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Compared to many counties, Surrey is fortunate in that forty two butterfly species (out of a national list of 58) can be found within its borders. In the mid 1990s, this total was three higher but, sadly, the Duke of Burgundy has gone from its haunts along the North Downs and the two smaller Pearl-bordered Fritillaries have disappeared from the Chiddingfold Forest complex in the extreme south-west of our county. However, Surrey can still claim some real rarities with the Wood White, Silver-spotted Skipper, Purple Emperor and Adonis Blue(shown right) attracting butterfly enthusiasts from far and wide. The cessation of coppice management of woodlands was a significant factor in the loss of the fritillary species but behind the demise of the Duke of Burgundy lay a more complicated and difficult set of reasons.
Surrey County Council run a number of conservation projects around the county in partnership with Surrey Wildlife Trust and other members of the Surrey Biodiversity Partnership. In 1999, the Surrey Biodiversity Action Plan was published and it contains 10 Habitat Action Plans for Surrey wildlife habitats, including locations important for key butterfly species and a Species Action Plan for the Small Blue butterfly. The Council's other conservation projects that include butterfly habitats are the Downlands Project, Heathland Project, Lower Mole Project and Old Surrey Downs.
The local Surrey and South West London Branch of Butterfly Conservation is involved in several initiatives across the county to manage and enhance the habitats of our county's priority species of butterfly. The branch manages a woodland reserve of some 21 acres within the Chiddingfold complex called Oaken Wood that offers sanctuary to all the county's woodland species and to several key moth species. At a local level, several Butterfly Conservation activists are heavily involved with neighbourhood sites and initiatives such as Banstead Downs, Headley Warren and Hutchinsons Bank. These chalk downland sites hosts many rarer butterflies such as the Chalk Hill Blue and Small Blue. Partnerships with Downland Management Projects, the two most significant being the Lower Mole and Downlands Countryside, provide splendid examples of knowledgeable amateurs and dedicated professionals forging powerful partnerships to the benefit of butterflies in particular and wildlife in general.
Firstly, you could join Butterfly Conservation and get involved with other butterfly enthusiasts in events and field trips to enjoy the butterfly riches which Surrey still offers. Secondly, if you're lucky enough to have a small, medium or large garden, plant as much native shrub or plant material that you can. A buckthorn will certainly be discovered by local Brimstones and eggs laid. Garlic Mustard or Honesty or Sweet Rocket will attract Orange Tip to visit and lay eggs. Plants such as Red Valerian and Erysimum Bowles Mauve will provide nectaring sites for a range of butterflies as will, of course, buddleia. Find out more about plants for your wildlife garden and, on the Butterfly Conservation website, about gardening to feed butterflies and caterpillars.
Written by Malcolm Bridge
Branch Recorder
Surrey and South West London Branch of Butterfly Conservation
Photo of Adonis Blue butterfly copyright Surrey Branch of Butterfly Conservation.
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