Five to spot

1 PEACOCK

One of our most striking and instantly recognisable butterflies, with its bold eyespot patterns. Look for these in woodland clearings, edges and tracks.

2 PURPLE EMPEROR

A large butterfly with a magnificent purple sheen, it spends most of its time in the woodland canopy, but does, on occasions, come down to feed on sap.

Now found only in southern forests such as Alice Holt Forest in Hampshire.

3 ORANGE-TIP

You may have been enjoying this species for a few months now, as it’s one of the first to emerge in spring. Males are white with orange wing tips, while females have black wing tips. They’re abundant and can be seen in woodland glades.

4 PEARLBORDERED FRITILLARY

Increasingly rare, it’s bright orange with black markings, and has pearl-like patterns on the underside of its hindwings. It can be found in woodland clearings.

5 COMMA

Spreading north from southern England after a period of rapid decline, it can look like dead leaves when resting thanks to its colouring and scalloped edges.