Worcestershire butterfly reserve to undergo ‘drastic’ improvement

November 2009. Work to improve an important butterfly habitat is due to start at Monkwood Butterfly Reserve, 5 miles northwest of Worcester.

The work will involve clearing 30m rides through the woodland in order to create sunny open spaces with plenty of wildflowers and sheltered scrubby areas; perfect butterfly habitat. Monkwood was purchased by Worcestershire Wildlife Trust and Butterfly Conservation in the 1980s because of its importance for butterflies. Thinning works are also planned to provide structure to the woodland as resident dormice rely on a mixed and varied structure in the under-storey.

"Monckewood", first recorded in 1240, was traditionally managed for hundreds of years as a mix of coppice and high forest. This method of managing woodlands is thousands of years old and allowed a wide variety of wildlife to evolve into the spaces that humans were creating. By the early 20th century, Monkwood was home to a diverse group of habitats and their associated species.

Non native species
In the 1950s the woodland was bought by LG Harris and Company to produce timber for brush handles. They planted fast-growing white wood species, some of which were not native. Although the traditional methods of management ceased the wood managed to retain much of its ancient character and wildlife interest; it's this inherent character that makes the wood so important for many species.

Drastic
James Hitchcock, reserves officer for the Wildlife Trust, explained "The work we'll be doing to re-establish some of the rides in the wood will look quite drastic but is absolutely essential.

Monkwood was a local stronghold for the wood white butterfly. Credit Wildlife Extra

"Opening up these wide areas will not only help flowers such as early purple orchids and vetches but will also help the wildlife. Monkwood was a local stronghold for the wood white butterfly, for example, but numbers have declined in recent years because the plants it needs (vetch and birds-foot trefoil in particular) cannot grow in shaded scrubby areas we're about to clear.

Volunteers needed
"Thinning of the older coppiced areas will be left for the Trust's volunteers to do over the coming months. Volunteers are absolutely vital to the Trust's work - if we had more of them to continually maintain the reserve we wouldn't need to do such large-scale work in one go."

Dormice
The ride widening and thinning of trees will also help other species such as dormice. Dormice require a good mixture of species within a woodland to provide them with a variety of food sources. Vertical structure is also important as dormice evade predators by moving around off the ground using trees and shrubs. Oak woodland with an under-storey of hazel coppice is ideal.

Monkwood is part of a national dormice monitoring programme. 50 nest boxes are monitored and plans are being made to carry out a full survey of the wood using special tube traps.

Profits ploughed back
James continued "Not only will the work be directly beneficial to the wildlife in the wood but any profits made from the sale of the timber will be ploughed back into more conservation work on our reserves."

Contractors will begin the work in the coming weeks and it will last for three to six weeks. It is hoped that by starting the work before the wettest winter months set in, damage to the earth by the heavy machinery will be minimised.