Boom in butterflies at rewilded beauty spot
Halnaker Hill FarmA rewilded beauty spot in West Sussex has recorded a boom in butterfly numbers, including two nationally important species that had never been seen before at the site.
Halnaker Hill Farm near Chichester recorded 5,290 butterflies from 28 different species, including the dingy skipper and the UK's tiniest butterfly, the small blue.
Over the past two years, 330 acres (134 hectares) of land that had been intensively farmed has been allowed to return to nature.
"The results of this wildlife survey are extraordinary and it's exciting to see nature bouncing back at this beautiful site," said Nick Heasman, head of natural capital for the South Downs National Park.
Halnaker Hill FarmHe added: "Just two years ago this was largely an arable landscape – showing how quickly nature can bounce back, given space, time and love."
The project is managed by Halnaker Hill Natural Capital (HHNC).
In the past two years, over 20,000 trees and four miles (7km) of hedgerow have been planted.
Conservationist Neil Hulme said the increase in wildlife indicated "how rapidly and spectacularly the rich mosaic of habitat types at Halnaker Hill Farm has developed, in terms of its ecological value, at a remarkably early stage in the project".
