Sutton Park NNR Green Hairstreak Landscape Project Survey
Sutton Park NNR Green Hairstreak Landscape Project Survey
Sutton Park NNR Green Hairstreak Landscape Project Survey
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<strong>Sutton</strong> <strong>Park</strong> <strong>NNR</strong><br />
<strong>Green</strong> <strong>Hairstreak</strong> <strong>Landscape</strong> <strong>Project</strong> <strong>Survey</strong><br />
<strong>Green</strong> <strong>Hairstreak</strong> © Steven Cheshire 2009<br />
Created: 15/09/09<br />
Last Update: 15/09/09
<strong>Sutton</strong> <strong>Park</strong> <strong>NNR</strong><br />
<strong>Green</strong> <strong>Hairstreak</strong> <strong>Landscape</strong> <strong>Project</strong> <strong>Survey</strong><br />
Background<br />
The <strong>Green</strong> <strong>Hairstreak</strong>’s only confirmed larval foodplants in <strong>Sutton</strong> <strong>Park</strong> are Cowberry (Vaccinium<br />
vitis-idaea) and Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus). Several other known foodplants Gorse (Ulex<br />
europaeus), Bramble (Rubus fruticosus), and different species of Bird’s-foot-trefoil (Lotus sp) are<br />
common throughout the <strong>Park</strong> but there is no evidence that they are used. Cranberry (Vaccinium<br />
oxycoccus) and Crowberry (Empetrium nigrum), closely related to Cowberry and Bilberry, are rare<br />
in the park but are found in the area where the largest colony of <strong>Green</strong> <strong>Hairstreak</strong>s is located. It<br />
may be that these two plants are also used as larval foodplants.<br />
There are 15 complete or part 1 kilometre ordnance squares found within <strong>Sutton</strong> <strong>Park</strong>. Since 1993<br />
there has been <strong>Green</strong> <strong>Hairstreak</strong> records from 11 of these squares. However, there is only one<br />
area that has returned records every year and that is Blackroot Heath.<br />
It is not known at present if the <strong>Green</strong> <strong>Hairstreak</strong>:-<br />
• Only breeds in this core area but spreads across the park as vagrants as part of a<br />
natural process.<br />
• Breeds mainly in this core area but spreads into other areas of the park that are less<br />
favourable in good years to set up temporary breeding colonies.<br />
• Has a meta-population structure in <strong>Sutton</strong> <strong>Park</strong> containing several permanent<br />
colonies of different sizes. The small colonies going extinct in poor years and small<br />
habitat patches being colonised in good years.<br />
Recording History<br />
A survey in August 2009 located several patches of Cowberry and Bilberry. For each patch of<br />
Cowberry and Bilberry a 10 figure grid reference was recorded. These locations have since been<br />
compared to the historical records of <strong>Green</strong> <strong>Hairstreak</strong> where a six figure grid reference is known<br />
(see table).<br />
Bilberry<br />
Vaccinium myrtillus<br />
Cranberry<br />
Vaccinium oxycoccus<br />
Cowberry<br />
Vaccinium vitis-idaea<br />
Crowberry<br />
Empetrium nigrum<br />
Images sourced from Wikipedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org).
