Lancashire Wildlife Trust starts new butterfly management project

30/07/2008 11:22:52 The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and N. Merseyside is pleased to announce the commencement of a butterfly management programme at Warton Crag with the aid of a grant from the Lancashire Environmental Fund.

July 2008. Warton Crag is a hugely important site both locally and nationally in supporting populations of several rare butterfly species. UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species of concern are the High Brown Fritillary, the Northern Brown Argus and Pearl-bordered Fritillary while the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary is listed as a species of conservation concern. The mosaic of habitats favoured by these species is under constant threat of encroachment from scrub and dense bracken stands, and requires continual management work to safeguard these species of butterflies. This project will focus on enhancing and maintaining existing areas of suitable habitat as well as restoring areas of grassland now dominated by scrub.

High Brown Fritillary
The High Brown Fritillary, the key focus of the project, lay their eggs within bracken litter in close proximity to violets, their larval foodplant. Management is therefore aimed at encouraging the growth of violets on the edge of bracken stands. The project will aim to carry out scrub clearing work, coppicing and bracken management. It is also hoped to trial new practical management techniques as well as purchase equipment to increase the efficiency of the work and ensure the extended areas can be managed adequately within current resources beyond the time frame of this project.

This will be carried out alongside the current programme of grazing which also forms a key part of the management prescription for the site. By maintaining the existing areas of habitat in favourable condition through additional management work and the creation of additional suitable habitats in close proximity, it is hoped to enable the site to support larger and more viable populations of these rare species. Management for High Brown Fritillary will also benefit both Pearl-bordered and Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries while grassland management should benefit the Northern Brown Argus whose larvae feed on Common Rock-rose.

Moths
In addition it will increase the areas of species rich grassland and associated limestone outcrops, itself supporting a number of rare plants such as Limestone Fern, Angular Solomon's Seal and Dark Red Helleborine. This habitat also supports other notable invertebrate species such as moths Cistus Forester and Least Minor, both of which could benefit from this project.

Much of the work will be undertaken by volunteers through practical working party days, while more specialist work will be delivered by trained volunteers or staff members. The project will be supported by the Trust's Heritage Lottery Funded Volunteer Project, which itself aims to promote opportunities and engage and support new and current volunteers. Through the engagement of local volunteers it is also hoped to strengthen links with the local community, raise awareness and build a strong core of support to assist with management and monitoring in the future.

July & August - best time to see
High Brown Fritillaries can been seen during July and August, although usually only seen on warm, sunny and relatively still days, so if you are planning a visit to the Crag in the hope of catching a glimpse of these very special butterflies it is worth checking the weather forecast beforehand. The species can also be easily confused with the commoner Dark Green Fritillary which is also present on site, however if you are lucky enough to see one close up, the patterning on the underside of the wing is diagnostic.