Latest news with #purpleemperor
The Independent
5 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Delayed grass cutting boosts butterflies at ancient royal hunting forest
Delaying the cutting of grass and wildflowers until later in summer has been credited with boosting the number of butterflies recorded at an ancient royal hunting forest. The National Trust, which looks after Hatfield Forest in Essex, said the number of butterfly species recorded at the reserve has reached a 17-year high. The conservation charity said the reserve is home to 24 butterfly species. It said numbers of marbled-white and small heath butterflies are particularly high, and sightings of the elusive purple emperor are also on the increase. While a hot and dry spring contributed to high numbers, it is thought that a change in the way the landscape is managed has had the biggest impact, the charity said. James Rowland, National Trust operations manager at Hatfield Forest, said: '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. 'Each year the grass, including the wildflowers, would be mechanically cut in June, but by delaying this as long as possible, to late July into August, we're allowing flowering species to remain in flower for longer, providing greater benefit to nectar-reliant species. 'Even plants such as thistle and ragwort, which can outcompete other flora species without some level of control, are extremely valuable for butterflies and other pollinators, so we've been allowing them to remain in flower as long as possible and only cutting at the point they turn to seed.' A herd of red poll cattle also play a part in creating the best conditions for wildflowers to grow. 'When cattle graze, not only do they help keep scrub and other dominant plants under control, they help break up the compacted soil,' said Mr Rowland. 'For the last few years we've made the move to retain a small number to graze over the winter months to help suppress the growth of scrub species like bramble. 'We're finding that the presence of the cattle during this period of the year is also helping to prevent a thick thatch of plant matter from smothering next spring's growth of grass and wildflowers.' He continued: '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.' Official records at the forest began in 2008 but annual butterfly surveys have been carried out by staff and volunteers for more than 50 years. The National Trust describes Hatfield Forest as the 'most complete example of a medieval royal hunting forest surviving today'. Hatfield Forest was owned by the then King of England, Harold, immediately before the Norman Conquest in 1066. It then passed to William after his victory at the Battle of Hastings and is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. The royal hunting forest was created by Henry I in about 1100 and royal hunting rights remained until 1446.
The Guardian
01-08-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Country diary: The king of butterflies on a bungalow bin lid
I'm leaning on the lid of Mum's compost bin in a sunny spot, waiting for her to come home, when there is a 'plop' by my elbow. A butterfly has landed. There is no gap between seeing the butterfly and recognising it as a male purple emperor. I check the bin scene in disbelief: keys, glasses, phone, His Imperial Majesty (as he is known to admirers). Ragged and abraded of scales, his wings are swathed in royal purple light. A starry Disney wizard's cloak. He turns, loses his gilding in the new angle of light, and becomes reminiscent of a dusty armchair. The loose constellations on his raised forewings and the crescent of white, messy-edged darts look as though spray paint has bled from under a stencil. On one hindwing is a single tortoiseshell eyespot; the other has been torn away in nips and thorn tears. If this is a king of kings, he is a raggedy one. I pick up my phone to photograph this extraordinary visitor. Purple emperors feed in treetops, on sap and honeydew, only descending for salts and minerals on rotting things and animal dung. It's been a (relatively) great year for butterfly numbers, but even so. This is my third incidental encounter with His Imperial Majesty. The first floated on to rudbeckia flowers when I was on the landline to Mum 17 years ago, exhausted with three young children and with 200 miles between us. Now she is in the village, and shortly we'll be moving in alongside her. My second purple emperor was on a towpath dog poo. A runner paused to see what I'd found and I pointed in delight to a suddenly vacant pile of excrement. It seems inauspicious that such an elusive, aristocratic butterfly should be photographed on a bungalow bin lid. But I choose to claim this as the opposite: a sign that all will be well here at Mum's, a mile from our home of 21 years where I saw my first. Finally, the butterfly powers away, as if he has torn free from the pins and dust of a Victorian collector's display cabinet. Under the Changing Skies: The Best of the Guardian's Country Diary, 2018-2024 is published by Guardian Faber; order at and get a 15% discount
Yahoo
28-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Experts stunned after record-breaking surge in rare butterfly sightings: 'None of us want summer 2025 to ever end'
