Скачать или смотреть Butterfly conservation! Growing the 'Devils bit Scabious' to help the Marsh Fritillary butterfly

Back in the school garden, Rogers shows us the success that he and the pupils in the school garden have had growing new batches of the 'Devils bit Scabious' plant - this is the essential plant food source for the beautiful, but endangered, Marsh Fritillary butterfly (Euphydryas aurinia).

Modern farming practices etc have severely reduced the suitable habitat for the 'DB Scabious' to grow, and consequently the Marsh Fritillary numbers have dropped severely. Roger and the school were aproached by Rhondda Cynon Taff county council Ecology department around 2015 to help grow these essential plants and to be part of the on-going efforts to increase numbers of both the plant and the butterflies, and to increase awareness of the problem.

The success of the project demonstrates that we can often make a big difference in the face of all the concerns about our planet and its amazing wildlife. 5 years later in 2020 we are continuing to raise our own seeds, propagate our own plants and then get them planted around the local area.
The effect may not be immediate, but in years to come who knows how many Marsh Fritillary butterflies will be enjoying life around some the plants we have produced ....