Brownfields and Butterflies Workshop Jane Ellis Regional Officer (Brownfields) Butterfly Conservation Bill Bacon (Chairman) East Midlands Branch Workshop Aims To give a general introduction to the importance of brownfields for butterflies and moths To look at the ecology and habitat needs of important local brownfield species. To look at maps of known sites in Notts and Derbys to identify potential new sites and opportunities to increase populations of Grizzled and Dingy Skipper To provide information to encourage further survey and monitoring in key areas 1
Why focus on Brownfields? Havens for rare and declining species Decline of habitats in wider countryside Support 194 invertebrate species of conservation importance 50 Red Data book At least 60% of new housing to go on brownfield land The key species in the East Midlands 2
Poor Soils low nutrient levels calcareous or acidic contaminated Bare Ground Radiates heat Foodplants over bare ground enable fast development of egg to caterpillar Many invertebrates, amphibians and reptiles also require bare substrates 3
Abundant foodplants and nectar sources Nectar source for adults Caterpillar foodplants Bird s-foot trefoil Wild Strawberry Cinquefoils Foodplants Field Bindweed Bird sfoot Trefoil Wild Strawberry 4
Varied Topography South facing slopes Shelter Rocky outcrops Ditches Rabbit burrows Patchy scrub Shelter Roosting Provides nectar sources Over-wintering sites for larvae 5
Dingy Skipper Erynnis tages Flight period: May (late April early June) Eggs: May June Larvae: June onwards Overwinters: as pupae in hibernaculum of leaves. Foodplants: Birdfoot trefoil (also Horsehoe Vetch and Greater Bird sfoot trefoil) Key brownfield habitats: Disused railwaylines, quarries and spoil heaps Can survive at in very low numbers on small habitat patches 6
Management and habitat creation for Dingy Skipper Rotational scrapes Scrub control Ditch and bank creation Winter Grazing Vehicle tracks Foodplant introduction Grizzled Skipper Pyrgus malvae Flight period: end April mid June Eggs: May June Larvae: June onwards Overwinters: as pupae in cocoon of leave and silk in low vegetation Foodplants: Wild Strawberry, Barren Strawberry, Creeping Cinquefoil, Agrimony and Bramble 7
Management and habitat creation for Grizzled Skipper Rotational scrapes Scrub control Ditch and bank creation Drystone walls Ballast Winter Grazing Vehicle tracks Chalk Carpet Scotopteryx bipunctaria Flight period: July august Eggs: July - August Larvae: August - June Overwinters: as caterpillar porbably low down in vegetation Foodplants: leguminous plants inlcuidng Birdfoot trefoil, Horsehoe Vetch, Red Clover, White Clover Key brownfield habitats: Chalk and limestone quarries. 8
Management and habitat creation for Chalk Carpet Rotational scrapes Cliff creation Scrub control Winter Grazing Notts / Derby Coalfields Shirebrook / Langwith landscape area 9
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Experimental area 2 A B Experimental area 1 Existing Dingy Skipper colony New mounds Tree clearance to create habitat corridor Scrub clearance to expose railway sidings 11
Poulter Country Park Areas under Countryside Stewardship Areas of Dingy Skipper habitat 12
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