Recent monitoring results of Chequered Skipper butterfly numbers at Lochaber’s Allt Mhuic butterfly reserve on the north shore of Loch Arkaig show that numbers have increased for the second year running.
The butterfly, which can only be found in the UK at a handful of Scottish sites, in and around Lochaber and north Argyll, is staging a remarkable come-back after several years of decline.
After reaching a low point of only 3 counted on the reserve’s butterfly transect (a standard way of monitoring butterfly populations) in 2009, new management practices were introduced at the reserve, run by Forestry Commission Scotland, in 2010 and the recorded population has now increased five fold
The reversal of fortunes is down to the Commission using 15 Highland Cattle from its 100 strong Lochaber herd to graze specific areas during the year, benefiting the habitat and the food plants that Chequered Skippers prefer.
Independent eco-consultant, Tony Millard, who has been monitoring the project since it began in 2002, said:
“These latest results are a terrific achievement for the Commission’s local team, who all show a real passion for what they are doing.
“Back in 2005 we recorded 38 Chequered Skipper along the transect and that declined year-on-year until 2009, when we only counted 3. The Commission then brought the cattle in during the winter and we’ve seen Chequered skipper numbers surge – up to 8 in 2010 and now 15 this year.
“That is a brilliant result - especially as the poor summer has generally meant fewer butterflies across the UK. The cows have done an excellent job and must take much of the credit!”
The Allt Mhuic reserve remains one of the primary sites for the development and refinement of grazing regimes for the conservation cattle herd based in Glen Garry.
Approximately 100 cattle, in smaller groups are grazing areas at the Sound of Mull (Savary), Poloch, Loch Shiel (Scamadale), Glen Loy, Cow Hill above Fort William and the original site at Loch Arkaig – and during 2011, Chequered Skipper were confirmed on all of these sites.
Kevin Peace, the local District Manager said:
“Our conservation cattle are a valuable resource, carrying out work where machines would find it impossible to function, and doing their thing 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year.
“Seeing Chequered Skipper numbers increase like this indicates that introducing cattle to Allt Mhuic – and other sites – was definitely the right thing to do. It’s great news for the butterfly, but conservation grazing is also helping the beautiful demoiselle, black grouse, and plants such as the montane or dwarf birch and juniper.”
Tom Prescott from Butterfly Conservation Scotland confirmed:
“It is great to be able to point to exemplary sites where there is practice in place to show how sites can be managed.”
Notes to Editors
1) Forestry Commission Scotland serves as the Scottish Government’s forestry directorate and manages the 660,000 hectare national forest estate. The Commission protects, manages and expands Scotland’s forests and woodlands in a way which benefits biodiversity, communities and the economy. www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland
2) Alt Mhuic reserve lies on the north Shore of Loch Arkaig approx 15 miles from Fort William and is open all year round.
3) Highland Cattle are present all year but graze different habitats within the reserve according to season. Currently there are 15 cattle as a permanent group on the site, part of the wider Garry Pinewood cattle grazing project. At least two other sites are now being grazed on a regime that we pioneered at the Butterfly Reserve, but The Alt Mhuic reserve remains the first and will be the core of the Commission’s butterfly management within the forest district.
4) Detailed monitoring of butterfly species and habitats has been carried out by Forest Research and independent consultants since the reserve was established. www.forestresearch.gov.uk
5) The Chequered skipper butterfly is one of six key species in Forestry Commission Scotland’s Biodiversity Action Plan, which aims to carry out work across the national forest estate to help conserve and enhance species numbers. The other key species are, black grouse, capercaillie, Pearl-bordered Fritillary, juniper and red squirrel.
