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Extinct Butterfly Returns: Hope for English Skies
14 Sep
Summary
- 46 Chequered Skippers were released into Rockingham Forest.
- Funding of £150,000 will expand reintroduction efforts.
- The butterfly went extinct in England in 1976.
A significant conservation effort is underway to reintroduce the Chequered Skipper butterfly to England, with £150,000 in new funding. This grant, awarded over three years, will bolster the efforts to ensure the species can thrive once again. Recently, 46 Chequered Skippers, sourced from Belgium, were released into Rockingham Forest in Northamptonshire.
The Chequered Skipper butterfly was last recorded in England in 1976, with its decline attributed to changes in woodland management. Its former stronghold was in the woodlands west of Peterborough. Conservationists are hopeful this project will see its successful return to areas like Peterborough and Fineshade Wood.
The funding from Natural England's Species Recovery Programme aims to achieve self-sufficiency for the reintroduced population. This marks a significant conservation success, showcasing the power of collaboration between expert partners, volunteers, and dedicated habitat management.
