Wildlife-lovers in Bedfordshire are needed to help create the right habitat conditions for one of the county’s rarest and most charismatic butterflies.
The Duke of Burgundy is limited to just a handful of spots in Bedfordshire with the best location at a chalk downland site in Whipsnade.
The Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire Branch of wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation are clearing scrub at the site on Sunday (March 8) to help create ideal conditions for the butterfly, which emerges as an adult later in the spring.
The Duke of Burgundy is renowned for its feisty nature and is often seen chasing off much larger butterflies that wander into its territory.
The Duke has suffered a worrying decline across the UK and is now one of our most threatened butterflies. Butterfly Conservation have been doing work in several other parts of the country to help it recover.
The butterfly needs scrubby patches of downland where the female can lay eggs on Cowslips.
Greg Herbert from the Branch explained:
“We’ve been working at this site for around 25 years. It’s a beautiful chalk downland and the best place in Bedfordshire for this rare butterfly.”
The work party takes place starts at 10.30am on Sunday 8 March. If you would like to attend, please contact Greg Herbert on: 01582 663784. Those attending should meet at the National Trust’s Bison Hill car park.
Check out the full list of other events put on by the Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire Branch in 2015.