– the Marsh Fritillary butterfly
This EBBRAG Newsletter has been contributed by local resident Jeremy Cuff, whose many talents include taking spectacular photographs of fauna and flora:
During the first half of May, and even occasionally in the last few days of April, Marsh Fritillary butterflies emerge from their pupae to fly over the flower-rich chalk downlands north-east of Warminster.
This area is one of the few remaining strongholds of this species, which can be observed during its flight season at Battlesbury, Middle, Scratchbury and Cotley hills, as well as at locations on some of the more inaccessible parts of Salisbury Plain.
In certain special years, the Marsh Fritillary can emerge in very large numbers, which is a real wildlife spectacle to behold, and one that is increasingly rare in today’s world due to its sensitivity to habitat destruction and fragmentation, development, and lack of site management.
In those special seasons where the Marsh Fritillary is locally abundant, individuals will sometimes set off from their emergence sites to attempt setting up new colonies, and in the recent past, they’ve been seen reaching Home Farm at Boreham and other neighbouring areas.
Due to its national rarity and conservation importance, the Marsh Fritillary is classified as “Vulnerable” on the GB Red List (2022), and is designated by Butterfly Conservation UK as a “High Priority” species requiring significant and dedicated conservation efforts.
Unsuitable developments such as the one proposed at Home Farm pose a real threat to the Marsh Fritillary and will contribute to putting additional pressure on the nearby sites where it is found, and thwart any efforts at outward colonisation to adjacent areas that are vital for its long term survival, so please continue to support EBBRAG in the fight to prevent this unwanted residential development on the east side of Warminster becoming a reality. Thank you.
