Heath Fritillary return to Clowes Wood
The heath fritillary butterfly has been
seen in good numbers in the Forestry Commission owned Clowes Wood for the
first time in many years.
The Blean is the nation's stronghold for
this rare butterfly with the main populations being in East Blean Wood
managed by the Kent Wildlife Trust and Blean Woods managed by the RSPB. In
the Blean it requires its food plant the common cow-wheat to thrive and
therefore it is mainly seen along rides and paths where this plant is
found.
Over £40,000 has been spent on
improving wildlife habitat and access throughout Clowes Wood, located
between Tyler Hill & Chestfield. The Kentish Stour Countryside Project
attracted funding from the Brett Environment Trust, Kent County Council
and the European Regional Development Fund. English Nature and the RSPB
also provided funding. The Forestry Commission have co-ordinated most of
the work.
Management work has focussed on creating
and extending access routes to benefit woodland wildflowers and
butterflies. Almost 9km of paths had clearance work carried out. Non
native coniferous trees have been removed so opening up paths and allowing
more light to reach the woodland floor. Over 5 acres of trees have been
removed in one part of the wood so as to establish a heathland area, a
habitat that has become rare in Kent. A number of ponds have also been
discovered and re-instated.
Steve McCarthy of the Forestry Commission says ''After
four years of organising and implementing the work in Clowes Wood which
has significantly restructured and diversified the habitat for the heath
fritillary, it is extremely rewarding to see evidence of the butterfly
returning. The habitat improvements have obviously worked and maintaining
the patchwork of open areas, coppice, scrub and the correct ground flora
is of paramount importance for continued success''.
Sightings of 2-9 heath fritillaries were
made in the mid nineties in Clowes Wood but before this the last recorded
year was 1976. A single heath fritillary was observed in the summer of
2004 but this year at least 12 individuals have been seen. Hopefully, by
carrying out further woodland management work, the butterfly will continue
to spread throughout the Blean and its numbers will increase.
The work in Clowes Wood contributes
towards strategic management of the Blean Woods Complex by a number of
organisations
