Chorleywood Common’s rangers are delighted that current trends have shown an increase in the number of butterflies in the green space.
A six-year study between 2018 and 2023, created by local members of the Hertfordshire & Middlesex branch of Butterfly Conservation, has revealed very encouraging trends.
In terms of individual species, numbers of red admirals have increased by 400 per cent and numbers of the gatekeeper variety have gone up by 65 per cent.
Some species have also been documented on the Common for the very first time, with sightings of the forester moth in both 2022 and 2023, and the hummingbird hawk-moth in 2023.
These positive signs have been attributed to the excellent management of the Common, with practices such as selective cattle grazing and sensitive meadow work resulting in an increase in wildflowers and thus an increase in butterflies.
Philip Gibbs, lead author of the report, said: “While we must consider factors like weather variations, the overall picture is encouraging. It demonstrates that restoring and improving habitats can have a tangible impact on butterfly populations.”
Photo Credit: Chris Hankinson
0 Comments