Grant helps improve woodland for butterflies
Work has been completed at Eggringe Wood,
between Crundale and Petham, by the Forestry Commission and the Kentish
Stour Countryside Project, aimed at improving woodland rides for
butterflies and wildflowers.
The work was supported by a £14,853 grant from Viridor Credits who
operate the Landfill Credits scheme from Shelford Landfill Site near
Broadoak,
Canterbury
.
Jon Shelton from the Kentish Stour Countryside Project says ‘The ride
widening work carried out over winter at Eggringe should allow a lot more
light into the wood, which will encourage woodland flowers and warm areas,
this will benefit butterflies and other invertebrates. In time, hopefully,
these woods will once again be alive with clouds of butterflies. With more
open paths through the wood and opened up views it will also be a more
attractive place for people to visit. We have widened 5.25 km of ride (3.3
miles) frontage or 4 hectares (10 acres). Plants such as wood anemone,
primrose, bluebell and heather should disperse along the ride edges’.
The work is part of a larger landscape scale project covering the Denge
Wood Complex of 800 hectares (2000 acres). In time, more rides will be
opened up and areas of conifer and sweet chestnut will be removed in
favour of native trees and wildflowers.
Butterfly Conservation are currently running a Denge
Woods Project which includes surveying for butterflies and moths – see
the contact details below.
Further information contact:
Butterfly Conservation - tel: 01303
815171
email: fthompson@butterfly-conservation.org
or contact us.
