The Norsey Wood Society works closely with Basildon Borough Council, the owners of Norsey Wood Nature Reserve, an ancient woodland which is also
a Site of Special Scientific Interest on the edge of Billericay in Essex, UK
butterfly_habitats_management
Butterfly Habitats and their Management
The woodland canopy over much of the Wood and the narrow paths and rides limit the amount of light which reaches the ground and this restricts flower and butterfly numbers but there are some more open areas. The broad ride south along the Easy Access Trail from the Information Centre, known as the Butterfly Ride, has historically had a good display of wildflowers and hence has provided good butterfly habitat. In recent years, flower numbers seem to have reduced but widening work carried out over the 2015-16 and 2016-17 winters will increase light levels and should allow flowers and butterflies to flourish again.
In addition, a section of the main ride has been widened in recent years and coppiced areas remain open for several years though brambles often quickly overwhelm other flowering plants. During the 2017-18 winter, further ride-widening has been carried out with the clearance of short stretches on alternate sides of a ride creating a series of “scallops”. These areas provide a variety of sheltered habitats, with varying amounts of sun and shade, which should be attractive to butterflies and other insects.
The large Buddleia outside the Information Centre attracts a number of species when it is in flower. There is an area of grassland, known as Norsey Meadow, just inside the Norsey Close entrance and this sometimes attracts species not found elsewhere in the Wood.