Species Recovery Programme (Butterflies)

The project aims to undertake conservation work on a number of Section 41 Priority species.

We have produced a series of Species, Regional and National Action Plans to focus and coordinate conservation of threatened butterflies across the UK. The project is delivered by staff and volunteers, often in partnership with other organisations.

Key activities include:

• Advising land owners in target areas
• Recommending appropriate management
• Monitoring key populations and habitats
• Producing factsheets about managing land for threatened species
• Compiling species distribution and monitoring data to produce site dossiers to help target management
• Landscape scale projects delivered by our staff and volunteers across England aim to improve habitat for Section 41 Priority species in some of their most important populations

Some examples of species that have benefited from our work through the Species Recovery Programme include:

Chequered Skipper

The Chequered Skipper became extinct in England in 1976 as habitat loss and land use changes meant that the sunny sheltered woodland habitats it needed were lost, although it still survives in parts of western Scotland. Butterfly Conservation has led efforts to reintroduce the butterfly to English woods through partnership projects in Northamptonshire and neighbouring counties. Collaborative work with international scientists has shown that Chequered Skipper populations in Belgium and Northern France were most similar to those of its former English strongholds. So since 2018 butterflies from Belgium have been the source of our reintroduction programme for Chequered Skipper in England. Supported by Back from the Brink, Natural England and the Green Recovery Challenge Fund, our partnership is using the butterfly to demonstrate the success of of woodland restoration at a landscape scale.

Large Blue

This globally threatened butterfly became extinct in the UK in 1979. Thanks to work coordinated by Butterfly Conservation and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, it has since been reintroduced successfully to more than 11 sites. Work is currently being undertaken through projects in two key landscapes; Expanding the Large Blue Landscape in the Polden Hills and Conserving the Painswick Valley’s Rare Butterflies which are partially funded by the Species Recovery Programme.

Heath Fritillary

This rare butterfly has been rescued from the brink of extinction and has now recovered to pre-1980 levels.  Butterfly Conservation is involved in monitoring and providing management advice in the key Heath Fritillary areas; The Blean Woodlands, Exmoor and the Tamar Valley.  Successful management and monitoring for this rare butterfly has been made possible through working with partner organisations.

Marsh Fritillary

Marsh Fritillary has declined by 73% since 1980. Much work to conserve the Marsh Fritillary has been conducted through specific projects including;  Re-connecting the Culm, the Mynydd Mawr Marsh Fritillary Project and the current Two Moors Threatened Butterfly Project.  Butterfly Conservation also continues long-term monitoring and management advice on Marsh Fritillary sites in Dorset (read about our work on Marsh Fritillary in Dorset).