Searching for Marsh Fritillary butterflies at chark moor

In early September, Cerin Poland, a local volunteer, visited Chark Moor near Lanhydrock to seach for the overwintering caterpillars of the Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia) butterfly.

Marsh Fritillaries were formerly widespread across central and southern England but it has now become extinct over a large part of this former range. Cornwall and Devon are strongholds. Chark Moor's last record was from 1997 and the Gaia Trust is managing the site to encourage the return of this beautiful and rare species. More