6) Butterfly Conservation is the largest insect conservation charity in Europe with nearly 15,000 members in the UK. Its aim is the conservation of butterflies, moths and their habitats. It runs conservation programmes on over 100 threatened species of butterfly and moth as well as world leading recording and monitoring programmes. For more information, visit www.butterfly-conservation.org
7) For more information about the reserve and the butterfly species present visit www.butterfly-conservation.org/locharkaig
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/newsrele.nsf/WebNewsReleases/ACEFC41C494CA33880257934002FDF56
Showing posts with label rare butterfly. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rare butterfly. Show all posts
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Thursday, July 7, 2011
New butterfly reserve in East Sussex to conserve Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary
New Rowland Wood Reserve will help save rare butterflies
July 2011. A nature reserve that could play a key role in securing the long-term future of one of England's most threatened butterflies is now open. Butterfly Conservation's new Rowland Wood Reserve in East Sussex will help to support the last remaining population of the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary in the South East.
The butterfly, which has distinctive rows of pearl-like silver spots on the underside of its wings, has suffered from a catastrophic population decline over the last 40 years. It is extinct in Kent and has probably been lost from Surrey.
77 acre reserve
But the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, which boasts dappled orange and black upper wing markings, has a new home in Rowland Wood after clinging on in the charity's smaller Park Corner Heath reserve next door. The 77-acre site has been set up to help safeguard this threatened butterfly's future in a region where it remains extremely vulnerable.
Butterfly Conservation Vice President and BBC, The One Show wildlife reporter, Mike Dilger said: "The Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary is one of our most stunning and threatened butterfly species. The opening of Rowland Wood Reserve offers them a great chance of surviving in the South East and will give the public the opportunity of watching these tantalising butterflies at first hand."
Reduction in coppicing
The Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary was once widespread throughout much of the UK, but a reduction of traditional woodland management practices such as tree coppicing, is believed to be behind the insect's decline in its southern range.
Vert Wood
The Rowland Wood site is part of the large Vert Wood complex - a location much-loved by Victorian butterfly collectors. The area is still famed for its butterflies with regular sightings of the White Admiral, Grizzled Skipper and the Silver-washed Fritillary. It is also a haven for nightingales, nightjars, dragonflies, damselflies and dormice.
Michael Blencowe who organises Butterfly Conservation's volunteer workers on the reserve said: "As soon as we purchased the site members from our Sussex branch were in the wood opening it up to allow in more light. Our volunteers created a number of sunny corridors and within months the butterflies responded and Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries moved straight into these newly created habitats."
http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/sussex-butterflies.html#cr
July 2011. A nature reserve that could play a key role in securing the long-term future of one of England's most threatened butterflies is now open. Butterfly Conservation's new Rowland Wood Reserve in East Sussex will help to support the last remaining population of the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary in the South East.
The butterfly, which has distinctive rows of pearl-like silver spots on the underside of its wings, has suffered from a catastrophic population decline over the last 40 years. It is extinct in Kent and has probably been lost from Surrey.
77 acre reserve
But the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, which boasts dappled orange and black upper wing markings, has a new home in Rowland Wood after clinging on in the charity's smaller Park Corner Heath reserve next door. The 77-acre site has been set up to help safeguard this threatened butterfly's future in a region where it remains extremely vulnerable.
Butterfly Conservation Vice President and BBC, The One Show wildlife reporter, Mike Dilger said: "The Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary is one of our most stunning and threatened butterfly species. The opening of Rowland Wood Reserve offers them a great chance of surviving in the South East and will give the public the opportunity of watching these tantalising butterflies at first hand."
Reduction in coppicing
The Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary was once widespread throughout much of the UK, but a reduction of traditional woodland management practices such as tree coppicing, is believed to be behind the insect's decline in its southern range.
Vert Wood
The Rowland Wood site is part of the large Vert Wood complex - a location much-loved by Victorian butterfly collectors. The area is still famed for its butterflies with regular sightings of the White Admiral, Grizzled Skipper and the Silver-washed Fritillary. It is also a haven for nightingales, nightjars, dragonflies, damselflies and dormice.
