25 March 2008

Volunteers help secure future of rare butterfly

March marks the 40^th anniversary of the setting up of the charity Butterfly Conservation.

Even more cause for celebration:

Nationally the Chalkhill Blue has declined by more than a third over the past decade.

At Magdalen Hill Down near Winchester this decline has been dramatically reversed.

Recent summers have seen the numbers of Chalkhill Blues up by as much 700 per cent over their lowest point.

The reversal is the result of a major volunteer effort.

The Magdalen Hill Down volunteers were joined by journalist, author, broadcaster and smallholder Rosie Boycott. She wants a return to less industrialised forms of agriculture that would help preserve  habitats. 

Throughout the country 15 other Branch work parties marked the anniversary with days of action to improve butterfly habitats.

These events will be the first of a series of activities throughout the year marking the anniversary.

During the past 40 years Butterfly Conservation has grown from a handful of members to more than 13,000, many of them actively participating in conservation work and recording butterfly numbers

Rosie, who is herself a Butterfly Conservation member, said: “Way back in 1968 people were aware that butterfly habitats were being lost. Now, 40 years on, butterflies are still declining. Habitats are the key. We must praise Hampshire Branch for what they’ve achieved. We must also learn to treat our countryside in such a way that habitats are never neglected in the first place.”