In Service to the Duke

It’s episode 2 and I’m high up on the South Downs to meet up with my chum and amazing field naturalist, Neil Hulme. 

Today we’re focusing on the Duke of Burgundy, and how Neil’s life-long passion for this exquisite butterfly, and the knowledge he has accumulated from close observation and field work, has resulted in a huge turn around in its fortune. It has gone from being on the brink of extinction in the county to making an epic come back. 

Working with landowners and the South Downs National Park Authority Neil has helped with huge areas of habitat restoration to provide just the right kind of chalk grassland that this fussy butterfly needs, Cowslips within a tussocky, humid structure and facing north-west. 

Cattle grazing is key for the survival of this species and with Neil’s hard work and vision this butterfly appears to have a bright future in West Sussex.