Introduction

This butterfly occurs in four main habitats damp grassland, flushes and moorland; woodland glades and clearings; grassland with bracken and/or scrub; open wood-pasture and wood edges. Its larval food plants are marsh violet (Viola palustris)

The small pearl-bordered fritillary is single brooded with adults flying from late May to end of mid July

The butterfly remains widespread and locally abundant in Scotland & Wales, but has undergone severe decline in England, especially in central-southern England, surviving only in a dwindling number of woodland clearings.

Local status

In the North-east of England the small pearl-bordered fritillary is confined to violet-rich flushes, damp grassland and grassland/bracken/scrub mosaics.

By 2005, there were only four known extant small pearl-bordered fritillary colonies in the Durham BAP area, where the species has declined by at least 93% since the mid-nineteenth century. All four sites are located in the same habitat network. It is currently the most endangered butterfly species in the Durham area. Extant sites support small populations (i.e. < 100 adults at peak flight period) and until recently, restricted to small breeding areas (<0.5ha), where larval food plants occur. All four sites are managed for the butterfly, but small patch size, small population size and isolation mean they are vulnerable (Ellis & Wainwright 2005). However, two more colonies were discovered in 2006 and it is possible other sites are awaiting discovery.

Current or recent activity

Current activity is focussed on bringing more land into appropriate management around the cluster of extant sites, habitat restoration on historic sites, improving site connectivity, as well as surveying other habitat networks for new sites:

Butterfly Conservation produced a Conservation Plan for the species in Durham in 2005.

Butterfly Conservation, Durham County Council, Durham, Durham Wildlife Trust, staff and volunteers undertake regular butterfly/ habitat monitoring and habitat management work at extant sites.

Durham Wildlife Trust purchased and are actively managing a roadside site for the butterfly from 2005.

Butterfly Conservation, Durham County Council, Mineral Valleys Project and landowners have been working together to manage extant sites by providing fencing, adjusting grazing, providing shelter and introducing food plants since 2002.

Durham Wildlife Trust, Woodland Trust, Butterfly Conservation and the Lanchester Wildlife Group have started work to create appropriate habitat at Black Plantation for a possible re-introduction.

Durham Wildlife Trust is investigating a possible re-introduction to Hedleyhope Fell.

The Durham Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Action Group (DSPBFAG) was set up for this species in 2006 to co-ordinate further survey, monitoring management and any re-introductions.

Threats

•  Loss of suitable habitat through inappropriate management of suitable habitat – i.e over or undergrazing.

•  Loss of suitable habitat through agricultural improvement - particularly through drainage, fertilisation and reseeding.

•  Isolation of remaining colonies

Objectives Identification of new sites and habitat networks Protection of extant sites through designation and active management. Appropriate management of flushes, damp grassland and grassland/bracken/scrub habitats on extant sites. Appropriate restoration management of potential sites. Improve connectivity by appropriate management of corridors between extant and potential sites. Re-introductions to potential sites alongside a captive breeding programme.