Dartmoor

Sir David Attenborough has thrown his weight behind a campaign to save some of Britain’s rarest butterflies, including two species that are found on Dartmoor.

The broadcaster and naturalist has identified 20 key locations around the country where it is hoped that farmers and landowners will create suitable habitats to encourage new butterfly colonies. Without this, Sir David fears that the nation could be entering a “postbutterfly era”.

Butterflies establish colonies in habitats such as bracken slopes, the moorland edge and wet grassland. The high brown fritillary and marsh fritillary are found on Dartmoor.

Butterfly Conservation is seeking to persuade landowners to apply for government grants to restore habitat that has been intensively farmed so that new colonies can establish themselves. Sir David said: “Much of Britain’s countryside is a no-go area for many favourite butterflies. Habitat has been ploughed up or become overgrown. Anybody who’s been for a country walk recently will tell you that butterflies are a rarity.”

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