, a casual park-goer, or just looking for a reason to get outside, North Northamptonshire Country Parks and Woodlands are full of life and ready to explore.

We’d love to see what you spot! Share your butterfly photos with us on Facebook by tagging @northnorthantscountryparks or using the hashtag #NNButterflyCount. You can also send your sightings or questions to [email protected].