When Kirstie came to Shabden Park Farm in 2003, she brought with her a passionate interest in butterflies. Having been active within her local branch in Cheshire, Kirstie was very excited at the prospect of contributing to wildlife conservation at Shabden Park Farm by monitoring the butterfly species and populations on the farm.Through advice and cooperation with the local branch
of Butterfly
Conservation, a national conservation society dedicated to saving
butterflies, moths and their habitats, we are managing areas of
the farm particularly for butterflies and moths, and even for individual
species. This is not at the expense of other wildlife, as butterflies
and moths, along with all other living things, can only survive
within a sustainable ecosystem made up of plants, insects, birds
and mammals. Butterfies, however, are excellent indicators of how
healthy an environment is, and healthy populations and a wide range
of species of butterfly indicates that the surrounding countryside
sustains an ecosystem within which many other plants, invertebrates,
birds and mammals live. |
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Latest Sightings and Notes5 Grizzled Skipper Long Plantation - new species for farm. 6.5.09 Early Speckled Woods and lots of them. Feb 2009 |
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The Surrey & SW
London branch of Butterfly Conservation works with local landowners
and conservation organisations to help save butterflies, moths and
their habitats. We have a county butterfly reserve at Oaken Wood,
near Dunsfold, and we organise the Surrey Butterfly Garden Show
at Juniper Hall, Boxhill, every other year. Our branch volunteer
members carry out practical 'scrub-bashing', promote butterflies,
moths and conservation locally, and attend shows and events. For more information on the branch, visit the Surrey Butterflies website. |
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Butterfly TransectsThe transect method of monitoring butterfly species
involves the establishment of a fixed route across a site. This
route is divided into a number of sections, which usually vary in
length, habitat type and management. |
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The Shabden Park Farm TransectKirstie walks a transect on the farm, split into
sections according to habitat i.e. woodland, pasture or open field,
scrub and so on, every week, weather permitting. The results of
these are compiled and shared with our Wildlife Trust ranger Bob
Crompton, and the County Recorder. |
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The Shabden Elm ProjectWhen Dutch Elm disease struck in the early 1970s,
the vast majority of elms in south England were affected and had
died in a matter of two or three years. Many of the insects dependent
on elm were severely affected, especially the White-letter Hairstreak
butterfly, whose caterpillar larvae live off the elm plant. The
White-letter Hairstreak is a small butterfly with a flight which
spirals upwards towards the tree tops. It is distinguished by a
bold white 'W' mark across the under wing and short ‘tails’
to the lower wings. The dark upper wings are seen only in flight
as the butterflies always settle with their wings closed. Adults
are difficult to see because they spend so much time high up in
the tree canopy, although they occasionally come to ground level
to nectar on flowers near elm trees or saplings. |
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Against all expectations the butterfly has
survived in reduced numbers by living off the sucker growth which
many dead elms are able to regenerate. Because of the cyclical nature
of this regrowth, there are years when the butterfly is hardly seen.
Often the good years are followed closely by another wave of infection.Dutch
Elm disease is a fungus which is spread by bark beetles. These beetles
feed in the upper branches of the tree and introduce the fungal
spores to exposed tissue. Once infected the disease spreads rapidly
and unless treated at the early stages the tree will not survive.
In the late 1960s an aggressive strain of the disease, originating
from North America, was imported into this country via diseased
timber. It spread rapidly across southern England, and by 1977 was
estimated to have killed 50% of the elms in the area. The disease
shows no signs of waning in Britain. In summer 2005 it attacked
ancient elms in the centre of Brighton resulting in the felling
of 370 prime specimens. Horticulturalists have been trialling many
different elm hybrids in search of an elm tree which is totally
resistant to the fungus. One of the successful hybrids, named Lutece,
is being used by the French government in a massive planting programme
to restore elms to the French landscape. |
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On 16th February 2006, three whips of elm Lutece
were planted at Shabden Park Farm by Kirstie and Mark Banham, as
part of a project by the Surrey & SW London branch of Butterfly
Conservation. The project has planted 30 whips across South London
and Surrey commons and country parks and has recorded the exact
location by GPS in order to locate and monitor the young trees.
The three young elms at Shabden are within ten metres of each other
on the edge of one of the woodland shaws. In summer, the whips are
surrounded by waist-high brambles and nettles which give the root
some shade and shelter. All three are in leaf and are strong and
healthy. Hopefully, all three elms will grow to maturity, but they
could be grown as coppiced elms if more appropriate, and this would
also allow the butterflies to breed. The elm Lutece is in its infancy,
but elsewhere, caterpillars of the Comma butterfly and the Grey
Dagger moth have been found on young bush elms, so there is a great
deal of hope and potential for the White-letter Hairstreaks. With thanks to Malcolm Bridge, County Butterfly Recorder, Butterfly Conservation Surrey & SW London, for help with this article. |
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Links
Surrey Butterflies species id, photos, field trips, information and fun for kids!Butterfly Conservation national website of the conservation organisation for butterflies, moths and thier habitats
UK Butterflies photo guide and info
