Natural England

The iconic silver studded blue butterfly is once again thriving at Thursley National Nature Reserve, Natural England announced today (Monday 14 July) on the second anniversary of the five day fire which tore through the 400 hectare site - home to some of England's most endangered flora and fauna.

Around 120 fire fighters battled to save the lowland heath nature reserve and at the time it was feared the fire could lead to irreversible loses of rare wildlife. Two years on, recent monitoring results show that the sterling efforts of fire fighters, conservationists and local volunteers were not in vain.

Natural England's Simon Nobes is the Senior Reserve Manager for Thursley and worked with fire fighters during the disaster to save the butterfly colonies - which have become confined to just a handful of sites in England and Wales. “On our most recent survey last week we found 126 butterflies at one location, an increase of over 100 since they were first surveyed after the fire,” Simon revealed.

Speaking about his experience Simon said: "The flames consumed the dry and wet heathland with frightening speed, burning out Dartford warbler nest sites, sand lizard areas and butterfly colonies - leaving a barren, scorched landscape of ash in their wake. Looking back at what was left of the Reserve, it is fantastic that populations of these fragile butterflies have pulled through, showing outstanding powers of recovery.”

Sir Martin Doughty, Chair of Natural England said: “Wildlife in England has become increasingly fragmented and National Nature Reserves provide crucial refuge for endangered species, acting as pockets of biodiversity from which nature can grow.

“When Thursley, a nucleus of threatened species, went up in flames we thought our worst fears had been realised. However, through the combined efforts of fire fighters, the local community and our Reserve staff, against the odds, Thursley has been saved.”

Sir Martin was quick to praise the efforts of local people who raised over £8,000 to help rehabilitate the heathland, repair visitor facilities and to train and equip a number of new volunteer fire wardens to spot potential dangers on the Reserve and act to prevent a repeat of the devastating fires of 2006.

Simon Nobes concluded: “I believe the heartening recovery of Thursley is due in no small part to the unflinching support and passion of local people who were determined to bring this important wildlife habitat and popular visitor site back to life."

Notes to editors:

For further information contact the Natural England Press Office on 0845 603 9953, out of hours 07970 098005, email press@naturalengland.org.uk

1. National Nature Reserve (NNR)

   There are 222 NNRs which cover over 92,000 hectares of land. These are some of the very finest sites in England for wildlife and geology, and provide great opportunities for people to experience nature. Almost all NNRs have some form of access provision. Many are fully open throughout the year as we want people to enjoy these wonderful places. Visit: www.naturalengland.org.uk/conservation/designated-areas.

2. Thursley NNR

   Thursley NNR is one of the largest remaining fragments of Surrey heath and includes areas of lowland heath, mire and woodland. The site supports a range of typical heathland wildlife including large invertebrate populations. The best time to visit the reserve is between May and September. The reserve's mixture of mire and wet heath is one of the finest examples of its type in southern England. The site contains bog pools, sphagnum lawns and, in drier areas, tracts of cross-leaved heath on the sandy soils.

   Damp areas support carnivorous plants such as sundew. Bog asphodel and marsh orchid may also be seen. Large populations of grayling and purple emperor butterflies can be seen here and of course the silver studded blue butterfly. There are also 26 recorded dragonfly species. Sandier sites on the reserve provide homes for many species of solitary bees and wasps.

   Notable birds seen at the site include woodlark, nightjar, hobby and Dartford warbler. The reserve is the only regular curlew breeding site in Surrey and in the winter the great grey shrike is a regular visitor. Merlin, peregrine and short-eared owl have also been recorded at the site.

   To obtain a leaflet describing the site Natural England's Sussex office at sussex.surrey@naturalengland.org.uk or telephone 01273 476595.

3. Heathlands

   England has 18 percent of the world’s remaining heathland. At the beginning of this year Natural England published the first survey of its kind in England to analyse the condition of heathlands outside of legally protected conservation sites such as National Nature Reserves (NNR) and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The study found that all surveyed sites were in poor condition and did not meet the standards set for SSSIs. Even those areas receiving payments for conservation management through agri-environment schemes were not up to the grade, although many did show signs of recovery.

   Lowland heathland is a priority habitat under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan which sets targets to maintain the extent of all existing lowland healthland, improve the management of these sites and encourage the re-establishment of new sites.

   The poor condition of lowland heathland across England is putting stone curlews, nightjars and sand lizards and other endangered species of animals and plants in even greater danger of extinction.

Why has there been a decline in the condition of lowland heaths?

Lowland heathlands were widely used until the mid-19th century. Trees were cut for firewood or building material; bracken was used for animal bedding; gorse for fodder; heather for fodder, animal bedding or thatching. This and grazing maintained heathlands as open habitats in areas of nutrient-poor soils.

By the mid-1800s and early 1900s large cities were developed on heathlands including London and Bournemouth. Many heathlands were planted with conifers or, later and thanks to the development of inorganic fertilisers, they were transformed into arable land. At the same time, the remaining heathland fragments became isolated and less important in the farming economy, so they ceased to be managed and were ‘scrubbed up’.

Which plant and animal species are affected?

Many of these species are endangered due to the reduction in the habitat available or the lack of appropriate management such as grazing. Birds that need bare ground and short heather and grasses for example stone curlew Burhinus oedicnemus, stonechat Saxicola torquata or Dartford warbler Sylvia undata which needs gorse, but also short vegetation; nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus also nests in open habitat although uses a variety of vegetation.

Other species affected by the lack of open ground or vegetation structure are sand lizards Lacerta agilis, which have a very restricted distribution. For invertebrates, the lack of diversity of flowering plants restricts the presence of nectar feeding species. Heathland plants that need open ground, usually provided through grazing, are marsh gentian Gentiana pneumonanthe or marsh clubmoss Lycopodiella inundata.

How much of the UK is covered in lowland heath?

Most recent estimates are around 90,000 ha (nearly 60,000 ha in England) representing a high proportion of the European resource. Heathlands characterised by heather Calluna vulgaris are only present in Western-Atlantic Europe.

4. Natural England

   Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas. We conserve and enhance the natural environment for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of people, and the economic prosperity it brings www.naturalengland.org.uk