28/06/2026
As part of for , we are highlighting one of the UK’s increasingly scarce butterflies.
As you may know, we are passionate about butterflies on this estate and the Duke of Burgundy stood out for a special mention this week.
This is a beautiful chequered butterfly which is listed on the GB Red list as vulnerable due to the destruction of its habitat and the use of pesticides over recent decades, greatly impacting the population.
The Duke’s larval food plant is Cowslip, however sensitive management of the habitat is needed to provide the right conditions. It must grow in the shade to attract the butterfly, but not too much otherwise the cowslips die out, along with the larvae.
You can spot these in late Spring, in downland areas with abundant cowslips and scattered scrub. We managed to see 8 in one small area this year on the farm and were delighted that the species persists here.
Head to the link in our bio to read our full blog post about the Duke and how we manage its habitat here.
