TWO charities have been recognised for their work reintroducing one of the most endangered butterflies to Hampshire.

Work carried out by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and Butterfly Conservation to reintroduce the threatened marsh fritillary butterfly to the county has been recognised in the 2021 Sanctuary Awards, writes Tim Edgley.

The marsh fritillary is said to be a “beautiful sight” but since the 1970s populations have declined by 80 per cent due to a loss and degradation of their marshy grassland habitat, coupled with the butterfly’s poor flying ability.

The marsh fritillary is one of Europe’s most threatened butterflies and in 2009, the two trusts began managing land belonging to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in order to make the area habitable for the butterflies once again.

This was followed by a successful captive breeding programme and in 2018, the butterfly was officially reintroduced.

By the summer of 2020, the marsh fritillary was said to be doing well, with almost 200 adult butterflies recorded in the area and now the two trusts have been acknowledged for their achievement.

The Sanctuary Awards recognise outstanding contributions across the MoD estate, with the project to reintroduce marsh fritillary being successful in the class of Environmental Protection and Enhancement.

Richard Hennessey, senior reserves officer for Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust said he is “very pleased” that the project has been recognised, receiving ‘highly commended’ in its class.

He added: “It is a great achievement among some tough competition. The project demonstrates what can be accomplished collaboratively.”

Andy Barker, chairman of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Branch of Butterfly Conservation added: “We know that 76 per cent of the UK’s butterfly species have declined in abundance, occurrence or both over the last 40 years and conservation projects like these are vital to stopping these declines.”