A conservation project aimed at restoring nearly 70 football pitches’ worth of chalk grassland is set to advance the recovery of the vulnerable Duke of Burgundy butterfly and other native species at Butser Hill National Nature Reserve near Petersfield. The £160,000 initiative, led by Hampshire County Council in partnership with the South Downs National Park Authority, will focus on reestablishing key habitat features and promoting a more natural management approach.

The scheme intends to reinstate the characteristic chalk landscape and restore natural water flows, enabling grazing by livestock to maintain the delicate ecosystem. According to the council, this approach supports less intensive management practices that benefit a variety of flora and fauna dependent on the area’s chalk grassland environment.

In addition to the Duke of Burgundy butterfly, which is listed as vulnerable on the Great Britain red list and holds threatened status across Europe, the project aims to protect several other species, including the chalk hill blue butterfly, orchids, cowslip, and harebell. These species are closely tied to the health of open chalk grasslands, habitats that have declined significantly over recent decades.

Funding for the restoration comes from multiple sources, including National Grid’s Landscape Enhancement Initiative, the Big Chalk Partnership’s Nature Recovery Fund, and the South Downs National Park Authority’s community infrastructure levy. Together, these contributions support efforts to enhance biodiversity and promote long-term ecological resilience within the national park.

Butser Hill is one of the South Downs National Park’s key chalk grassland reserves, recognized for its rich biodiversity and conservation importance. This project marks a concerted effort to halt habitat degradation and support the survival of species dependent on this increasingly rare environment.