Wildlife

UK Chequered Skipper Butterfly Reintroduction

The reintroduction of chequered skipper butterflies to England after extinction and conservation welfare considerations.

Key Facts

Chequered skippers became extinct in England in 1976 due to woodland management changes
Reintroduction from Belgian populations was successfully achieved in 2018
Rockingham Forest in Northamptonshire hosts the reintroduction site
Purple moor grass in woodland clearings is the primary larval food plant
UK populations persist in western Scotland in open woodland and moorland edge

Welfare Considerations

Reintroduced chequered skippers face welfare risks during establishment including food plant availability and predation, requiring ongoing habitat management and monitoring.

What You Can Do

Support Butterfly Conservation chequered skipper reintroduction monitoring
Visit Rockingham Forest to see the reintroduced English population
Advocate for woodland management that creates suitable chequered skipper habitat