Michael Blencowe who organises Butterfly Conservation's volunteer workers on the reserve said: "As soon as we purchased the site members from our Sussex branch were in the wood opening it up to allow in more light. Our volunteers created a number of sunny corridors and within months the butterflies responded and Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries moved straight into these newly created habitats."
http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/sussex-butterflies.html#cr
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Rare butterfly 'at risk' from Sutton playground plans
7:30am Friday 4th February 2011
By Matt Watts
It measures only 16mm in length but this tiny butterfly may scupper plans to build a children’s playground on a nature reserve.
Sutton councillors and parents want to put a playground in the Devonshire Avenue Local Nature Reserve in Sutton.
But environmental campaigners warned it would be a serious risk to one of the few habitats in London for one of the UK’s rarest butterflies – the small blue butterfly – and want the plans scrapped.
Joanne Porter, chairman of the Sutton Nature Conservation Volunteers, said: “It’s very concerning because it’s one of the most important habitats for one of the UK’s rarest butterflies.”
She said she understood the need for play facilities in the area but wanted to continue to work with the council to find a solution to the issue.
Her worries were backed by Sutton Council environmental officers, who in a report to a council committee said the playground should be “a last resort” because “there is a risk the habitat could deteriorate to the extent that the species may be lost”.
But chairman of the Sutton South, Cheam and Belmont Local Committee Councillor Tony Shields said the play facility was essential because there was no playground anywhere else in Sutton South ward, in an area where 50 per cent of properties did not have a back garden.
He said: “We all want to protect wildlife and we believe putting one piece of equipment in the habitat will not be a problem and will bring more people to enjoy the nature reserve.”
He said the plans also had the backing of nearby Devonshire Primary School and parents of pupils there.
At a committee meeting on Thursday it voted to pursue plans for the play equipment, despite the objections.
Sutton also has another habitat for the blue butterfly.
The Avenue Primary School Nature Garden, is also said to contain a small but unstable population of the species.
FACT FILE: Small blue butterly - Cupido minimus
By Matt Watts
It measures only 16mm in length but this tiny butterfly may scupper plans to build a children’s playground on a nature reserve.
Sutton councillors and parents want to put a playground in the Devonshire Avenue Local Nature Reserve in Sutton.
But environmental campaigners warned it would be a serious risk to one of the few habitats in London for one of the UK’s rarest butterflies – the small blue butterfly – and want the plans scrapped.
Joanne Porter, chairman of the Sutton Nature Conservation Volunteers, said: “It’s very concerning because it’s one of the most important habitats for one of the UK’s rarest butterflies.”
She said she understood the need for play facilities in the area but wanted to continue to work with the council to find a solution to the issue.
Her worries were backed by Sutton Council environmental officers, who in a report to a council committee said the playground should be “a last resort” because “there is a risk the habitat could deteriorate to the extent that the species may be lost”.
But chairman of the Sutton South, Cheam and Belmont Local Committee Councillor Tony Shields said the play facility was essential because there was no playground anywhere else in Sutton South ward, in an area where 50 per cent of properties did not have a back garden.
He said: “We all want to protect wildlife and we believe putting one piece of equipment in the habitat will not be a problem and will bring more people to enjoy the nature reserve.”
He said the plans also had the backing of nearby Devonshire Primary School and parents of pupils there.
At a committee meeting on Thursday it voted to pursue plans for the play equipment, despite the objections.
Sutton also has another habitat for the blue butterfly.
The Avenue Primary School Nature Garden, is also said to contain a small but unstable population of the species.
FACT FILE: Small blue butterly - Cupido minimus
- Britain’s smallest resident butterfly with a wing span that can be a little as 16mm.
- Colonies are isolated and it is only found in small pockets of sometimes less than 30 adults
- Numbers have plummeted in recent years due to loss of chalk grassland habitats.
- It feeds on kidney vetch plants, which only grow on poor nutrient, alkaline soils.
