The Northern situation

Records from a  number of new localities were received, reflecting the good season all over the country.

Derbyshire

Three new sites in the south, and five new sites in the north-east. The latter are particularly interesting: all with about 10 miles of each other; probably due to expansion from Sherwood forest: a few miles to the east.

Nottinghamshire

Two new localities. The existing habitats: Sherwood Forest, Cotgrave Wood, and Wellow Wood had higher numbers than usual.

Leicestershire

This is the best of the northern counties, with colonies in 11 localities, most within the National Forest area. Three new new habitats were discovered, the most notable being the Queen Elisabeth diamond jubilee wood.

Lincolnshire

Chambers Farm Wood is the best locality in this county, and 2025 was no exception, with the earliest sighting ever recorded here: June 18th. The species is spreading to the other neighbouring Bardney Limewoods: in psarticular, four were seen in a wood near Wragby. 

The Emperor has existed in some of the woods in the south of the county for a long time. Morkery Wood is probably the best, with the highest number for one day this year being ten. Neighbouring Twyford Wood also did well, where nine were seen on 27/6. 

Yorkshire

This county gave the most exciting results. Up until now, just a handful of sightings in the south of the county had been recorded in 2016 and 2022. This year, we had three sightings from the middle of the county: at Sprotborough Nature reserve; near Guisborough; and at Askham Bryan College.