The objective of this project is to increase the
number of Brimsone butterflies breeding in Suffolk, especially in the
east of the county.
History 2018Previously (see History below) over 4000 Common and Alder Buckthorn bushes, the foodplant of the
caterpillars, were planted in Suffolk, mostly in gardens.
The
Project is celebrating its 20th Anniversary this year. The
initiative is aimed at communities across Suffolk, getting them
involved in the continued preservation of the Brimstone butterfly.
Once scarce in our county, the project has helped deliver thousands of
Buckthorn bushes to key locations where this species is known to be
recorded in much fewer numbers. Female Brimstone butterflies are
very good at finding the foodplant so there has been an increase in
numbers. The results have shown a significant increase in
sightings and helped secure the Brimstone’s future in our area.
(
See the
2015 distribution map here) But we need your help to
further our efforts, particularly if you live in an area where there
have been few sightings of Brimstones.
For 2018 we have
identified new areas that have not previously been incorporated into
the Brimstones & Buckthorns Project. If we can count on your
support, the Suffolk Branch of Butterfly Conservation will provide you
with
FREE plants. These will be bare rooted
whips of both Common and Alder Buckthorn. The Brimstone will lay
their eggs on these, the plants providing the foodplant for the
caterpillars. Although it may take a couple of years for the
bushes to establish and attract Brimstones, it will be worth the wait
due to the Brimstone's legendary ability to find the bush from afar.
You will be making a valuable contribution to the preservation of this
Butterfly, at a time when numbers of all species in the UK continue to
fall.
We would love to work with you and here is how you can
get involved. ·
- Identify a suitable site/sites
where you can plant the Buckthorn ·
- Tell us how
many plants you would like ·
- Encourage local
people to report their Brimstone sightings.
What will we do
for you ·
- Provide you with Buckthorn plants free
of charge ·
- Include a useful guide for planting
and aftercare ·
- We can even arrange delivery for
you ·
The most valuable part of the project will be
the ongoing recording of sightings in your area. This can be done by
sending them to the e-mail contacts below.
For more details
and to get involved, please contact
“
The map below shows the main
planting areas and will also be used to record sightings of the
butterflies. If you see Brimstones in the County of Suffolk,
please contact
View
new Brimstones map in a larger map.
This will display in a new tab. Scroll to the bottom of the left pane
(the list of entries) and click on 3 to see a larger scale.
History 1998
In 1998 Julian Dowding spearheaded the Brimstones and
Buckthorn project with Suffolk Branch of Butterfly Conservation,
Ipswich Organic Gardeners Group, Ipswich Wildlife Group and the
Wildlife Rangers at Ipswich Borough Council. The project was based upon the fact that female Brimstone butterflies are very good
at finding their caterpillar food plant Buckthorn on which to lay
eggs, from afar. In just two years, over 2000 bushes of both Common
Buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica and Alder Buckthorn Frangula alnus were
planted in the target area, and female Brimstones soon homed in with
the first one turning up during fine sunny weather at a home in
Bildeston on May Day, 1999. The initiative aimed at getting people
involved in growing Buckthorn bushes to attract breeding Brimstone
butterflies which were scarce in the East of the county of Suffolk and
was a wildlife gardening exercise. Today the butterfly is much more
common in parts of Suffolk, due to these efforts.
In 2011, Matt Berry and Julian Dowding
along with Suffolk Branch of Butterfly Conservation rolled out
Brimstones and Buckthorn once again. The aim to increase
both the range and number of Brimstones seen in the parts of
Suffolk, where the butterfly continues to be elusive, whilst at the
same time getting more people involved in wildlife gardening and in
caring for the wider environment. Records of new sightings will
be forwarded to the Suffolk Biological Records Office.
In April 2011, we launched the campaign at Jimmy
Doherty's Farm along with Steve Backshall, from TV's 'Deadly 60', during the
opening of Jimmy's butterfly house. Jimmy, Steve and Rob Parker,
then Suffolk County Recorder for butterflies, planted three
buckthorns in Jimmy's wildlife garden. It was great to have
around 75 people and 3 schools sign up to Brimstones and Buckthorn,
and moreover, to see literally hundreds of children and parents
enthralled by both Jimmy and Steve captivating appeal to get
involved with insects and wildlife.
In October 2011, we publicised the campaign in the
local press to attract more participants, resulting in over 2000
bare-rooted whips being sent out to customers. Bushes
were free and recipients are asked to monitor growth and look out for
Brimstones and egg laying activity over the following two years.
£1,600 was received for the project which
included £500 from Suffolk Naturalists Society and
further help from HSBC
Although it may again take a couple of years for the bushes to attract
Brimstones, we are sure that it will be worth the wait and have a certain
expectation this time around, due to the Brimstone's proven ability to
find the bush.
