Conservation work near Ivinghoe

A very rare butterfly (the Duke of Burgundy) was once breeding right across this part of the Chiltern landscape. Recently it lost a lot of territory and is seriously endangered across the UK. A colony exists between Pitstone Hill and Ivinghoe Beacon and we are working to try to get the butterfly to spread east, to Pitstone Hill and beyond, to recover lost ground. This entails the use of hand tools (saws and loppers) to create clearings in scrub. These clearings will provide the warm, sheltered conditions the very fussy butterfly and its larvae need. Too open to the wind and they won't use the space, too closed and in shade and they won't use the space.

Volunteers will be given complete advice and instruction on how to create the required conditions and how to use the tools safely and effectively. You'll need suitable outdoor clothing - there is no shelter and no toilet! - and lunch if you plan to stay all session. We provide hot drinks and biscuits for the tea breaks.; plus tools if you don't have your own, and gloves, safety glasses etc.