Wildlife

UK Silver-Spotted Skipper Butterfly and Chalk Conservation

Conservation of the silver-spotted skipper, one of the UK's most specialised chalk grassland butterflies.

Key Facts

Silver-spotted skippers are confined to south-facing chalk slopes with very short turf
UK population has recovered from near-extinction through targeted conservation grazing
Larvae require bare ground and very short grass for thermoregulation
Conservation at Box Hill and other chalk sites has enabled population recovery
Climate change is enabling range expansion onto previously unsuitable cooler slopes

Welfare Considerations

Individual silver-spotted skipper larvae require precise microhabitat conditions maintained by intensive grazing, with habitat management directly determining larval survival.

What You Can Do

Support the National Trust and Surrey Wildlife Trust chalk conservation
Visit Box Hill and other chalk downland reserves to see silver-spotted skippers
Advocate for conservation grazing management of chalk grassland nature reserves