This marker on the Cambridge Butterfly Trail is at Midsummer Common – see the map above.

The Small tortoiseshell is one of the UK’s most beloved butterflies. Boasting a wingspan of 50 to 56mm, its underwing patterns of vibrant orange, black and electric-blue spots make it unmistakable to gardeners and wildlife-watchers alike.

Caterpillars feed exclusively on common and small nettle, meaning this species thrives where nettles grow freely, often at the edges of allotments, waste ground and hedgerows.

Adults are hardy: they can appear from early spring through late autumn, and some even hibernate in sheltered nooks to emerge on sunny winter days.

Despite its fame, Small tortoiseshell numbers have plunged by about 79% since 1976, suffering their worst year on record in 2023, likely due to drought and parasitic flies.

You can support them by planting nettles, letting corners of your garden go wild, and joining surveys such as the Big Butterfly Count.

For more information, please visit Butterfly Conservation’s page on this species – Small tortoiseshell.