plateau is largely covered by glacial till of a stony, clayey nature. Exploitation of the ironstone within the Northampton Sands was the basis for the once-important iron and steel industry in Corby on the western edge of the forest. Management Areas managed by the Forestry Commission include: Southey Wood, Peterborough Wakerley Great Wood Bedford Purlieus National Nature Reserve Fineshade Wood Fermyn Woods It is famous for its population of red kites which now number 300. Chequered skipper reintroduction In the spring of 2018 chequered skipper butterflies (Carterocephalus palaemon) from Belgium were released at a secret site as part of the Back from the Brink (BftB) project. A further release of butterflies from Belgium will take place in the spring of 2019, to supplement the newly emerged offspring of last years release. Invasive scrub has been removed from more than 8 km of woodland rides by Butterfly Conservation and their partners, and if the reintroduction is successful they will be the first native-born chequered skippers to emerge in England in more than 40 years. See also List of forests in the United Kingdom List of Ancient Woods in England External links Forestry Commission References English royal forests Forests and woodlands of Northamptonshire Natural regions of England Nature reserves in Northamptonshire