High Brown Fritillary in the Vale of Glamorgan: saving the last site in Wales

Published source details Hobson R. & Smith R. (2012) High Brown Fritillary in the Vale of Glamorgan: saving the last site in Wales. Pages 52-57 in: S. Ellis, N.A. Bourn & C.R. Bulman (eds.) Landscape-scale conservation for butterflies and moths: lessons from the UK. Butterfly Conservation.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Manage heathland by cutting Action Link
	Restore or create habitat connectivity Action Link
	Coppice woodland Action Link
	Clear or open patches in forests Action Link

Manage heathland by cutting

A before-and-after study in 2002–2011 in an area of heathland, woodland and grassland in South Wales, UK (Hobson and Smith 2012) reported that after scrub cutting was conducted, along with tree felling, coppicing and grazing, the number of high brown fritillary Argynnis adippe and small pearl-bordered fritillary Boloria selene increased. Results were not tested for statistical significance. In 2002, prior to scrub control, an average of seven high brown fritillary adults/hour were recorded at the site, and seven years after scrub clearance began, 14 adults/hour were recorded. Small pearl-bordered fritillary also increased in number between 2003 and 2011 (numbers not given). From 2003–2011 some patches of bracken Pteridium aquilinum, bramble Rubus fruticosus agg., honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum and tree saplings were cut back in the Alun Valley, a 254 ha landscape comprising heathland, woodland and grassland. Tree felling (2003–2011), coppicing of hazel Corylus avellana and gorse Ulex europaeus (1999–2011) and sheep grazing (start date not given–2011) were also conducted in areas of the site. Adult butterflies were counted annually from 2002–2011.

(Summarised by: Eleanor Bladon)
Restore or create habitat connectivity

A before-and-after study in 2002–2011 in an area of woodland, heathland and grassland in South Wales, UK (Hobson and Smith 2012) reported that after tree felling to create habitat connectivity, along with coppicing, scrub control and grazing, the number of high brown fritillary Argynnis adippe and small pearl-bordered fritillary Boloria selene increased. Results were not tested for statistical significance. In 2002, prior to felling, an average of seven high brown fritillary adults/hour were recorded at the site, and seven years after felling began 14 adults/hour were recorded. Small pearl-bordered fritillary also increased in number between 2003 and 2011 (numbers not given). From 2003–2011 large trees were felled to increase connectivity between patches of bracken Pteridium aquilinum in the Alun Valley, a 254 ha landscape comprising woodland, heathland and grassland. The area of tree felling was not provided. Coppicing of hazel Corylus avellana and gorse Ulex europaeus (1999–2011), scrub clearance (2003–2011), and sheep grazing (start date not given–2011) were also conducted in areas of the site. Adult butterflies were counted annually from 2002–2011.

(Summarised by: Eleanor Bladon)
Coppice woodland

A before-and-after study in 1998–2011 in an area of woodland, heathland and grassland in South Wales, UK (Hobson and Smith, 2012) reported that after coppicing, along with scrub control, tree felling and grazing, the number of high brown fritillary Argynnis adippe and small pearl-bordered fritillary Boloria selene increased. Results were not tested for statistical significance. In 1998, prior to management, an average of four high brown fritillary adults/hour were recorded at the site, and 12 years after management started, 14 adults/hour were recorded. Authors reported that small pearl-bordered fritillary Boloria selene also increased in number between 2003 and 2011 (numbers not given). In 1999, coppicing of trial plots of hazel Corylus avellana and gorse Ulex europaeus (number and area not given) was started in the Alun Valley, a 254 ha landscape comprising woodland, heathland and grassland. Coppicing was then regularly maintained from 2003 until at least 2011 (it is unclear whether coppicing took place in 2000–2002 and whether it expanded outside the trial plots). From 2003–2011, scrub clearance and tree felling was also conducted in areas, and sheep grazing was present for the whole period in some areas of the site. Adult butterflies were counted annually from 1998–2011.

(Summarised by: Eleanor Bladon)
Clear or open patches in forests

A before-and-after study in 2002–2011 in an area of woodland, heathland and grassland in South Wales, UK (Hobson & Smith 2012) reported that after tree felling and scrub clearance was conducted, along with coppicing and grazing, the numbers of high brown fritillary Argynnis adippe and small pearl-bordered fritillary Boloria selene butterflies increased. Results were not tested for statistical significance. In 2002, prior to felling and scrub control, an average of seven high brown fritillary adults/hour were recorded at the site, and seven years after felling and scrub clearance began 14 adults/hour were recorded. Small pearl-bordered fritillary also increased in number between 2003 and 2011 (numbers not given). From 2003–2011 some large trees were felled and some patches of bracken Pteridium aquilinum, bramble Rubus fruticosus agg., honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum and tree saplings were cut back in the Alun Valley, a 254 ha landscape comprising woodland, heathland and grassland. Coppicing of hazel Corylus avellana and gorse Ulex europaeus (1999–2011) and sheep grazing (start date not given–2011) were also conducted in areas. Adult butterflies were counted annually from 2002–2011.

(Summarised by: Eleanor Bladon)