BOOM! Butterfly Conservation

Back On Our Map (BOOM) is a 4 year project (2019-22) based in Cumbria that aims to protect and save hazel dormouse, Duke of Burgundy and small blue along with 7 species of rare plants and use citizen science to gain evidence and support for the reintroduction of corncrake and pine martin. The project is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the University of Cumbria, and supported by a wider partnership of the Morecambe Bay Partnership, Natural England, Cumbria Wildlife Trust and Forestry England. The talk, in partnership with butterfly conservation, focused on the introduction, protection and expansion of Duke of Burgundy and small blue butterflies.

Duke of Burgundy is a species that needs help, with long-term declines in both occurrence (-84%) and abundance (-42%). However, recent conservation efforts across the UK have resulted in a 67% increase in abundance and 3% increase in occurrence between 2005-2014; though there seems to be a lack of more recent data. The project aims to expand existing populations through grazing and vegetation clearing to provide better habitat for its food plants (Primroses/Cowslips). This has been praised for its use of members of the public during work parties to gain local support. The project then aims to take caterpillars from these metapopulations to raise in captivity and then release pupas into other suitable habitat in the area. 

Hodbarrow RSPB- Location of proposed future Duke of Burgundy introduction.

 (© Greg Bailey)

For small blue, the project aims were more focused on the introduction of the butterfly and then the management needed to maintain this. In 2015, small blues were successfully introduced to Barrow Slag Banks to the North of Workington; interesting this is a brownfield site. Small blue’s will only travel a few kilometres in their life and due to a lack of suitable habitat it is all but impossible for this to happen without human interference. To aid the introduction BOOM are doing scrub management, sowing kidney vetch and creating scrapes and bunds. The hope in the future is that the butterflies may move north to other suitable sites nearby and that a mark and recapture study could be done to monitor the population size to see if it is self-sustaining. As the small blue’s food plant is mainly kidney vetch then they require bare disturbed ground so brownfield sites could be its saviour and has also helped to change the opinions of locals towards unattractive brownfield sites.     

Small blue feeding on kidney vetch. 

(© Tim Melling )

The talk gave me an insight into how and why introductions are essential in the conservation of these species. As more and more species in the UK decline and retract in range, reintroductions may be essential in the recovery if the UK ever wants to restore its biodiversity and ecosystems. The talk also stressed the importance of continuing land management and monitoring in ensuring an introduction becomes self-sustaining which I will take forward with me into any future careers.

Link to project