Farmland Butterfly Initiative
Target species information – HLS options and Indicators of Success
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary – Feature description
s41 Occurs in damp grassland, flushes and moorland (in northern and western Britain); woodland glades
and clearings (mainly southern Britain); grassland with bracken and/or patches of scrub; open woodpasture and wood edges in Scotland. Food-plants are Common Dog-violet Viola riviniana and Marsh Violet
V. Palustris. Other violet species may occasionally be used.
Relevant HLS Options
HK06
Maintenance of species-rich, semi-natural grassland
HK07
Restoration of species-rich, semi-natural grassland
HC15
Maintenance of successional areas and scrub
HC16
Restoration of successional areas and scrub
HK15
Maintenance of grassland for target features
HK16
Restoration of grassland for target features
HR01
Supplement for cattle grazing
HC07
Maintenance of woodland
Prescription guidance for HK06/HK07
Graze lightly with [cattle and/or hardy ponies] in years [1 to 10, in particular during late winter/early spring
and summer] to maintain the bracken and grassland mosaic and achieve the indicators. Avoid heavy
poaching by managing stock carefully when ground conditions are wet.
In year [1 to 5], follow a programme (agreed in writing with your NE adviser) of rotational Bracken
management through [cutting / bruising / spraying / burning] of [dense Bracken stands / deep Bracken litter
layers]. Never manage more than [20%] of the site in any one year.
In year [1 to 5], follow a programme (agreed in writing with your NE adviser) of rotational scrub
management. Never manage more than [one-quarter] of the site in any one year and never completely
eradicate scrub from the site.
Indicators of Success for HK06/HK07
[By year 1 (if site has a bracken component), year 5 for restoration sites] shallow (<15cm deep) bracken
litter should extend over at least [20%] of the total area.
[By year 1 (if site has a bracken component), year 5 for restoration sites] Violets growing in areas of
shallow (<15cm deep) bracken litter should be [at least occasional] during [April to June]
[In each year] fresh gaps/ pathways through bracken stands (that result in the exposure of bracken litter to
direct sunlight) should be at least [occasional] in June and July.
[By year 2] one or more of species [bugle, daisy, bramble, thistle, ragged robin or other popular nectar
plants] should be in flower during May and June, and at least [occasional during July] across the target
area.
The extent of the [Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary breeding area, xha] of interest within the [grassland / scrub
/ successional area / mosaic ] as identified [in the Farm Environment Plan / Management Plan / during the
Natural England visit or add specific site information where relevant here] should be maintained or
increased.
In all years, populations of [Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary] should be maintained.
Prescription guidance for HC15/HC16
Graze lightly with [cattle and/or hardy ponies] in years [1 to 10, in particular during late winter/early spring
and summer] to maintain the bracken and grassland mosaic and achieve the indicators. Avoid heavy
poaching by managing stock carefully when ground conditions are wet.
In year [1 to 5], follow a programme (agreed in writing with your NE adviser) of rotational Bracken
management through [cutting / bruising / spraying / burning] of [dense Bracken stands / deep Bracken litter
layers]. Never manage more than [20%] of the site in any one year.
In year [1 to 5], follow a programme (agreed in writing with your NE adviser) of rotational scrub
management. Never manage more than [30%] of the site in any one year and never completely eradicate
scrub from the site.
Indicators of Success for HC15/HC16
[By year 1 (if site has a bracken component), year 5 for restoration sites] shallow (<15cm deep) bracken
litter should extend over at least [20%] of the total area.
[By year 1, year 5 for restoration sites] Violets growing in areas of shallow (<15cm deep) bracken litter
should be [frequent] during [April to June]
[In each year] fresh gaps/ pathways through bracken stands (that result in the exposure of bracken litter to
direct sunlight) should be at least [occasional] in June and July.
[By year 2] one or more of species [bugle, daisy, bramble, thistle, ragged robin or other popular nectar
plants] should be in flower during May and June, and at least [occasional during July] across the target
area.
Prescription guidance for HK15/HK16
Graze lightly with [cattle and/or hardy ponies] in years [1 to 10, in particular early spring and summer, at
least 6 weeks grazing between May and September] to maintain the bracken and grassland mosaic and
achieve the indicators. Avoid heavy poaching by managing stock carefully when ground conditions are wet.
In year [1 to 5], follow a programme (agreed in writing with your NE adviser) of rotational Bracken
management through [cutting / bruising / spraying / burning] of [dense Bracken stands / deep Bracken litter
layers]. Never manage more than [20%] of the site in any one year.
