Mount Fancy

How to get there

From the Taunton direction take the right hand turn just before the church in Staple Fitzpaine and follow the road until it turns into a track through a gate at Shutes Farm at ST246169. The No 9 bus from Taunton goes to Staple Fitzpaine and there is a one and a half mile walk from the church. Go over the stile opposite the entrance to the farm and turn right into a field, which is narrow and runs parallel with the access road. Having examined this field, which contains mainly grass eating species of butterflies, such as Skippers and Marbled Whites, heading south past the old barn, turn right into the main field where the Chimney Sweeper moth may usually be found in June and July.

Leave the southern end of the main field through an old hedge bank., crossing the stream, or alternatively following it eastwards to where the public footpath has a muddy ford under some fine old oaks. Entering the bowl field at this south east corner, on the right hand side is a bank with some thistles, where Small Pearl-bordered fritillaries can sometimes be found nectaring. The violets they eat as caterpillars can be found among the bracken. The Chimney Sweeper moth can also be found in this field.

Please note the that the eastern part of the reserve is often difficult to navigate and negotiate owing to the tall bracken, awkward scrub and absence of continuous paths in places. Deer ticks can be a hazards in this reserve.

Butterflies recorded on the site include the following

Small Skipper, Large Skipper, Clouded Yellow, Wood White, Brimstone, Orange Tip, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Green Hairstreak, Brown Hairstreak, Common Blue, Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Comma, Peacock, Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Silver-washed Fritillary, Speckled Wood, Marbled White, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Ringlet and Wall Brown.