The Speckled Wood Has increased dramatically in Sutton Park during the past thirty years and is now a common site in woodlands, scrub land and hedgerows throughout the park. This trend has been reflected nationally with the species expanding it's range greatly since the 1920's. With an ability to survive in denser areas of woodland than any other British species, this butterfly may actually have benefited somewhat due to the neglect of former coppicing practises. On the wing from March to October, this species has up to three broods a year and has the ability to survive throughout the winter in either the caterpillar or chrysalis stage. Caterpillar food plants: a wide variety of various grasses.

A very common butterfly found on grasslands, heathlands, and along woodland glades throughout Sutton Park, and indeed most of lowland Britain. This large but rather dull looking insect flies from June until September. In a good season the Meadow Brown could well be Sutton Parks most abundantly occurring butterfly species. Caterpillar food plant: a wide range of grasses, especially those with fine or medium leaves.

Common throughout southern England and Wales but rarer or absent in the north. This butterfly has increased dramatically in Sutton Park during the past twenty years, and on certain warm sunny days in August the species can easily rival the Meadow Brown in numbers in some areas of the park. I do not recall seeing this species in Sutton Park before the 1980's, and it is interesting to note that it is not listed in the 1965 Sutton Park guide book. Caterpillar food plants: a wide range of fine and medium bladed grass species.

Formally a very common butterfly in Sutton Park, this species has diminished somewhat in numbers over the past ten years. A butterfly of heathlands and dry grassland, the Small Heath has also recently caused some concern over diminishing numbers nationally. However, the species still appears annually in fair numbers in Sutton Park, flying over open ground between mid May and early October. With up to three broods in a season, this small butterfly is quite lively and is fairly easy to spot, and it is hard to explain why it was not included in the 1965 Sutton Park guide book. Caterpillar food plants: Various grasses.

Present Status: possibly extinct in Sutton Park. Listed as a resident species in the 1965 guide book, I can well remember 'the wall' being very common in Sutton Park and the surrounding area, as recently as the mid 1980's. The species is causing some concern nationally as it has disappeared mysteriously from many of it's former haunts during the past twenty years and there have only been a handful of unconfirmed reports of this butterfly occurring in Sutton Park during the last ten years. One can only hope that soon it may be encouraged to return again to the favoured open grassland habitats of Sutton park. Refer to Sutton Park Management Plan 2002 / 2007, by Dr. Stefan Bodnar. Caterpillar food plants: various grasses.

One single record only. Recorded by Dr. Stefan Bodnar in the Summer of 2000 in the North of Sutton Park. Local and uncommon in Warwickshire and the West Midlands, this butterfly has recently shown some signs of extending it's range and could be one to look out for in the future, although it is generally found on less acidic soils than those occurring in Sutton Park. Caterpillar food plant: Red Fescue and various other grasses.