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The results from a survey of heath fritillary butterflies, carried out last year, has revealed that the butterflies look to be making a comeback in Cornwall as a result of conservation work underway in the Tamar Valley, which is being supported by a Natural England Environmental Stewardship agreement.

The heath fritillary is a highly restricted species, occurring in only four areas of England: Blean Woods in Kent, The Tamar and Lydford Valleys and south Essex.  In the last 25 years this attractive butterfly has declined due to changes in woodland and heathland management.

The heath fritillary prefers sunny woodland glades where it flies close to the ground with characteristic flits and glides.  The butterfly has historically been linked with the traditional practice of coppicing of woodland, giving it the local name of the ‘Woodman’s Follower’ 1.

Cornwall was once a stronghold for the heath fritillary but the population has plummeted here too.  Although a small population of fritillaries has clung on in the Tamar Valley, the future was looking so bleak for the species that local conservation organisations, land owners and volunteers joined forces in a bid to save the area’s butterflies.

The project - which is a partnership between Butterfly Conservation, The Duchy of Cornwall, Natural England and the Tamar Valley AONB - is currently focusing its work on an area on the Cornish side of the river.  Here scrub control, coppicing and conifer removal is being carried out at three main sites.  The aim is to expand the areas currently occupied by the heath fritillaries and link these sites to new areas of suitable habitat by creating special ‘butterfly corridors’ through the valley.

At Greenscoombe Wood, which is owned by The Duchy of Cornwall, a coppicing programme is underway to create more havens for the butterflies.  Rotational annual coppicing is carried out to provide continuous areas of suitable butterfly habitat.

Similar work is planned at nearby Deer Park Wood, where coppice compartments are being managed by the Duchy of Cornwall.  Funding to carry out the management work is coming from the Duchy and from Natural England’s Environmental Stewardship Higher Level Scheme (HLS).

The creation of a new ‘Fritillary Flyway’ has been created on Deer Park Farm under a separate HLS agreement.  The work helps to connect both Greenscoombe and Deer Park Wood, increasing the likelihood of the butterflies extending their current territory still further.

The results of a survey 2 of the Tamar’s Heath Fritillary population carried out by Butterfly Conservation volunteers and an experienced contractor last year has shown an encouraging link between the management work being carried out and an increase in the butterfly’s numbers.  In 2011, heath fritillary butterflies were located in twice the area of Greenscoombe Wood as in the previous year (2.9 ha in 2011 compared to 1.2 ha in 2010).  The survey also found that the amount of suitable habitat available to the butterflies had increased as a result of the woodland management carried out as part of the Environmental Stewardship HLS scheme.

Geraint Richards, head forester with The Duchy of Cornwall, said:  “Greenscoombe Wood is a very special place, rich in history and biodiversity. It is very satisfying to see a revival in the heath fritillary population after many years of collaborative effort.  I would like to thank all those who have worked with the Duchy to make this possible.”

Nigel Bourn, Director of Conservation at Butterfly Conservation, said: “The heath fritillary is a top conservation priority having suffered severe declines since the 1980s.  This fantastic partnership project demonstrates that with a lot of support and hard work, species can be brought back from the edge of extinction.”

Hugh Tyler of Natural England’s Cornwall Team, added:  “This project is a great example of local organisations and individuals working together to make things happen on the ground.  It’s fantastic to see that the management work, which is partly funded by an Environmental Stewardship scheme, seems to be making a tangible difference by providing a lifeline for these rare and beautiful butterflies.

“Particular thanks must go to Butterfly Conservation and its volunteers for undertaking the detailed annual monitoring work and to Geraint Richards at the Duchy of Cornwall.  Geraint has been enthusiastic and dedicated to the project from the start and without his help getting the right management on the ground for the heath fritillaries would have proved impossible.”

As well as helping the heath fritillary, the work in the Tamar Valley has increased the number of other butterfly species recorded in the area from 13 species in 2004 - before major restoration work was undertaken; 14 in 2008 - before the HLS agreement started; to an impressive 20 different species recorded in 2010 following the HLS funded work.  Some of the other butterflies that have benefited from the project are small copper, small tortoiseshell and common blue.

Heath Fritillary – Fact File

Additional notes:

 1 Coppicing is an ancient method of woodland management and wood production, in which shoots are allowed to grow from the base of a felled tree.  Trees are coppiced in rotation and the technique traditionally provided a continuous supply of timber for fuel, fencing, furniture making and many other uses.

2 Heath Fritillary in the Tamar Valley 2011 Status Report, Butterfly Conservation Report No. S11-25, Betsy Vulliamy, Richard Vulliamy and Caroline Kelly, October 2011

Environmental Stewardship

Environmental Stewardship is administered by Natural England on behalf of Defra and funds farmers and land managers throughout England to deliver effective environmental management on their land.

The objectives of Environmental Stewardship are to:

• Conserve biodiversity

• Promote public access and understanding of the countryside

• Maintain and enhance landscape quality and character

• Protect the historic environment and natural resources

Environmental Stewardship has four elements; Entry Level Stewardship, Organic Entry Level Stewardship, Uplands Entry Level Stewardship and Higher Level Stewardship

About Natural England

• Natural England is the government’s advisor on the natural environment. Established in 2006 our work is focused on enhancing England’s wildlife and landscapes and maximising the benefits they bring to the public.

• We establish and care for England’s main wildlife and geological sites, ensuring that over 4,000 National Nature Reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest are looked after and improved.

• We work to ensure that England’s landscapes are effectively protected, designating England’s National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and advising on their conservation.

• We run England’s Environmental Stewardship green farming schemes that deliver over £400 million a year to farmers and landowners, enabling them to enhance the natural environment across two thirds of England’s farmland.

• We fund, manage, and provide scientific expertise for hundreds of conservation projects each year, improving the prospects for thousands of England’s species and habitats.

• We promote access to the wider countryside, helping establish National Trails and coastal trails and ensuring that the public can enjoy and benefit from them.

For further information (media enquiries only) please contact:
David Hirst, Natural England press office on 0782 7821679 or email david.hirst@naturalengland.org.uk