BC's Fiona Haynes tells us more about her new project to help a tiny blue butterfly in Surrey:
The Small Blue Project aims to improve chalk downland habitats on the North Downs mainly between Guildford and Dorking for Britain’s smallest butterfly, Cupido minimus or the Small Blue; the works should benefit a wide range of plants and invertebrates including butterflies such as the stunning Adonis Blue, Silver spotted Skipper, Dingy Skipper and Grizzled Skipper, as well as the Chalk Carpet and Straw Belle moths.
The habitat management works are focussed on encouraging the sole food plant of the Small Blue, Kidney Vetch Anthyllis vulneraria, by removing vigorous scrub and grasses and creating bare ground conditions which will encourage the plant to spread.
Kidney Vetch can be found on cliffs, quarries, embankments and chalk downland but there is precious little of it on this stretch of the North Downs. Although many of our stretches of downland are managed to encourage a diverse range of chalk flowers, Kidney Vetch has been lost from many sites.
Late May and June is the main flight period for this stunning little butterfly so it’s a great time to get out and see if you can see them.
There aren’t many populations left in Surrey, so all sightings are important and if you can get a photo and make a note of exactly where you see them, that is even better.
BC are also looking for landowners who wish to support the project and for any keen gardeners that live in the area. It is entirely possible to support these rare species in your own garden by growing the food-plants so anyone wishing to help in this way should get in touch. Gardens can make amazing nature reserves!
The Surrey Branch of Butterfly Conservation are running regular volunteer work parties in support of the project and there are plenty of opportunities for people to get involved.
Please get in touch with me by emailing: @email
I look forward to hearing from you!
- Fiona
The Small Blue Project is funded by Veolia, the Surrey Community Foundation, Lower Mole Trust, Surrey Hills AONB, Surrey Branch of BC, Abinger, West Horsley and Shere parish councils, the West Surrey Natural History Society, and donations and legacies from private individuals. BC are working with the support of the National Trust, Guildford Borough Council and Surrey Wildlife Trust as well as private landowners and estates such as the Albury Estate.