Grid Ref / Location Foodplant sp Patch Size <strong>Green</strong> <strong>Hairstreak</strong> Comment<br />
SP09111/96674<br />
Bilberry Small<br />
Nr Lord Donegals ride<br />
SP08876/96670<br />
South of Gun Targets<br />
Cowberry<br />
Bilberry<br />
Small<br />
Large<br />
SP09145/95650<br />
Banners Gate<br />
Bilberry<br />
Cowberry<br />
Large<br />
Large<br />
4 known sightings<br />
SP093/958<br />
SP091/957<br />
Probable Colony<br />
SP08636/96939<br />
Upper Longmoor<br />
Also known as Royal Gate<br />
SP09569/98482<br />
Little Bracebridge<br />
SP10345/97543<br />
Blackroot Heath<br />
(Also known as Upper<br />
Nuthurst & Dame Hurst)<br />
Blackroot Transect 1<br />
SP09185/98195<br />
Streetley Heath<br />
SP088/974<br />
Edge of Streetley Golf<br />
Course<br />
SP105/975<br />
Bracebridge Also known<br />
as Transect 2<br />
SP093/967<br />
Nr Rowtons Bank<br />
SP090/967<br />
Longmoor Valley<br />
SP106/966<br />
Keepers<br />
SP103/965<br />
Hollyhurst North West<br />
Edge<br />
SP100/962<br />
Nr Model Aeroplane flying<br />
field<br />
SP108/956<br />
Powells<br />
Bilberry Large Circa 12 sightings<br />
1993-99<br />
SP084968<br />
SP084967<br />
SP085967<br />
Bilberry Large 3 sightings 1994-99<br />
SP095985<br />
SP095983<br />
SP095989<br />
Bilberry<br />
Cowberry<br />
Crowberry<br />
Cranberry<br />
Large<br />
Large<br />
Small<br />
Large<br />
100 + sightings<br />
SP103977<br />
Probable Colony<br />
Possible Colony<br />
Large Colony<br />
Bilberry Small 1 sighting 1996 Possible Colony<br />
SP091983<br />
1 sighting 2004 Possible Colony<br />
Not surveyed<br />
Not surveyed<br />
No foodplant<br />
found<br />
No foodplant<br />
found<br />
Not surveyed<br />
Not surveyed<br />
Not surveyed<br />
Circa 100 sightings<br />
pre 2005<br />
SP103977<br />
2 sightings<br />
SP108956<br />
SP105/956<br />
Small to Medium<br />
colony likely to<br />
still be present
07<br />
08<br />
Milking Gate<br />
09<br />
10 11<br />
99<br />
Streetly Gate<br />
Streetley<br />
Heath<br />
Little<br />
Bracebridge<br />
Four Oaks Gate<br />
Little<br />
Bracebridge<br />
Pool<br />
Bracebridge<br />
Pool<br />
Bracebridge<br />
Transect 2<br />
98<br />
<strong>Sutton</strong><br />
Golf Course<br />
Blackroot<br />
Heath<br />
Transect 1<br />
Lady<br />
Wood<br />
<strong>Sutton</strong><br />
Golf Course<br />
Upper<br />
Nut Hurst<br />
Blackroot<br />
Pool<br />
Hartop Gate<br />
Upper<br />
Longmoor<br />
Valley<br />
Rowtons<br />
Bank<br />
Lord Donegal’s Ride<br />
Lower<br />
Nut Hurst<br />
97<br />
Royal<br />
Gate<br />
Lord Donegal’s Ride<br />
Holly Hurst<br />
West<br />
Keepers<br />
Pool<br />
<strong>Park</strong><br />
House<br />
Town<br />
Gate<br />
Longmoor Valley<br />
Model<br />
Airfield<br />
Holly<br />
Hurst<br />
96<br />
course of roman road<br />
Banners<br />
Gate<br />
Longmoor<br />
Pool<br />
Golf Course<br />
Powells<br />
Pool<br />
Wyndley<br />
Pool<br />
Boldmere Gate<br />
95<br />
KEY<br />
Location of <strong>Green</strong> <strong>Hairstreak</strong> sightings<br />
Areas of Bilberry, Cranberry, Cowberry or Crowberry<br />
Areas where habitat survey required<br />
Lakes and pools<br />
Railway line<br />
Visitors Centre<br />
<strong>Park</strong>ing
Further Habitat <strong>Survey</strong> Requirements<br />
A more extensive site survey for probable larval foodplants is required. The extent of the habitat<br />
patches should be mapped at all 4 corners. General areas for further survey are Longmoor Valley,<br />
<strong>Sutton</strong> Golf Club rough areas, Streetley Heath, Bracebridege Transect 2 area, Lower Nuthurst,<br />
Powells Pool area and Wyndley Pool area.<br />
Habitat of the <strong>Green</strong> <strong>Hairstreak</strong> butterfly at <strong>Sutton</strong> <strong>Park</strong>. Photo by Keith Warmington.<br />
Further Adult <strong>Green</strong> <strong>Hairstreak</strong> <strong>Survey</strong> Requirements<br />
More detailed surveys for adult <strong>Green</strong> <strong>Hairstreak</strong>s are required in all areas except Blackroot<br />
Heath. Priority areas for survey are Longmoor Valley, Gun Targets, Banners Gate, Little<br />
Bracebridge, Streetley Golf Course, Transect 2 area, Streetley Heath, Keepers and Powells area.<br />
Acknowledgements<br />
Report and Graphics by Steven Cheshire (<strong>Green</strong> <strong>Hairstreak</strong> Species Champion). <strong>Survey</strong> and<br />
Fieldwork by Mike Slater (Conservation Officer). <strong>Green</strong> <strong>Hairstreak</strong> records provided by Keith<br />
Warmington (Butterfly Recorder).
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