Rare butterfly hits purple patch at Sussex rewilding project
Purple emperor populations steadily declined over the course of the 20th century but they have been slowly recolonising the landscape at Knepp since 2001, when Isabella Tree and her husband, Charlie Burrell, decided to turn the stretch of former farmland into a 'process-led' rewilding project.
Ecologists at Knepp recorded 283 purple emperors on 1 July alone. Since the site boasts the UK's largest population of the butterflies, the ecologists said they were confident the numbers were high nationwide.
Knepp's purple emperor expert Neil Hulme emphasised that butterfly populations experienced fluctuations rather than steady growth year on year, but he suggested the 'top quality rewilded landscape' had allowed the purple emperors to flourish. In particular, he said, Knepp's 'mosaic' of sallow scrub provided a crucial location for female emperors to lay their eggs.
Nature lovers have long been fascinated by the purple emperor, and for at least 250 years have been using unusual methods to lure them from the treetops where they reside. Despite their apparently delicate nature, the butterflies are renowned for feeding on cowpats and decaying animal carcasses. Those in search of a sighting attempt to entice purple emperors with anything from dirty nappies to blue cheese.
Alongside their love for animal flesh, purple emperors can become 'intoxicated' on oak sap, enhancing their reputation as 'brawling thugs'.
Hulme stressed that although the purple emperors may be the most 'glamorous' success story at Knepp, other species had also benefited from the rewilding. Butterflies such as purple hairstreaks and the silver-washed fritillary, as well as nightingales and swifts are also being sighted in record numbers. He described 'clouds of butterflies everywhere … none of us want summer 2025 to ever end'.
Sign up to Down to Earth
The planet's most important stories. Get all the week's environment news - the good, the bad and the essential
after newsletter promotion
Tree said the success of the purple emperor showed the power of rewilding: 'When nature is allowed to recover, wildlife will return soon after.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
3 minutes ago
- The Sun
Rat season is about to begin – keep them away from your house & garden with £3.99 item you just need to sprinkle
A PEST control expert has revealed a simple way to keep rodents away from homes and gardens – and all it takes is a quick shake and sprinkle. With rat season about to begin, the advice arrives just in time. 4 4 The easy – and humane – method is unveiled in a social media post just weeks before cool weather arrives in the UK. That is the end of the breeding season for rodents and signals their arrival around homes and in gardens. This is when the little blighters are at their most active as they search for food and shelter ahead of winter If hungry they will take more risks such as raiding bird tables and bins. And they don't move in at night – they often seek food during the day, particularly if other rats are congregating in the same garden or porch. But fear not, help is at hand – literally. Monster '22-INCH' rat 'as big as a cat' is found in UK home - as locals warned more could be on the loose In a video posted to his Facebook account, Ceith Griffith unveiled a simple and effective way to keep rats from the door. "It's that time of year again, guys ... mice and rats are going to try and get inside your home but I'm going to show you how to keep them out by repelling them," he said in the video, which has received more than 2,500 likes. Ceith goes on to explain how attaching a spray nozzle to a vinegar, apple vinegar or pine salt bottle can turn into the ultimate repellent. "Pine salt works the best but I know a lot of people are allergic to it," he said. "Just take the spray and point it at your porch and anywhere you don't want the rats to come near. "You can use this around your garage or even inside your garage ... and it's going to keep all the mice and rats from coming around your home, or garage or RV." 4 Facebook users rushed to the post to comment and thank Ceith for his help. One person said: "Love UR videos. I watch and write them down. Thank u." A second person said: "Definitely going to try this." A third person, however, said they were looking for advice after encountering another type of pest in their home. They posted: "Hello, how do you get a raccoon or possum out of your loft? Please help." Other ways to repel rats Rats are a nuisance and can be difficult to get rid of but by using the pickled onion hack you can deter them, but other methods can help too, one of which is planting certain plants in your garden that rats hate. One home expert shared: "Plants such as lavender, mint, marigolds, daffodils, rosemary, sage and several others can be planted in your garden to disrupt the smell of a rat. 'If a rat can't smell inside of your home then it is far less likely to try.' For best results, plant these plants along fences, around sheds, and near compost bins or generally anywhere that rodents might be tempted to settle. 4
