Butterfly Conservation Dorset - Duke of Burgundy habitat enhancement project
Red Post Hill, Up Sydling
Two of Dorset’s most threatened butterflies – Marsh Fritillary and Duke of Burgundy (below) (photo: Luc Mitchem)
We have an exciting opportunity to carry out emergency habitat management for Dorset’s most endangered butterfly species: the Duke of Burgundy. This butterfly is now reduced to six small colonies in the county, all of which require careful management to maintain suitable habitat. We have a grant to carry out scrub control on several of these sites during the coming winter, which will greatly increase the butterfly’s chances of survival. The work is funded under a Farming in Protected Landscapes (FIPL) grant awarded to Hilfield Friary, in conjunction with the Dorset Branch of Butterfly Conservation and EuCAN CIC. The project also involves workshops to explain the requirements of this butterfly to Dorset conservation advisors and key landowners.
We are looking for practical support from as many people as possible at this site and the other four. Please get in touch with Martin Warren if you would like to find out more. martinswarren@btinternet.com
We will be working at the Red Post Hill site on Thursday October 30th and Wednesday November 5th. The other sites which we shall be visiting over the coming weeks are: Black Hill and Giant Hill at Cerne Abbas, Telegraph Hill near Hilfield, and Langford Hill near Stratton.
For the Up Sydling work, we shall be meeting for a 9am start at the parking place marked on the map: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?hl=en&mid=1PWLHA_sVWOPo-KV4AWQHSco0daPb39o&ll=50.83119235511019%2C-2.5250725195872303&z=15
What3Words for parking place: watchdogs.likening.confronts
then walking down to the worksite below Red Post Hill (marked on the google map). Please bring your refreshments and lunch with you and PPE if you will be working with power tools (certificated users only). It should be possible to put your bags and tools into a 4×4 or quad to save you carrying everything.
It will help us with the planning (though not essential) if you let us know that you are hoping to join us.
Duke of Burgundy butterfly in Dorset