www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Acting on a tip off from a guy named Gordon (Mark knows him) I popped up to Odd Down, Bath this afternoon. Gordon said that he was absolutely sure that small blue were in the Park and Ride car park, and Gordon seems to know his stuff. And he was right. I had four sightings in about half an hour once I had worked out where they were. For anyone who wishes to visit, follow the through lane into the car park past the green railings on your left. To the left of the parking rows after you enter is a line of bushes and small trees, in front of which are grass verges which sport plenty of thicker vegetation plus the magic ingredient, kidney vetch, tons of it. The first three verges are where to look. I also saw large skipper, mint moth, burnet (dunno how many spots) and meadow brown. All in a car park. The grass verges have evidently been managed with wildlife in mind and just goes to show what can be done when the powers that be put their collective minds to it. There was even a cock pheasant poking around the trees.
Needless to say, parking or catching a bus there shouldn't be a problem, and a note to Simon, carrying a machete would most likely get you arrested
Here's one of the blues:

Nice shot. Looks nice. Whay on earth would you (unless a criminal or derenged) carry a machete here?

Pitty the small blue died out in Ireland. Would have been nice to still see them around.

Simon C reckoned you'd need a machete to get through a very overgrown location that he visited to find wood white.

Hi eccles,

I'm sure your right about the machete, but a battery-powered garden strimmer won't fit in my rucksack

Great to hear about the small blues. I'll definitely give them a go.

Simon

Hows about the good old fashioned hand sythe... OK, bad suggestion... I had a similar problem where I went to other day. Pitty lasers that cut stuff don't exist yet...