Shropshire Magazine

The Wood White, Leptidia sinapis.

Jack Stapleton discovers that south Shropshire is an important butterfly battle ground

The rare Wood White butterfly is set to benefit from a new conservation project in south Shropshire. Over the next two years Butterfly Conservation and Forestry Commission England will be improving wildlife habitat in six areas of woodland between Clun and Craven Arms.

The Wood White butterfly has undergone a 65 per cent decline over the past 30 years. A recent study has shown that fewer than 100 colonies of this butterfly remain in England, putting it at high risk of extinction.

When woodland becomes darker and the rides narrower, the foodplants and nectar that these butterflies rely on are unable to grow. The loss of links both within and between woods can then result in colonies becoming isolated and more vulnerable to dying out, especially in poor summers when adult numbers are generally lower.

There is a glimmer of hope, however. South Shropshire is one of the four remaining English regions where it’s not too late to save the Wood White butterfly. Experts say that the species is still widespread enough to have a chance of colonising new sites.

Nectaring Wood Whites.

The South Shropshire Woodlands Project aims to transform Shropshire’s woodlands into butterfly havens, encouraging existing butterfly colonies to spread. Conservation work to be carried out includes the widening, maintaining and linking of existing forest rides, the removal of conifers to create new rides, ground disturbance to encourage the spread of Wood White foodplants and the creation of open clearings by the early removal of conifer crops.

The two organisations behind the scheme bring a wealth of experience and expertise to it. The Forestry Commission, the government department responsible for forestry in Great Britain, supports woodland owners with grants, tree-felling licences, regulation and advice. It promotes the benefits of forests and advises government on forestry policy. It manages more than 2.5 million acres of national forest land for public benefits such as sustainable timber production, recreation, nature conservation, and rural and community development.

Its partner, Butterfly Conservation, is the largest insect conservation charity in Europe, with nearly 15,000 members in the UK. Its aim is the conservation of butterflies, moths and their habitats, and it runs preservation programmes on more than 60 threatened species of butterfly and moth. It also manages more than 30 nature reserves. Much work is delivered through the charity’s regional branches and the West Midlands branch holds an annual programme of events aimed at raising awareness of the region’s butterflies and moths. Sir David Attenborough has been Butterfly Conservation’s president since 1998.

Jenny Joy of Butterfly Conservation.

Funding

The South Shropshire Woodlands Project is being funded by SITA Trust, which was set up in 1997 and part of whose brief is to enrich nature by funding biodiversity conservation projects. Last year the trust donated £6.8m nationwide.

The Forestry Commission’s woodlands around Craven Arms were confirmed as an important area for Wood White butterflies by Bill Davidson, a Butterfly Conservation member and Clun resident who discovered Wood White colonies in the area several years ago.

Bill spent many hours monitoring butterfly populations in south Shropshire before his death in 2007.

Dr Jenny Joy, senior regional officer for Butterfly Conservation in the West Midlands, based in Telford, says: “This project will be a fitting tribute to Bill’s memory. We need to let the light back in to more of these woodlands and hope that the butterflies will follow.

“We’re keen to enlist local volunteers to help us continue surveying butterflies in the area. Monitoring and recording is vital to inform where we target the conservation effort. It is also a great excuse to enjoy the beautiful countryside on our doorstep and the amazing creatures living here. If you would like to find out more please get in touch.”

Alan Reid, Forestry Commission wildlife ranger for south Shropshire adds: “Forestry Commission England are looking forward to working with Butterfly Conservation in the delivery of this project. As an organisation we are committed to finding ways in which we can better manage our woods to benefit wildlife and biodiversity and there is a great opportunity here to make a real difference to the fortunes of a fast-declining butterfly”.

A shady ride in Radnor Wood — and excellent potential habitat for Wood White butterflies.