Butterfly returns from brink of extinction to South Downs

A project to boost numbers of butterflies and chalk grassland on the South Downs National Park has unexpectedly seen the return of the silver-spotted skipper butterfly, once close to extinction across the county.
Rare butterfly on South Downs SUS-151030-094409001Rare butterfly on South Downs SUS-151030-094409001
Rare butterfly on South Downs SUS-151030-094409001

The project, led by the South Downs National Park Authority and supported by a grant of £39,425 awarded by The Veolia Environmental Trust through the Landfill Communities Fund, was set up to improve and increase areas of rare chalk grassland which several species of butterfly including the Adonis blue and chalkhill blue depend on to thrive.

Phillippa Morrison-Price, South Downs National Park Authority ranger, said, “Chalk grassland is one of the most endangered habitats in the country and vital to the survival of wildlife but it only exists because of the grazing that’s taken place here over thousands of years.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Through this project we’ve been able to introduce grazing into new areas and clear encroaching scrub.

“The result has not just benefitted the Adonis blue and chalkhill blue but also led to the surprise return of the silver-spotted skipper.”

“The benefits of this work will be seen much further too. The South Downs’ chalk downland is also relied on by more than a million people in and around the National Park for clean drinking water and tens of millions of people as a valuable green space.”

Neil Hulme, who works for project partner Butterfly Conservation and took the photograph, said, “In the 1970s the silver-spotted skipper was so rare that its last two locations were a closely guarded secret.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It’s wonderful to see them now flying amongst the iconic blue species of the South Downs. Sightings at Anchor Bottom near Upper Beeding, Mill Hill in Shoreham and at Benfield Hill and Waterhall in Brighton & Hove show the first expansion in its range for nearly ten years.

“We’ve seen many other insects and plants benefitting from this work, showing that decades of decline in this rich and unique habitat can be reversed with good management.”

Paul Taylor, executive director of The Veolia Environmental Trust, said, “This is great news for the South Downs and the species that call it home, not to mention the local community and the South Downs’ many visitors, who can now enjoy seeing these species of butterfly.

“The success of this project is testament to the work of the National Park team and the volunteers whose hard work helped make this project happen.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It is also an excellent example of why the Landfill Communities Fund is a vital source of funding for environmental conservation and improvement projects across England and Wales.”

The Silver-spotted Skipper is one of the latest butterfly species to emerge each year, flying from late July until September. It prefers warm, south-facing slopes with fine grasses such as Sheep’s Fescue and an abundance of chalk grassland flowers.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage

2) Like our Facebook page

3) Follow us on Twitter

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

Always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.

Related topics: