Butterfly conservation project at Wyre Forest

• Mar. 11 by Rachel Trinder (2)

A recent project at Wyre Forest is helping to generate more open space for butterflies by clearing areas and setting up ‘corridor’ links between one area of the forest and another.

The forest works closely with the Butterfly Conservation and the Forestry Commission to manage projects concerning butterfly conservation.

Phil Rudlin, who works at Wyre Forest, said:

‘We’re linking the areas that are butterfly ‘hotspots’ in order to encourage more butterfly activity and ensure none of the butterflies found in the forest die out

If a species of butterfly does die out then we can easily re-populate them thanks to the corridor links

Butterflies need sunshine in order to thrive and that’s why we’re generating more open spaces.’

How the open spaces are being created

Volunteer Conservation Groups run every last Sunday of the month at the forest and they have a slightly harsh sounding but effective way of clearing the land.

The main aim is to clear areas of trees by generating controlled fires making sure that the land is dry instead of turning muddy with rotten tree stumps.

This means increased plant growth that leads to more butterflies.

Other butterfly conservation projects at Wyre Forest

Butterfly conservation is something Wyre Forest has been committed to since the 1980s and they’re determined to keep it going in the future.

Within the last several years ‘The Back To Orange’ project has been concentrating on protecting some of the endangered butterflies out of 32 species that can be found in the forest.

Phil added:

‘Some of the rare and endangered butterflies we’re helping to conserve here at the Wyre Forest are both the large and small variety of Pearl Bordered Fritillary and the Woodwhite species’

More information about Wyre Forest can be found on their visitor centre site.

For contact information for their Volunteer Conservation Groups visit the volunteer page.