Volunteers are protecting the rare Duke of Burgundy butterfly near High Wycombe, improving land for its survival.
Employees volunteered for two days. They aimed to help this declining species. The butterfly’s scientific name? Hamearis lucina. Chiltern Rangers also helps, and they build on past butterfly efforts.
Network Rail cares about the railway environment. In 2010, the Chilterns had few colonies. Only two Duke of Burgundy colonies existed. The Upper Thames branch helped. They worked with landowners like Network Rail.
Colonies increased because of their work. They prepped good host sites for butterflies. Success on Network Rail land will double this. It will raise the total to four colonies.
The project aims to connect butterfly sites. These sites are along the West Coast Main Line area. Volunteers planted trees and wildflowers this week. They planted 1,250 shelter trees and added 2,400 cowslip wildflowers.
They are also planting beside Long Orchard’s meadow in Buckinghamshire. Network Rail is committed to sustainability. They support environmental diversity too.
Jude Ward enjoys working with Butterfly Conservation. Jude manages Network Rail’s environment. Their goal is to help the Duke of Burgundy. This work makes the railway a corridor for wildlife to travel through, connecting habitats all over the country.
Partnering helps them meet conservation goals. It creates bigger, better habitat networks.
Nick Bowls volunteers for Butterfly Conservation. He is thankful for Network Rail’s help. Access to land created new butterfly habitat. This is near a colony in Buckinghamshire, allowing the butterfly to expand to new areas.
The Duke of Burgundy has shrunk in range. This is the biggest decrease within the UK. Work began this week, and another volunteer day is set for February 11.
This timing is before spring. Adults need to find the habitat. They’ll lay eggs and spread out further.