by Edward Andrews, countryside officer, Bridgnorth District Council
I love to sit a while in a woodland glade at this time of year. Cloud shadows skim across the ground, creating a hypnotic scene of other world-ness, and then suddenly a ray of sunshine bursts through bringing life to the glade.
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I came upon such an area in woodland near Chorley last week. Flying around bramble flowers were three silver-washed fritillaries. This species is a large and powerful butterfly that only lives in woodland clearings, where the shelter, warmth and abundant nectar sources provide a perfect microhabitat.
I have a particular fondness for the group of butterflies that are the fritillaries, having just completed a dissertation on the conservation of a particular species. Fritillaries got their name from the latin name for a dice box (referring to the chequerboard pattern on the wings). There are eight resident species. They used to be widespread and abundant throughout the country but have shown some of the most declines of all our butterflies
The high brown fritillary is probably Britain’s most rapidly declining butterfly (showing recent distribution declines of 79 per cent).
The caterpillars of five of the fritillary species feed on violets. The silver-washed fritillary is unusual in that, at this time of year, butterflies will lay eggs on the bark of a tree above a clump of violets. When the egg hatches the caterpillar immediately goes into hibernation until spring, before dropping to the ground and feeding. They seek sunny spots on the forest floor in which to bask.
The pearl-bordered fritillary also requires sunny areas within a woodland and this species can still be seen in good numbers in the Wyre Forest. The need for sunny areas within woodlands is the main reason that fritillaries have shown such declines across the UK. Woodlands are no longer managed.
Unfortunately the old practise of coppicing (ie cutting down) a small area of woodland each year, creating clearings, has declined massively. This is because the demand and value of coppiced material has gone down. Woodlands are now generally dark places known as high forest which do not favour warmth-loving insects such as butterflies.
Not all fritillaries live in woodland habitats. In the 17th century Lady Eleanor Glanville first caught a Glanville fritillary. Because of her eccentric nature and fondness for butterfly collecting (at the time a strange pursuit for a lady) her family later tried to dispute her will on the grounds of lunacy!
The Glanville fritillary is a fascinating example of a southern butterfly on the very edge of its range in the UK. It only lives on very warm south-facing cliffs on the Isle of Wight.
It breeds on small plants of ribwort plantain and seems to be confined to this particular habitat because the soft cliffs are constantly eroding, providing an abundant and continuous supply of suitable plants. It is quite incredible how a butterfly has carved out a niche living in such a hostile and restricted environment.
If anyone is interested in learning about managing habitats for butterflies and the techniques of coppicing why not join our volunteer ranger team at Severn Valley Country Park?
No experience is necessary, all that is needed is a willing heart and a pair of hands. We supply all tools and work gloves and meet on Tuesdays and some weekends through the autumn and winter. For more details please feel free to contact us at the Visitor Centre on (01746) 781192.
