Brilliant butterflies

Britain has lost over 80% of its native chalk grassland habitat since 1945. This has led to a staggering reduction in the populations of many specialist plant species, including orchids and other wildflowers that many rare invertebrates depend on.

The Brilliant Butterflies project is led by the London Wildlife Trust. It aims to address the decline in invertebrates across the southern fringes of the London Boroughs of Croydon and Bromley.

The project involves working with local communities to restore existing areas of chalk grassland and create a network of new habitats called Butterfly Banks where butterflies and other pollinating insects can thrive.

A central part of the project will be to test and develop new scientific methods to understand and track how chalk grassland invertebrate communities are faring.

Working with local communities

The Brilliant Butterflies team manage existing chalk grassland habitat with the help of volunteers on Wildlife Trust nature reserves in south London. They run a Social Butterflies event programme to engage local audiences with nature on their doorstep.

Working with communities to create new habitats and ecosystems along road verges, in parks, at schools, and in housing estates will help restore the nationally rare chalk grassland habitat in south London. This will create a living landscape and encourage an array of wildlife and invertebrates for local people to enjoy.

Our role in the project

One of the biggest challenges in nature conservation is determining which plant and animal species are found on a site. This is particularly challenging when it comes to insects and other invertebrates, many of which are difficult to identify visually using traditional approaches.

The Natural History Museum’s main role in this project is to develop and test ground-breaking DNA and environmental DNA (eDNA) surveys. These surveys will help show the breadth of invertebrate life present on the project sites and track how communities are changing in response to habitat creation and restoration.

We are also developing a new training program in invertebrate identification, which will train local volunteers to identify and monitor key groups of chalk grassland invertebrates. The data gathered will be used to inform conservation practice and help build our national collections.

The DNA studies form part of our wider research to investigate how new genomic science methods can support nature conservation in the UK.

How to take part

Brilliant Butterflies volunteers have the exciting opportunity to learn from a diverse team of ecologists and scientists working to restore this habitat. The Museum will train local volunteers in Croydon and Bromley to identify key groups of chalk grassland invertebrates on our Grassland Heroes citizen science training course.

Volunteers can then put their ID skills to the test on Big Bug Hunts, participate in biological recording and help Museum scientists with DNA surveys in the field.

If you live in Croydon or Bromley and would like to get involved, please visit the Brilliant Butterflies webpage for more information on events, bank creation and further volunteer opportunities.