Hazelborough Forest and Wood

Location - Between Brackley and Towcester.

Where to park - For Hazelborough Forest park near the Silverstone racing circuit along Dadford Road at TL00639026, please park respectfully and keep the gates clear at all times. For Hazelborough Woods park in the car park along Brackley Road in Silverstone at TL00639026.

Parking Charge - No parking charge at either site.

Notable species - Wood White, Purple Hairstreak, Purple Emperor, White Admiral and Silver-washed Fritillary (Hazelborough Forest is particularly good for the form valezina).

Hazelborough Forest and Wood are both managed by Forestry England and, along with Bucknell Wood, formed part of the ancient Whittlewood Forest. The sites are separated by the A43 and are both very close to Silverstone Racing Circuit so please note that access will be very difficult during busy race meetings, especially the Formula 1 Grand Prix and the MotoGP. Both Hazelborough Forest and Wood are incredible sites to see woodland butterflies and are both strongholds of the Wood White.

To visit Hazelborough Forest drive passed Silverstone Racing Circuit and park up by the access gate on the right hand side. As always, please ensure the access gate is kept clear at all times. From here walk into the woodland following the hard track and explore adjacent rides as you go. All the rides around here are good for Wood White and during their flight time should be encountered quite easily. Later in the year Hazelborough Forest is an excellent location to see the Purple Emperor and they have been regularly recorded all over the site, especially along the hard-surfaced tracks. Purple Hairstreaks and White Admirals can also be abundant in some years and Silver-washed Fritillaries can also fly in very good numbers as well. Hazelborough Forest is rapidly becoming one of the best sites in the county to see the Silver-washed Fritillary from valezina too. White-letter Hairstreaks have also been recorded in the past too.

To visit Hazelborough Wood either head west out of Silverstone along Brackley Road, after a short distance Brackley Road becomes one way (it’s the slip road off the A43 if travelling from the west) and you have no choice other than to turn around using the turning point. However, rather than turn right back to Silverstone at the turning point we need to go straight on towards the wood and follow the road down a short slope, across a cattle grid, and then turn right into the car park. If travelling from the west along the A43 it is simply a case of coming off at the Silverstone slip road and then turning left into the wood to reach the same car park. Hazelborough Wood is a good place to see Wood Whites although numbers fell dramatically in 2023. However, there was a good second brood so hopefully, numbers will bounce back in future years. Like the neighbouring woodlands, Hazleborough Wood holds good numbers of other woodland butterflies. Purple Emperors are often recorded, especially on the main track heading north through the middle of the wood. Purple Hairstreaks can be seen all over the wood and there are occasional sightings of White-letter Hairstreaks too. White Admirals can fly in good numbers as can Silver-washed Fritillaries. One of the best areas to look for butterflies is around the clearing by the disused buildings at SP65414275 where the many nectar sources can attract a variety of species.

For more information about Hazelborough Wood see Forestry England’s website

For more information about racing events at Silverstone see the Silverstone Racing Circuit’s website