Butterfly boom on the New Forest

Pearl bordered fritillary. Credit Forestry Commission

October 2008. Despite another terrible summer, some of the New Forest's rarest butterflies have had their best year for a decade.

And for Forestry Commission keeper Maarten Ledeboer it is all a dream come true. He said: "I came over from Arnhem nine years ago on work experience and never went home again. Being offered a job as a keeper in a place like the New Forest was something that I never even dared hope for. And now to be involved in habitat work that is seeing the return of some of Britain's rarest butterflies is absolutely wonderful. A huge range of other plants and animals are also benefiting from the scheme too."

Small pearl-bordered fritillary
Mr. Ledeboer said that when he first came to the forest the small pearl-bordered fritillary butterfly was thought to have gone extinct in areas like Holmsley Inclosure.

But he said that the creation of new habitats by opening up the woodland rides and also making some larger sheltered glades had brought about its reappearance. He added that despite poor weather for the last 2 summers, the butterfly's numbers in 2008 were higher than they had been for a decade.

Key to the project's success has been the extra light that cutting back the trees and vegetation has allowed in. That has enabled dog violets to flourish, which are a vital food source for the small pearl-bordered fritillaries.

But Mr. Ledeboer said that most of the thanks were due to the Forestry Commission's New Forest volunteers who had helped carry out the clearance work. He said they had cleared a total of seven kilometres of ride side in Holmsley and Wootton Inclosures alone.

More information about habitat restoration can be ringing 023 8028 3141, or by visiting the www.forestry.gov.uk/newforest website.