Conservationists aflutter over rare butterfly comeback
Heath fritillary —
Populations of the heath fritillary (pictured) have increased in southern England after the introduction of a new forestry management scheme.
Heath fritillary —
There were only 12 small colonies of the rare butterfly remaining in 1995 but that figure has now risen to 25, says Dr Martin Warren of Butterfly Conservation.
Large blue —
Efforts to save the heath fritillary accelerated after the large blue butterfly (pictured) became extinct in the wild in England in the late 1970's, says Warren.
Wood white —
Three quarters of the UK's butterfly species, including the wood white, have seen their numbers decline in the last 10 years, according to Butterfly Conservation.
High brown fritillary —
The high brown fritillary was once dominant in England and Wales but now remains in just a few small colonies.
Pearl bordered fritillary —
The pearl bordered fritillary is another butterfly found in the UK's cleared woodland environments that is in decline.
Apollo —
Endangered European butterfly species, such as the Apollo (pictured), could also benefit from similar habitat conservation projects, says Warren.
