A Cotswold Camp for the ‘Dukes and Blues’

http://www.justgiving.com/roughbanks

Please help us to secure a safe haven for some of Britain’s rarest butterflies

Butterfly Conservation has been given a unique opportunity to buy an important piece of Cotswold limestone grassland. Such a significant habitat acquisition would make a huge difference to our work, by safeguarding important colonies of several rare butterflies and moths. It will also enable us to restore the habitat for two highly threatened species, the Large Blue and Duke of Burgundy that used to breed here.

The Duke of Burgundy is facing an uncertain future, with numbers at an all time low. This small, orange and brown butterfly lives in colonies on grassland or in woodland clearings. Traditionally the caterpillar feeds on cowslip or woodland primroses growing in dappled sunlight. But in recent years, grazing patterns on calcareous grasslands and changes in woodland management have had an adverse effect on this delicate butterfly. Sadly this threatened species, has now become a priority for our conservation efforts.

The Large Blue is the rarest of the blue butterflies in this country. It became extinct in the UK in 1979 due to losses of suitable habitat. However, following a successful reintroduction programme using Swedish stock the Large Blue was ‘brought back from the dead’. There are now promising numbers of established colonies but still much work remains to be done, building populations and securing its future as a native butterfly.

The Large Blue’s reintroduction shows that with the right sites and the right management, it is possible to reverse the fortunes of a threatened species.

But we need your help

Butterfly Conservation’s proposed purchase of a 44 acre site near to The Camp, up on the Cotswold ridge 4 miles North East of Stroud, is central to securing their future. It will help protect a rare and vanishing grassland habitat, and support our conservation programmes to save the Large Blue and Duke of Burgundy butterflies.

This location has significant existing wildlife interest, including four other blue butterflies – Adonis, Chalkhill, Small and Common. It also supports the highly threatened Narrow-bordered Bee hawk-moth. The site, which includes rich flower meadows so typical of the Cotswold landscape, is home to a wonderful range of rare orchids including: Green-winged, Fly, Bee, Pyramidal, Fragrant and Greater Butterfly.

Butterfly Conservation needs your help to raise £210,000

This will enable us to purchase – and save forever – a site that will secure a crucial habitat and reverse the decline of two of our most endangered British butterflies. We will draw upon over 40 years of successful conservation experience to carefully manage your new Nature Reserve.

Your gift will protect a gem in the Cotswold countryside and allow future generations to share the beauty of its native wildlife.

Please give what you can – your donation will be greatly appreciated

Thank you

Yours sincerely


Dr Martin Warren
Chief Executive

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