A country park has drafted in a herd of cows to encourage rare butterflies to breed in its meadows.
Flutter - fences are put up to keep grazing cattle in the meadow and in the process help the rare grizzled skipper to breed Picture: NICK ANSELL
Rangers at Langdon Nature Reserve, in Dry Street, drafted in the cows to provide the grazed field environment necessary to attract the grizzled skipper butterfly.
The skippers, which measure just a few centimetres across, are one of 28 species of butterfly at the reserve, and manager Nick Stanley was keen to make sure they remain there.
He said: "We have brought in the grazing to try and look after the grizzled skippers. We have also done similar things in the past with both cows and sheep.
"Langdon is the only site in Essex where you can find grizzled skippers so it is important we provide them with an environment where they can flourish."
Barbed wire has been installed to prevent the cows from breaking down the surrounding fence, a move that has not proved popular with all visitors.
A butterfly tour of the site is being held at 2pm on July 25. For more information or took book a place, call the reserve on 01268 542066.
Published Wednesday June 30, 2004
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article