Improving specialist habitats

We are continually improving habitat for our local wildlife. Here is some information about some of the projects we are working on.

Improving ancient grassland for rare butterflies

An ongoing project is underway at Butser Hill National Nature Reserve following major investment by the South Downs National Park Authority, Hampshire County Council and National Grid. This will include new trails, resurfacing pathways, enhancing views and restoring ancient chalk grassland.

Invasive scrub vegetation will be removed to accentuate the drama of the South Downs landscape and enhance chalk grassland that is home to several rare species, such as the chalkhill blue and Duke of Burgundy butterflies.

Creating and improving chalkland for rare helleborines

Hampshire County Council has secured a £98,000 funding boost to help rare red and long-leaved helleborine orchids to thrive. The conservation project, backed by Natural England, aims to create protected habitats for the endangered plants at sites in East Hampshire

The chalkland areas of the East Hampshire Hangers and nearby woodlands already provide a home to some of the UK’s scarcest helleborine orchids, but their numbers have been in decline. This project will put in place measures to protect these fragile locations and nurture the threatened helleborine orchid back from the brink of extinction.