Small Pearl-Bordered Fritillary Found



Marshland at The Moors

For most people visiting Ellesmere, The Moors is just the name of one of the car parks close to The Mere. Few stop to look over the fence to the marshy land visible beyond...but maybe they should!

Regular work is undertaken to clear the scrub willow & self seeded trees so that the land can stay open to the sun and so reeds, marsh marigold and marsh violet can grow without being shaded out.

I am happy to report that the Small Pearl-Bordered Fritillary has been found at the The Moors in the last few days! Er....what? I hear you ask. It is a butterfly that feeds only on the marsh violet - and as the plant gets rarer, so does the butterfly.....no one has seen one on the marshland for a very long time.
Thanks to the very hard work of the countryside rangers (themselves an endangered species) and loyal volunteers; they will all be pleased to hear what a wonderful place for wildlife we now have.