Shugborough's springtime wildlife

Spring sees the birth of new life at Shugborough. Out in the Parkland, we have two particularly special species thriving.

Out in Sherbrook Valley, our ranger team have discovered the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary butterfly. You can spot it by looking for the mosaic of white, orange and brown on its wings.

This species is currently threatened, and is in real need of conservation and care. Our site in Staffordshire is the only known surviving site in the county, and our ranger team are now beginning habitat management to make sure that it thrives.

Outside Shugborough and the Sherbrook Valley, the nearest known populations are at Earl’s Hill in west Shropshire, which shows the real importance of our local colonies.

As well as rare butterflies, Shugborough is home to 7 species of Bats including the common and soprano pipistrelle, noctule and brown long-eared ; the old trees in the woodland and parkland, as well as the old buildings, provide numerous nesting and roosting sites, and the grassland, rivers and wet woodland attract the insects that provide their food.

Between late October and early March bats are hibernating, and when the temperature rises you may spot them coming out of hibernation to find food.

The noctule, soprano pipistrelle and brown long-eared are all identified as threatened species. So, our ranger team are carefully managing our Parkland to make sure that we have enough suitable habitats and areas that provide food for these special creatures.

It is thanks to your support through your visits and memberships that we are able to care for these magnificent animals on our Estate.