In year [1 to 5], follow a programme (agreed in writing with your NE adviser) of rotational scrub
management. Never manage more than [30%] of the site in any one year and never completely eradicate
scrub from the site.
Indicators of Success for HK15/HK16
In all years, populations of [Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary] should be maintained.
[By year X] shallow (<15cm deep) bracken litter should extend over at least [20%] of the total area.
[By year X] Violets growing in areas of shallow (<15cm deep) bracken litter should be [at least frequent]
during [April to June]
[In each year] fresh gaps/ pathways through bracken stands (that result in the exposure of bracken litter to
direct sunlight) should be at least [occasional] in June and July.
[By year 2] one or more of species [bugle, daisy, bramble, thistle, ragged robin or other popular nectar
plants] should be in flower during May and June, and at least [occasional during July] across the target
area.
Prescription guidance for HR01
Cattle will be the [main] grazing species [during the year, timing not specific but needs some winter grazing
to trample bracken]. They will comprise [at least 70% along with ponies and sheep] of the livestock unit
grazing days on the parcel.
Prescription guidance for HC07
Maintain open features, including rides and glades.
Indicators of Success for HC07
A network of rides and open ground should cover between [10% and 30%] of the area.
Further Information
Occurs in damp, grassy habitats as well as woodland clearings and moorland. The adults fly from late May
until the end of June. The butterfly remains widespread in Scotland and Wales, but has undergone a
severe decline in England.
It breeds in three main habitats in England: woodland glades and clearings (mainly in south); damp
grassland and moorland (in west and north); grassland with bracken and/or patches of scrub. Other
habitats used include dune slacks and coastal cliffs. In all habitats it breeds in damp, grassy vegetation
where there is abundant foodplant (violets) growing in a fairly lush sward.
The most widely used foodplants are Common Dog-violet and Marsh Violet. It may occasionally feed on
other violet species. The eggs are laid singly, either on plants or dead vegetation near to violets and
sometimes on the foodplant itself, or by dropping them while crawling amongst low vegetation. The larvae
feed until their fourth instar when they hibernate, probably amongst the leaf litter. They emerge to feed
again during spring but, unlike Pearl-bordered Fritillary larvae, they rarely bask and spend most of their
time concealed amongst the vegetation, only coming out for short bouts of feeding. They pupate close to
the ground, hidden deep within vegetation.
Damp grassland, flushes and moorland habitats
Aim to maintain damp or heathy vegetation where violets (often Marsh Violets) are abundant in medium
height swards and suitable nectar sources are available. Waterlogged sites can be unsuitable especially
under very acidic conditions.
Grazing
Extensive light cattle grazing is ideal, as some poaching encourages violet regeneration. Heavy grazing,
especially by sheep, is detrimental. Where grazing is impractical autumn mowing and raking can be
effective in maintaining suitable habitat.
Scrub Clearance
Scrub clearance can be undertaken as required, especially when acting as a barrier to colonisation. On
open, exposed sites some planting of perimeter shelterbelts will increase habitat suitability. On afforested
stream edges clearance of conifers and brash 5-10m back can create ideal habitat.
Grassland with Bracken and/or scrub
Aim to maintain abundant violets in medium height swards, in association with Bracken or scrub edges.
Grazing
Bracken/grassland mosaics encourage an abundant supply of violets by suppressing grass growth. Aim to
maintain a light Bracken cover. Extensive cattle or pony grazing is ideal, especially in winter and early
spring, as the trampling helps break up the dense standing trash which suppresses violet and grass growth.
Some sites may be maintained by sheep grazing, though they are not as effective at trampling Bracken.
Bracken cutting and bruising
In areas where dense Bracken is established it may be necessary to control through cutting or buising.
Small-scale autumn and winter raking and disturbance of dense Bracken litter can also be beneficial.
Periodic (3-10 year rotation) Bracken cutting by swipe in late May or early June can be used on ungrazed
or too lightly grazed sites. Bruising by machine or by hand in June may also reduce Bracken densities.
Scrub clearance (or burning) on a 5-10 year rotation can be undertaken, but scrub should not be eliminated
as it often provides shelter.
Woodland glades and clearings
Aim to ensure a supply of flower-rich, sunny, open clearings and rides, especially where soils are damp and
the vegetation lush. Traditional coppice management, where adjacent woodland plots are cut in
succession, produces ideal conditions for the butterfly. Glade creation and ride widening can help to sustain
populations.
A Factsheet (with ideal habitat management photographs) is available from Butterfly Conservation’s
website which can be given to landowners.