Rare butterfly studied in woods

By Matthew Oates
Senior ecologist, National Trust

The Pearl-bordered Fritillary was widespread until the 1970s

Graceful and masterly, the Pearl-bordered Fritillary is one of the loveliest of our butterflies.

It is as much part of spring in our woods as bluebell carpets and the cuckoo's call.

Until the 1970s it was widespread and sometimes common throughout much of the UK, but it has since suffered a catastrophic decline due to changes in the way our woods are managed.

In pictures: Pearl-bordered Fritillary in Gloucestershire

In brief, it follows the woodcutter, breeding for a while where groups of trees have been felled, before moving on to new fellings as the replacement trees grow.

Today, the woodcutter's visits are too infrequent for this fussy butterfly.

BBC Inside Out (West) filmed in Cirencester Park Woods

In our region, the Pearl-bordered Fritillary has been lost from Dorset and Somerset and is restricted to single localities in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.

The last Gloucestershire stronghold is Cirencester Park Woods, where experts from the charity Butterfly Conservation are working with the Bathurst Estate to maintain a flourishing population.

For 15 years, local enthusiast Chris Tracey and I have studied the butterfly in this large wood.

BBC TV wildlife presenter Mike Dilger came to meet us and, of course, the Pearl-bordered Fritillary, in bluebell time.