Wildlife

UK Duke of Burgundy Butterfly Conservation

Conservation of the Duke of Burgundy butterfly, one of the UK's rarest insects, in chalk grassland and woodland.

Key Facts

The Duke of Burgundy is one of the UK's rarest butterflies with fewer than 100 colonies
Larvae feed on cowslip and primrose requiring specific grassland management
Both chalk grassland and open woodland clearings support populations
Rotational scrub clearance maintains the open structure needed by this species
Butterfly Conservation runs specific recovery programmes for this species

Welfare Considerations

Individual Duke of Burgundy larvae depend on cowslip in carefully managed grassland, with rotational management practices directly determining larval survival.

What You Can Do

Support Butterfly Conservation Duke of Burgundy recovery programmes
Volunteer for scrub clearance and grassland management on chalk downland
Plant cowslip and primrose in garden areas to support early-emerging butterflies