Morecambe Bay project to benefit rare insects

An exciting new Butterfly Conservation-led project in Lancashire will provide a much-needed boost for some of Britain's rarest butterflies and moths.

The Green Recovery for Morecambe Bay's Woodlands project is one of the first schemes to benefit from the £80m Green Recovery Challenge Fund, which was announced by Defra at the end of 2020.

A grant of £240,900 was awarded to the project, which will use innovative habitat management to improve habitats for High Brown and Pearl-bordered Fritillaries, Duke of Burgundy, and the rare White-spotted Sable moth.

High Brown Fritillary is one of several rare butterfly and moth species that will benefit from conservation work in the Morecambe Bay area (Iain Leach / Butterfly Conservation).

This will include cutting derelict coppice, restoring and reconnecting sunny rides and glades, removing invasive non-native tree species and creating new open woodland through tree planting, as well as restoring cattle-grazed wood pasture.

Martin Wain, North-West Regional Officer for Butterfly Conservation, commented: "To be awarded this funding is fantastic news – not just for our charity and the work we do, but for Morecambe Bay and the wider area.

"This project will go a long way towards protecting threatened butterflies and moths, and the other fantastic wildlife found in this region. It builds on years of partnership work across the landscape, which has highlighted how co-ordinating habitat restoration between landowners makes more impact and brings benefits for local people as well as wildlife.

"Our thanks go to Defra for recognising the importance of this project, and we look forward to getting started!"