Ecologists in West Sussex recently recorded a jaw-dropping 283 purple emperor butterflies in a single day at the Knepp Castle Estate, a 3,500-acre rewilding project in the county. It's an all-time high for the site — and a major milestone for the conservation of the vulnerable species, The Guardian reported. The purple emperor is noted for being an elusive butterfly species — and for having some unusual behavior. According to The Guardian, the pretty purple butterflies feed on dung and animal carcasses — or fermented tree sap that makes them "tipsy." It's an unexpectedly grotesque diet for a butterfly, especially one this breathtaking. Though the butterfly species is listed as wildlife of "least concern" by Great Britain's Red List, the species is listed as a "medium" conservation priority by Butterfly Conservation. That's because populations are dispersing and dropping due to habitat loss, a consequence of land development and rising global temperatures. And it's exactly why the large population sighting at Knepp is so exciting. According to The Guardian, experts attribute the boost in sightings to Knepp's pioneering "process-led" rewilding project. Started in 2001, the project transformed former farmland into a thriving natural habitat for the butterfly species. Rewilding projects are essential to supporting vulnerable wildlife and native plant life impacted by climate shifts and pollution. Knepp's rewilding project includes restoring natural habitats, reintroducing native wildlife and plant life, monitoring the area's ecosystem, and much more. This approach helps to restore natural ecosystems, boost biodiversity, and build resilience against future climate shifts. Rewilded landscapes — including forests, wetlands, and grasslands — can act as powerful carbon sinks, absorbing pollution from the atmosphere. These areas also help regulate water cycles and create more stable, self-sustaining environments, which are crucial in the face of a warming world. Particularly key to the purple emperor's resurgence is the growth of sallow scrub in the area, a crucial plant for the purple emperor's egg-laying, according to Rewilding Britain. Ecologists at Knepp say the plant has flourished, thanks to natural dispersal from roaming livestock like pigs and ponies. Knepp's butterfly expert, Neil Hulme, told The Guardian that purple emperor populations naturally fluctuate year to year, so it may be premature to celebrate. Still, he highlighted Knepp as a "top-quality rewilded landscape" — and not only for the purple emperor butterfly. Other butterfly species, including purple hairstreaks and the silver-washed fritillary, are also being sighted in similar record numbers in the area. Hulme told The Guardian Knepp has "clouds of butterflies everywhere," adding that "none of us want summer 2025 to ever end." Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Solve the daily Crossword
The Independent
16-07-2025
- General
- The Independent
Elusive purple emperor butterfly sighted at National Trust estate
An elusive species of butterfly, which is the second largest in the UK, has been sighted at a National Trust estate. The purple emperor, with a wingspan of around 8cm, was sighted at Sheringham Park in Norfolk in June during a weekly survey to monitor butterfly populations over time. The National Trust said sightings at the estate had dwindled in recent years, but that it has now seen an increase – bringing renewed hope for the species. The purple emperor, second in size only to the swallowtail, was spotted in Norfolk in 2016 following a 50-year absence. Sheringham Park was believed to be the location of a breeding colony in 2018, but after a last sighting in 2021 things appeared to have 'gone quiet' until this summer. A purple emperor was discovered in a butterfly transect at the estate in June this year, and staff and volunteers have since reported further sightings. Male purple emperors have a stunning purple sheen on their upper wings, while females are typically brown with white markings. Despite their colourful appearance, they are elusive as they spend a large amount of time high up in the tree canopy. Butterfly enthusiasts have been known to try to lure males down from the canopy with banana skins and even shrimp paste, according to the Woodland Trust. Rob Coleman, of the National Trust's Sheringham Park, said: 'This a magnificent butterfly, second only in size to Norfolk's famous swallowtail. 'It was exciting to see the first one back at Sheringham Park in 2016, after it had been absent from the county for the best part of 50 years. 'At the time, some people were sceptical that a breeding colony had been established, but small numbers of sightings in the subsequent years supported this theory. 'However, things had gone quiet on the emperor front recently, and with our last sighting in 2021 and the establishment of populations elsewhere we thought 'His Majesty' had moved on. 'So, I was utterly delighted to see a handful of male purple emperors soaring again in an oak canopy on one of our weekly butterfly transect surveys.' The estate's ancient woodland, with oak and sallow trees, is vital for the purple emperor's lifecycle. Early indications from transects elsewhere in the country show numbers of purple emperors on track to potentially beat 2018, which was the last record year, the National Trust said. The conservation charity said that shifts in temperature and weather patterns can impact both the butterfly's breeding cycle and habitat suitability. Naturalist and nature writer Matthew Oates said: 'This is indeed proving to be a record purple emperor year. 'Hibernating larvae survived the winter very well, with unusually low predation rates. 'Then larval development was assisted by the fine spring. 'The weather was reasonable during the crucial pupation period, and now the butterflies are benefiting from fine midsummer weather. 'So, it's win, win, win, win – and all after a ghastly year for butterflies and other insects last year. Emperors are turning up all over the place, including in the Yare valley downstream of Norwich.' It is possible that rising temperatures could lead to this butterfly moving further north in the future, the National Trust said.
The Guardian
04-07-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Rare butterfly hits purple patch at Sussex rewilding project
A conservation project in West Sussex has had its best day on record for rare purple emperor butterfly sighting, and ecologists say they are confident the species is doing well nationally. 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.'