- Despite its name it is not particularly blue as its wings are a dark smokey-brown.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Rare butterfly making a comeback in Norfolk
5 August 2010
The UK's largest butterfly, the rare Swallowtail, is making a comeback following a century of decline.
The Swallowtail, which was once a common sight across the country, can now only be found in the Norfolk Broads.
The butterfly's population, which has been in decline for 100 years, is now increasing, say conservationists.
The success is being put down to fen management over the past 15 years.
This has resulted in an increase in milk parsley, a favourite food source for the Swallowtail caterpillar.
'Easily spotted'
This year, butterfly watchers reported seeing the distinctive yellow and black-winged insects in greater numbers than ever before.
The turnaround in fortunes began in the late 1990s when a programme of harvesting the fen and clearing scrub which had been invading the region began.
Government funding from agri-environment schemes to landowners helped finance the work.
Andrea Kelly, head of conservation at the Broads Authority, said: "This restoration programme is a fantastic demonstration of how funding is providing magnificent wildlife results for seven million visitors who visit the Broads' magical waterland each year.
"More visitors are saying that they have easily spotted Swallowtails this year."
The Swallowtail butterfly has a wingspan of up to 80mm (3.15in).
These butterflies usually produce two to three broods from April to September.
See video at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-10876770
(Submitted by Liz R.)
The UK's largest butterfly, the rare Swallowtail, is making a comeback following a century of decline.
The Swallowtail, which was once a common sight across the country, can now only be found in the Norfolk Broads.
The butterfly's population, which has been in decline for 100 years, is now increasing, say conservationists.
The success is being put down to fen management over the past 15 years.
This has resulted in an increase in milk parsley, a favourite food source for the Swallowtail caterpillar.
'Easily spotted'
This year, butterfly watchers reported seeing the distinctive yellow and black-winged insects in greater numbers than ever before.
The turnaround in fortunes began in the late 1990s when a programme of harvesting the fen and clearing scrub which had been invading the region began.
Government funding from agri-environment schemes to landowners helped finance the work.
Andrea Kelly, head of conservation at the Broads Authority, said: "This restoration programme is a fantastic demonstration of how funding is providing magnificent wildlife results for seven million visitors who visit the Broads' magical waterland each year.
"More visitors are saying that they have easily spotted Swallowtails this year."
The Swallowtail butterfly has a wingspan of up to 80mm (3.15in).
These butterflies usually produce two to three broods from April to September.
See video at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-10876770
(Submitted by Liz R.)
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Race to save rare butterfly
CONSERVATIONISTS say a small Warwickshire nature project could have a huge impact on some of Britain’s most threatened wildlife.
Teams have created new habitats for an endangered species of butterfly in south Warwickshire, as reported in yesterday’s Telegraph.
But they say the work for the Grizzled Skipper could have a knock-on effect on a series of species that have been gradually disappearing across the UK.
CONSERVATIONISTS say a small Warwickshire nature project could have a huge impact on some of Britain’s most threatened wildlife.
Teams have created new habitats for an endangered species of butterfly in south Warwickshire, as reported in yesterday’s Telegraph.
But they say the work for the Grizzled Skipper could have a knock-on effect on a series of species that have been gradually disappearing across the UK.
http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/2010/04/15/race-on-to-save-rare-butterfly-92746-26249592/
Teams have created new habitats for an endangered species of butterfly in south Warwickshire, as reported in yesterday’s Telegraph.
But they say the work for the Grizzled Skipper could have a knock-on effect on a series of species that have been gradually disappearing across the UK.
CONSERVATIONISTS say a small Warwickshire nature project could have a huge impact on some of Britain’s most threatened wildlife.
Teams have created new habitats for an endangered species of butterfly in south Warwickshire, as reported in yesterday’s Telegraph.
But they say the work for the Grizzled Skipper could have a knock-on effect on a series of species that have been gradually disappearing across the UK.
http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/2010/04/15/race-on-to-save-rare-butterfly-92746-26249592/
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