Butterflies on Elvetham Heath

The Gate keeper (photograph taken at Elvetham- curtesy of Steve Bolton) is a common butterfly and emerges from mid-July onwards. They can now be seen in large numbers at the reserve. Their alternative common name is Hedge Brown and indeed they are commonly found along hedgerows.

The characteristic eyespots on the forewing probably deflects bird attacks away from the butterfly's body rather than startling away predators; the Gatekeeper likes to rest with its wings open and the eyespots visible.

The adult butterflies are especially attracted to yellow flowers such as Ragwort and also to bramble flowers. The caterpillars are typically brown in colour and feed on a variety of grasses.

Another common butterfly that is out at the moment in good numbers is the Common Blue, I saw this pair mating on a grassland ride leading up to the pumping station.

This species has two broods, the first set of adults are just starting to disappear in July, but watch out for a second brood flying around from August to September.

The caterpillar is small, pale green with yellow stripes and rather slug-like. These caterpillars like several other butterfly species are attractive to ants, which will take the caterpillar chrysalis from above-ground into their nests. The larvae create a substance called honey dew, which the ants eat while the butterfly lives in the ant hill. The larvae are attended and protected by ants while feeding on the host plant, and the ants receive sugar-rich honeydew in return.

Other butterfly species seen at Elvetham in late summer include the Red Admiral, Large White, Small & Large Skipper, Common Blue, Comma, Ringlet, Speckled Wood, Brimstone, Meadow Brown, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell.

Fires on Hazeley Heath

The fires which took place in June and July on the Timpany Trust land of Hazeley Heath in the Parish of Mattingley have damaged 12 hectares of heathland habitat.


The breeding areas of Nightjar and Dartford Warbler have been burnt, and presumably their nests destroyed; many reptiles and insects have been killed.
Heathland summer fires burn extremely hot and will destroy the underlying heather seed bed.The lives of people and animals in neighbouring properties as well as those of the fire service are put at extreme risk.
Controlled burning of heathland in the winter months can be a valuable management tool. It can help to reduce the amount of old and large stands gorse and heather and can be very effective at promoting their regeneration, particularly as, unlike cutting, the burning may remove some of the organic matter that builds up under the stand. However, controlled burning needs skill to achieve the best results and to ensure that the fire does not get out of control. This method of management is not used on Hazeley Heath because of its fragmented structure and the proximity of surrounding properties.
One issue that arises from any burning is the management of new growth. Invasive grasses and bracken can take hold again faster than the new heather seedlings. Any new heather will grow back at a similar height, establishing a 'one habitat monoculture'. The heath will need to regain biodiversity, with plants of various ages and heights, and grazing is better than fire at achieving this.
The cause of the Hazeley Heath fires is not known yet and is still under police investigation, but most heath fires are started deliberately or accidentally, rather than naturally. People appear to be still ignoring the fact that it is against the law to have fires or BBQs on the heathland, and carelessness with glass bottles and cigarette ends can also cause fires which quickly get out of control.
If you do see a fire call the Fire Service without delay and keep well away from the fire - heathland fires can spread fast and the damage can take years to overcome.

Grazing Trial Update

Hazeley Heath is one of the largest surviving remnants of endangered lowland heath in the north Hampshire. Due to the rarity and importance of its heath land plant and animal communities, the site is designated by Natural England as a Site of Special Scientific Interest . It is part of the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area (SPA) due to its breeding population of the internationally protected Dartford Warbler, Woodlark and Nightjar.
In 2007, after much public consultation, a management plan for Hazeley Heath was produced. One of the proposals was that a grazing trail should be established to evaluate whether or not grazing would be suitable in the future as a locally acceptable and sustainable approach to the management of the heath land. Grazing can have huge conservation benefits, and it is hoped that by putting cattle on the heath the desired mosaic of micro-habitats essential for maintaining the richness and diversity of the flora and fauna can be achieved.
The trial, which has received funding from Natural England and the SITA Trust Enriching Nature project, will run over a five year period and will be managed by the Hart District Council Countryside team under direction from the Hazeley Heath steering group.
Temporary electric fencing was erected in April around the two trial plots, one in the north (in Mattingley parish) and one in the south (in Hartley Wintney parish). Horse-friendly bridle gates have been installed at well used pathways into the grazing plot to provide continued public access. Part of the fencing will be removed in the winter months to allow greater public access.

The two small herds of local Belted Galloway cross Dexter cattle, which started grazing from mid-May, were removed from the trial sites at the beginning of July because of the risk to them from fires which destroyed 12 hectares of heathland nearby.

On July 26th, after the risk of fire was assessed to be minimal, a new herd of six Friesian cattle were released on to the southern grazing plot and have settled in well.