Rare butterflies, wildlife win new haven in Cornwall

Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-17 06:53:15|Editor: ZD
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LONDON, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- A haven in Cornwall for rare species like the marsh fritillary butterfly and willow tit bird has been officially recognized as one of Britain's most important wildlife sites.

Natural England announced on Wednesday evening that the Mid Cornwall Moors had been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), giving the area legal protection for its important wildlife and habitats.

The protection for the moorland brings certainty and purpose to conservation work in Mid Cornwall, where the rich mix of heathland, woodland, and wildflower meadows provides a vital sanctuary for wildlife, said Natural England.

Wesley Smyth, the agency's manager for Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly team, said: "This rich and diverse landscape of Mid Cornwall is home to an array of rare plants and insects, alongside one of the highest densities of willow tit breeding pairs in England.

Natural England is working with landowners and local organizations, such as the Cornwall Wildlife Trust and Butterfly Conservation, to create the perfect conditions for the rare marsh fritillary butterfly.

With further help from the Eden Project and Highways England, swathes of devil's-bit scabious, the main food plant for the marsh fritillary caterpillars, have been grown and planted alongside the A30 road corridor.

Philip Hambly, Chairman of Cornwall Butterfly Conservation (CBC), said: "We have been working with Natural England in order to help protect the rare Marsh Fritillary butterfly in Mid Cornwall, and this confirmation of SSSI protection will help future conservation efforts."

As part of the area's newly-designated status, another project seeks to protect the habitat of the willow tit, which has virtually disappeared from large parts of the UK and whose national population has declined by an estimated 81 percent since the mid-1990s.

The new Mid Cornwall Moors SSSI merges six former SSSIs that previously dotted the landscape around the A30, extending the boundaries and protecting around 50 percent more countryside, connecting important habitats and helping wildlife to withstand pressures from climate change.

Cornwall spans the southernmost part of Britain in the southwest area of England, famed for its rugged coast and moorlands, and one of its biggest attractions, Land's End, the very tip of Britain overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

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