The search for Dorset's Duke of Burgundy butterflies - Giant Hill, Cerne
Giant Hill, Cerne Abbas
We are returning to Giant Hill at Cerne Abbas in the Duke of Burgundy flight period to see if we can find any adults. We carried out emergency habitat management for this butterfly in the winter: it is probably Dorset’s most endangered species. This butterfly is now reduced to six small colonies in the county, all of which require careful management to maintain suitable habitat.
We hope we will have increased the butterfly’s chances of survival by this work. 
The project was 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.
For the walk today, we shall be meeting for a 10am start in the Cerne Abbas Village Hall carpark, to search the slopes to the north and the east of the Giant, possibly the most thriving colony of Dukes in Dorset. We should be back by lunchtime (around 1pm) – bring lunch if you want to have a picnic on the hill or nearby.
It would help us with our planning if you could let us know if you plan to attend – please contact Martin Warren martin.warren@bc-europe.eu