Hatfield Forest butterflies boosted by grass cutting delay
After defeat at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, ownership of the forest passed from King Harold to William.It then became a royal hunting forest under Henry I's reign in about 1100.Today, the National Trust describes Hatfield Forest as the "most complete example" of a medieval royal hunting forest.Butterfly Conservation has previously said the butterfly population was a good indicator of environmental health.The hot and dry spring has been a helpful factor in population success, but the charity says the changes in its landscape management have made the biggest impact.
Mr Rowland continued: "Grassland management is an important part of how we manage the landscape."Two years ago we decided to make a small change to managing this habitat and since then we've seen numbers soar."As our summers get hotter and drought-like conditions become more common, it's more crucial than ever to sustain a nectar source for our pollinators."During a peak dry spell, many grassland species quickly start to decline and our hardiest species like thistle and ragwort can be a lifeline to many invertebrates."The trust also uses cattle to stop the overgrowth of more dominant plants and break up compacted soil, allowing grass and wildflowers to grow through.
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