Holtspur Bottom is primarily a butterfly reserve. However, even when butterflies aren't around (October to March), the scenery is still wonderful, and you are welcome to come to enjoy the peace and tranquility our reserve offers.

In autumn, the hedgerows are full of colourful berries of the Spindle and Wayfaring trees, as well as Rose hips, Hawthorn berries, and Sloes. Autumn is the time we normally cut the meadows, and it is when you may see sheep grazing the reserve.

Winter is traditionally the time when bulk of our conservation work is carried out, preparing the reserve for the following season.

Butterflies which have spent the winter hibernating as adults start to appear on warm days in March. These are Brimstone, Peacock, Comma, Small Tortoiseshell and Red Admiral.

During late March and April more butterflies, which have spent the winter as pupae, start to emerge. These are Orange-tip, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Speckled Wood, Green Hairstreak and Holly Blue.

Early spring flowers will be starting to show, such as Cowslip, Blackthorn, Common Dog-violet, Lesser Celandine and Dog's Mercury.

If you visit the reserve in early May, you will have a good chance of still seeing all of the early Spring butterflies, and Cowslips should still be visible in the upper and lower meadows. By late May, the Cowslips will have finished, and the meadows slowly become a more intense yellow, dotted with white, as Buttercups, Yellow Rattle and Ox-eye Daisy flower in profusion. Moving into June, the yellow starts to fade, and the meadow starts to change colour, as the Red Clover comes into flower.

Small Skipper, Large Skipper, Small Copper, Small Blue, Brown Argus, Common Blue and Small Heath butterflies can be seen during May and June.

Depending on the weather, July and August are probably the best months to visit the reserve, at least in terms of the sheer number of butterflies you are likely to see.

The Chalk Hill Blue is one of the success stories of the Holtspur Bottom reserve. After being absent from Holtspur Valley for many years, it re-established itself in 2011. July is the best time of year to see this beautiful butterfly.

As well as the Chalk Hill Blue, you are likely to see Skippers, Gatekeeper, Marbled White, Ringlet and Meadow Brown in profusion in our meadows. Moving from July into August, the second broods of Brimstone, Comma, Peacock, Red Admiral and Small Tortoiseshell will be putting in an appearace. August should also see the second brood of the Small Blue. You may even be lucky eough to see the elusive Purple Hairstreak (look in the Oak trees at the far end of the reserve by the footpath for these). Painted Lady and Clouded Yellow may also be seen, but as these are immigrants from the continent they are not guaranteed.

At this time of year you are likely to see all the day-flying moths that occur on the reserve. These are Mother Shipton, Six-spot Burnet, Burnet Companion, Cinnabar, Mint Moth, Brimstone Moth, Silver Y, Common Carpet, Angle Shades, Small Magpie, Treble-bar and Blood-vein.