SMALL PEARL-BORDERED FRITILLARY (BOLORIA SELENE)
LOCAL BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN
Links to associated HAPs
Fens
Current Status
The population of small pearl-bordered fritillary is now confined to a single site in the Cheshire region at Bagmere SSSI near Congleton.
The species is dependent upon areas of damp woodland edge and occasionally bracken, which have bare ground containing marsh violet, which is the preferred food-plant of the caterpillar. Favoured areas tend to be wet flushes.
Threats
- Loss of suitable habitat through invasion of scrub.
- Unsuitably of adjacent sites for recolonisation naturally.
- Inappropriate woodland management.
- The spraying out of bracken, resulting in loss of suitable habitat.
How are we helping to conserve the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary in the Cheshire region?
- Continued monitoring of the population at Bagmere, and search for potential additional sites in the same geographical area.
- Ongoing monitoring at key sites.
- Bagmere SSSI ongoing clearance of scrub.
Objectives, Targets and Actions
OBJECTIVES |
LOCAL TARGETS |
Accept our responsibility for small pearl bordered fritillary and improve availability of habitat to halt the decline locally and nationally.
Increase the populations of small pearl-bordered fritillary to sustainable levels on the existing site and ensure that the species does not become extinct in the Cheshire region |
To double the size of the existing population by the year 2005 |
ACTIONS REQUIRED |
- Monitoring of Bagmere SSSI to monitor population.
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Progress so far
| 1997 - 2006 Action Completed |
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Local Biodiversity Action Plan Group established in 1997. Member bodies include several action plan implementers and individuals with specialist interest in the species. Butterfly Conservation Cheshire and Peak District are leading the group.
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Systematic monitoring has been set up at the established and potential sites in the Cheshire region.
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A series of Training Days have been held.
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A successful Landfill Tax bid to ICI means that this LBAP shares in excess of £22.5k.
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Records are collated by the Cheshire and Peak District Branch of Butterfly Conservation
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During the winter of 1998/99 and 1999/2000 management work was undertaken at Bagmere by the BTCV's New Deal team. This work was funded by English Nature in 1999/2000 under a management agreement with the landowners, Bathgate Silica Sand. Approx. 160 person days were spent removing invasive birch and willow scrub from the sites.
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Planting of marsh violet and marsh cinquefoil in summer 1999, funded by Congleton Borough Council.
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Due to lack of funds this year and no project officer no work was undertaken during the 2001/2002 winter.
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Species recording card for small pearl-bordered fritillary produced by Cheshire County Council and Vale Royal Borough Council.
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Fencing has been completed, compartmentalising the site to allow controlled grazing.
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Survey of Cheshire's only site undertaken in 2003 to monitor effects of previous year's management work.
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How to find out more about the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary
Vale Royal Borough Council Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Species Recording card
UK Butterflies website - http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/species.php?vernacular_name=Small%20Pearl-bordered%20Fritillary
Butterfly Conservation species data - http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/species/bdata/butterfly.php?code=smf
Contact details
| LBAP Chair |
Paul Hill, Lepidoptera & Odonata LBAP Action Group
Phone: 0871 734 0111 |
References & Glossary
Bourne, N. Kirkland, P. & Warren, M. (1996): Action for Butterflies - Butterfly Conservation's Guidelines for producing Regional Action Plans. British Butterfly Conservation Society, Wareham.
Guest J (1997): pers comm.
Hill PM (1998): Action for Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary in Cheshire
HMSO (1995): Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report. Volume I: Meeting the Rio Challenge, London
HMSO (1995): Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report. Volume 2: Action Plans, London
Rutherford CI (1983); Butterflies of Cheshire 1961 - 1982. The Lancashire and Cheshire Entomological Society
Shaw B (1999): The Butterflies of Cheshire National Museums and Galleries of Merseyside, Liverpool
