Yesterday, the Grizzled Skipper Project volunteers joined the first working party of the season to help to undertake habitat improvement works at Grange Farm near Normanton-on-Soar. The work party focused on the northern clearing, a location where grizzled skipper was seen on the wing earlier this year. Efforts were made to cut back scrub in this clearing and by the end of the day we had made a very good start to this job. Many thanks to everyone who came along - it was a very successful day.

As part of the work party, we also planted up some more agrimony plants (one of three key foodplants of the grizzled skipper butterfly in Nottinghamshire). Another important aspect of the project is asking our volunteers to grow on agrimony seed collected from sites in Nottinghamshire. This year we should be planting out another 100 plants. If you would like some seed to grow on as a means of supporting the project, then please feel free to contact me.

During the work party we were lucky to spot other wildlife enjoying the site, including a smooth newt, dock shield bugs, grasshoppers and we also found one (1) Hound’s tongue plant. Hound’s tongue is an uncommon plant in Nottinghamshire and is listed on the Nottinghamshire Rare Plant register. In the recent past it has also been found on the adjacent Great Central Railway – lots of great finds to make for an interesting day.

The next work party will take place on Sunday 17th November. We will be heading to the Lime Sidings and Barnstone Cutting along the Great Central Railway, just to the south of East Leake. This work party will once again focus on undertaking work to improve the site for the benefit of grizzled skipper butterfly. We will be looking to cut back scrub, enhance suitable areas for potential egg laying sites, and undertake some grassland management in the cutting.

We will be working from 10am to 3pm, so if you are free and you’d like to help, please contact me and I will send you meeting instructions.

Yesterday, the Grizzled Skipper Project volunteers undertook work along the Great Central Railway, just to the south of East Leake. The work party focused on clearing scrub from a low section of cutting, which during the spring will offer a warm and sheltered environment, perfect for the grizzled skipper butterfly (and other invertebrates). The volunteers quickly made light work of this short section of cutting and by the end of the day we were able to look back at our efforts with satisfaction. Another great day and a big thank you to everyone who came along and helped.

The next work party will take place on Tuesday 3rd December. We will be heading to Rushcliffe Halt, another site located along the Great Central Railway, this time just to the north of East Leake. This work party will once again focus on undertaking work to improve the site for the benefit of grizzled skipper butterfly. We will be looking to cut back scrub and to enhance suitable areas for potential egg laying sites.

We will be working from 10am to 3pm, so if you are free and you’d like to help, please get in touch with me and I will send to you meeting instructions.