TWO charities have been recognised for their work reintroducing one of the most endangered butterflies to Hampshire.
Work carried out by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and Butterfly Conservation to reintroduce the threatened marsh fritillary butterfly to the county has been recognised in the 2021 Sanctuary Awards, writes Tim Edgley.
The marsh fritillary is said to be a “beautiful sight” but since the 1970s populations have declined by 80 per cent due to a loss and degradation of their marshy grassland habitat, coupled with the butterfly’s poor flying ability.
The marsh fritillary is one of Europe’s most threatened butterflies and in 2009, the two trusts began managing land belonging to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in order to make the area habitable for the butterflies once again.