{"id":14388,"date":"2022-08-25T13:19:01","date_gmt":"2022-08-25T11:19:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/?p=90592"},"modified":"2022-08-25T13:40:11","modified_gmt":"2022-08-25T11:40:11","slug":"record-numbers-of-previously-extinct-large-blue-butterflies-now-breeding-in-uk","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/rss_feed\/record-numbers-of-previously-extinct-large-blue-butterflies-now-breeding-in-uk\/","title":{"rendered":"Record numbers of previously extinct Large blue butterflies now breeding in UK"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Molly Blair\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Thursday, 25 August 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Declared extinct in the UK in 1979, this year the Large blue butterfly<\/a> has flown in its greatest numbers since records began at the largest number of sites.<\/p>\n

As a result of meticulous conservation efforts, starting with their reintroduction in 1983, southwest England now supports the greatest concentration of Large blues known in the world.<\/p>\n

The Large blue is listed as one of Europe\u2019s most endangered species of insect<\/a>, so the increase in their numbers in Britain is of international significance.<\/p>\n

Twelve new sites are being restored to flower-rich meadows<\/a> suitable for Large blue breeding. Some of these sites have been started from scratch on arable land, failed conifer plantations and railway constructions or by restoring grazing to degraded downland. These sites already support a third of the UK population of Large blue butterflies.<\/p>\n

\u00a9 Jeremy Thomas<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n
The twelve sites link or extend more established populations spanning two landscapes in mid-Somerset, and more recently, in the Cotswold Hills. Six partner organisations are managing the new sites \u2013 The National Trust, Somerset and Gloucestershire Wildlife Trusts, J&F Clark Trust, Natural England and Oxford University.<\/p>\n
The restorations are being led, supervised and monitored by David Simcox and Sarah Meredith from the Royal Entomological Society, who have designed bespoke management plans for each site. Between 2019 and 2022, funding by the Prince of Wales Charitable Fund made it possible to physically reintroduce Large blues to two sites in the Cotswolds after an 150 year absence.<\/p>\n
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