Conservation and recording

Recording the butterflies of Suffolk - beyond the Millenium Survey

The Millenium Survey was the largest and most comprehensive survey ever undertaken of the populations and distribution of butterfly species in Britain and Ireland. The survey covered the period 1995-1999, and culminated in the production of the comprehensive Millennium Atlas of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland. The local version, The Millennium Atlas of Suffolk Butterflies was completed by Richard Stewart in conjunction with the Suffolk Naturalists' Society , and provides distribution maps covering every 2km square (tetrad) of the county.

The branch is heavily involved in continuing butterfly survey work, focussing on those areas which were poorly recorded and also the three species with Biodiversity Action Plan status (Silver-studded Blue, Dingy Skipper and White-letter Hairstreak). Information from the survey will help the branch to direct its efforts to the conservation of those species and habitats that are in most need. Anyone wishing to contribute records or to participate in specific surveys should contact Rob Parker (see Committee page).

Download a copy of the recording form

Conservation Work

The branch drafts species action plans for those moths and butterflies of conservation concern that can be found in Suffolk. These plans are used to direct moth and butterfly conservation work in the county.

There are no Butterfly Conservation reserves in Suffolk but the branch views the whole of the county as its reserve and acts to promote conservation of butterflies wherever it may be needed. Recent work parties have helped improve the habitat at various sites for the Silver-studded Blue butterfly, one of Suffolk's more localised butterflies. Advice is provided on maintaining suitable habitats for butterflies and moths to landowners and agencies within the county.

Silver-studded blue Translocation Update - 2009 Update

In 2007, the Suffolk branch undertook an exciting project to benefit one of Suffolk’s rarest butterflies, the Silver-studded blue.

The purpose of the project is to create a new colony of Silver-studded blues on Blaxhall Common by relocating adult butterflies from sites elsewhere on the Sandlings heaths. Donor sites at Lower Hollesley Common and Minsmere’s Sawmills colony each provided 30 adult butterflies, and these were translocated to Blaxhall Common in June & July of 2007.

The good news is that the butterflies laid eggs and have now survived their first two winters. A transect walk was undertaken by volunteers, and in the summer of 2008, a dozen or so Silver-studded blues were to be seen enjoying their new habitat. Both sexes remained on the wing for a month or so. The 2009 monitoring proved that wild pairings had occurred and the new colony was present in slightly increased numbers. It is still too early to celebrate though, as history shows that re-establishment attempts often fail after two or three seasons. The critical factor will be the quality of the habitat in which they now find themselves.

Silver-studded blues are only found on heathland and have very specialised needs. They prefer low-growing bell heather and their life-cycle depends on the presence of a species of black ant that looks after the butterfly during the early stages of its life. Blaxhall Common does have healthy populations of the ants, Lasius alienus (psammophilus type), and excellent heathland habitat which (to the human eye) appears ideal for the butterfly.

The scheme is a joint project between the Suffolk Branch of Butterfly Conservation and Suffolk Wildlife Trust, who manage the site at Blaxhall. It was made possible thanks to a grant from the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Connect fund, using money raised by Suffolk Secrets, a local tourism business. A keen team of local volunteers will play an important part in the maintenance of the heath and monitoring the new colony in the years to come.

The Silver-studded blue is one of the UK’s rarest butterflies. It has suffered a significant long-term decline in numbers, although in recent years, this has been stabilised, largely due to improvements in heathland management such as that carried out by members of the Sandlings Group in Suffolk. Suffolk has a small but nationally important population of Silver-studded blues, a butterfly that features in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan and may only be legally introduced with proper authorisation and appropriate ecological safeguards.

Ecological Survey of Selected Silver-studded Blue Sites

Not all of our Silver-studded Blue sites are flourishing, and concerns about dwindling populations and deteriorating habitat at several of the Sandlings Heaths prompted a detailed ecological survey in 2009. Similar work was done in 1994 & 2003, and an ecological consultant was commissioned to undertake a fresh study embracing four sites considered to be at risk (Purdis Heath, Martlesham Heath, Blackheath and Westleton Common, all of which had different problems). The opportunity to check the health of one of the donor sites for the Blaxhall translocation (Lower Hollesley) was taken, and the suitability of Snape Warren for a future re-establishment was also investigated.

The full 34 page report is available in PDF format. There are two versions, one a low-resolution document the other a higher resolution document. You will need an appropriate PDF viewer or plugin to be able to read the documents.

Low resolution Silver-studded Blue 2009 Report (875KB)

High resolution Silver-studded Blue 2009 Report (2250KB)