Delayed grass-cutting boosts butterflies at ancient forest

DELAYING the cutting of grass and wildflowers until later in summer has been credited with boosting the number of butterflies recorded at an ancient royal hunting forest.

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The National Trust, which looks after Hatfield Forest in Essex, said the number of butterfly species recorded at the reserve has reached a 17-year high.

The conservation charity said the reserve is home to 24 butterfly species.

It said numbers of marbled-white and small heath butterflies are particularly high, and sightings of the elusive purple emperor are also on the increase.

While a hot and dry spring contributed to high numbers, it is thought that a change in the way the landscape is managed has had the biggest impact, the charity said.

James Rowland, National Trust operations manager at Hatfield Forest, said: "Grassland management is an important part of how we manage the landscape.