Viewed from Holme Lacy, across the Wye valley, the woods rising on hillocks along the eastern edge of the floodplain look uninspiring, dominated by dark regimented conifers. My heart sinks: how can these modern forestry constructs justify their site of special scientific interest status; surely they cannot be some of the best British wildlife woods?
Once inside Haugh Woods it is clear that there is more than meets the eye – there are quite large areas of native trees but, more pertinently, the wood is being sensitively managed. Wide rides with broad, flower-rich margins, bordered by large standard oaks abound.
Soon we encounter an expanse where the conifers have been harvested and, in the few years since, an enthusiastic scramble of sallow, birch and bramble has run riot. A small orange butterfly powers past, its flight behaviour is unfamiliar. I set off, loping after it, the brambles ripping at my trousers and catching the back of my hand. The insect is fast and it escapes. Fritillary, I think, but which one? I have the start of a one-that-got-away syndrome.
My concern dissolves as we locate more fritillaries feeding on the rich blue flowers of bugle. They are pearl-bordered fritillaries, with bright orange wings with arrays of black spots and black hairy bodies. Once a widespread inhabitant of British woods, it is now an increasingly rare animal, disappearing from over 60% of its haunts during my lifetime, and now largely restricted to north Scotland, the Welsh borders, Arnside in Cumbria and the south coast.
Further along small, floaty, white butterflies patrol up and down the rides, an even rarer and more declined butterfly, the wood white.
A recently expired mole lies on the path. Mole populations have done well this year but, as the new generation disperses, conflicts arise. Males often fight to the death and fleeing or injured moles are being observed on the surface in broad daylight.
• This article was amended on 17 June, 2013 to show a correct image of a pearl-bordered fritillary butterfly, which was the species the author of the piece saw.