BBC News
33 minutes ago
- BBC News
New SEND centre in Tidworth for children under five to open
A new specialist centre is opening to support children under five years of age who have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).Wiltshire Council will be expanding its SEND support with the the District Specialist Centre in Tidworth, the fifth one in the will be run by national charity Dingley's Promise, with access usually arranged through referrals from relevant professionals or centre will offer dedicated support, such as play schemes, when the contract begins in September and it will welcome children from November at a site on Wylye Road in the town. The centres are designed to build children's confidence and support Jon Hubbard, cabinet member for education and skills at Wiltshire Council, said: "These centres play a vital role in giving children with SEND the best possible start in life. By working closely with families and early years providers, we can ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive." Lee Friend, from Dingley's Promise, said the charity is excited about the new centre."We look forward to using our vast experience of early years SEND intervention and support to help children in the early years with special educational needs and disabilities to thrive, to connect with the community and offer broader support to families and local early years settings and schools," he four centres already operating in Wiltshire include the John McNeill Centre in Salisbury, Stepping Stones in Trowbridge, Springboard in Chippenham and Devizes and District Opportunity Centre.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Snag the 'super powerful' $170 Shark MessMaster wet-dry vacuum for just $75 for a limited time: 'One of the best cleaning tools I've ever owned'
Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more Life is challenging enough without having to worry about messy surroundings. The crumbs, the dirt, and the grime have a way of accumulating and leaving your space looking worse for wear. This is precisely where the Shark MessMaster Wet/Dry Portable Vacuum shines. Unlike traditional vacuums, this compact powerhouse tackles every type of mess efficiently, from the coffee spills to the tracked-in mud to the debris under the table. Shark MessMaster Wet/Dry Portable Vacuum Make easy work of any mess (wet or dry!) with the brilliant Shark vacuum that truly lives up to its name. It comes with multiple attachments to make cleaning every speck and spill a quick job. The device is even self-cleaning, taking the extra work off your plate and saving you time and patience in the long run. Enter WELCOME2025 at checkout to save an extra $15 on your order. $75 (was $169.99) Shop The device is incredibly versatile, and that's really why so many are drawn to it. The MessMaster takes a no-nonsense approach to cleaning every wet and dry mess, and you never have to worry about switching up tools to handle each one individually. It includes a toolkit that covers virtually every cleaning scenario you might encounter. The bare floor tool handles smooth surfaces efficiently, while the crevice tool reaches into those snug spots where debris has a tendency to accumulate. There's also a handy squeegee attachment, which efficiently tackles wet spills with ease. Meanwhile, the extension wand gives you the reach needed for car interiors, stairs, or high shelves. Everything works together as a complete cleaning system! Just as impressive is the MessMaster 's self-cleaning feature. The device can actually rinse its own dust bin with just a cup of water. This eliminates the need to clean the actual tools, making it a far more streamlined overall experience. Users consistently praise its surprising power, despite its relatively compact size (it comes in at about 10.5 inches long by 16.5 inches wide by 13.5 inches high, with a weight of just under 10 pounds). 'This vacuum is small but mighty,' said a shopper. 'I've used it twice and both times was amazed at how powerful it is, especially sucking up cat hair and dust bunnies from several inches away.' Another enthusiastic owner declared it 'hands down one of the best cleaning tools I've ever owned. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a portable, powerful, versatile cleaning solution.' Shoppers praise the vacuum for its efficiency, with one dubbing it 'super powerful' for its abiity to eat up absolutely everything in its path 'Super powerful machine,' raved another. 'There are rocks, hay, stickers, and piles of dirt in our floor boards and this machine made our floor mats and carpet look fantastic.' That's exactly the kind of heavy-duty performance that sets the Shark MessMaster Wet/Dry Portable Vacuum apart from lightweight alternatives that may otherwise struggle to truly lift up every speck and soak up every bit of moisture. It's also an amazing deal right now, with savings of 47 percent off and an added $15 off on top of that. Don't forget to enter code WELCOME2025 to snag your deal!
