Press Release

THE CROWN ESTATE HELPS ENDANGERED BUTTERFLY SPECIES

15 November 2006

An endangered species of butterfly has seen an increase in numbers thanks to a project undertaken on The Crown Estate’s Dunster Estate, to the north east of Exmoor National Park.

Nicknamed locally as the ‘Woodman’s Follower’ due to their liking for newly-felled woodland areas, the Heath Fritillary butterfly is one of the rarest species in Britain. It is now restricted to the woodlands of Kent and Essex, heathland combes on Exmoor and two unimproved grassland sites in Devon and Cornwall.

Two colonies live on each of the Hopcott and Alcombe commons, previously separated by around 8 hectares (20 acres) of coniferous woodland that prevented the butterflies from coming together.

With the support of the Natural England, the woodland was cleared in an effort to boost the population.

“The species thrive on a number of different plants which can’t grow in dense coniferous woodland areas and this was preventing the two colonies joining together”, explained Alvin Houchen, The Crown Estate’s Head Forester at the Dunster Estate.

“The caterpillars of the Heath Fritillary feed on common cow-wheat a plant which grows on heathlands alongside bilberry. To thrive these plants require active management of heathland through grazing and burning to ensure that gorse, bramble and scrub do not become too dominant. By felling the trees, The Crown Estate has helped to extend the area of heathland, which is then being actively managed to create a habitat that allows the two colonies to come together and provides a food source for the butterflies’ larvae allowing them to successfully breed. ”

Local Natural England adviser  Mike Pearson acknowledged that the results were already evident.  He said: “We have been very supportive of The Crown Estate’s initiative at Dunster to enhance the protection of this endangered butterfly.  Despite these efforts being fairly recent, there have already been signs of an increase in the population which we will continue to monitor.  As with all endangered species, it is vital to ensure the survival of the Heath Fritillary butterflies for the long-term.”

Heath Fritillary (Melitaea athalia), whilst populous in other parts of Europe, is classified as a Priority Species and fully protected in the UK.  It is found only in very specialised habitats and flies close to the ground, recognised by its characteristic flits and glides.  It was previously saved from the brink of extinction in Britain and only survives today through conservation efforts.

The changes to land have also attracted other species such as the nocturnal nightjar bird which have been spotted a number of times this year.