Thousands of butterflies turned up on restored West Sussex farmland
Counters recorded 5,290 butterflies on former wheat fields at Halnaker Hill, including small blues and dingy skippers never seen there before.
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Counters recorded 5,290 butterflies on former wheat fields at Halnaker Hill in West Sussex. The Guardian reported the survey on October 22, 2026.
About 133 hectares, roughly 330 acres, became a nature project after the farm's last wheat harvest in 2024. The work added a wildflower mix, about 7 kilometres of hedgerows, 7 hectares of woodland, three ponds, and 54 hectares of herbal leys grazed in short rotations. The project sells commercial biodiversity net gain credits.
Ecologist Neil Hulme said 85 small blues and seven dingy skippers had never been recorded on the site before. The count also included 547 small heaths, common blues, green hairstreaks, and eight sulphur pearl moths, along with skylarks, corn buntings, hobbies, and dragonflies. Nick Heasman of the South Downs National Park described the change on ground that had been arable. Hulme's plan for next year is to bring in the Duke of Burgundy and to sow wild pansies for the Queen of Spain fritillary. That is a plan, not a result yet.
For the classroom
The Guardian reported on October 22, 2026, that counters found 5,290 butterflies on former wheat fields at Halnaker Hill in West Sussex. After the last wheat harvest in 2024, about 133 hectares were turned into a nature project, with wildflowers, new hedges, a little woodland, ponds, and grazing. Ecologist Neil Hulme said small blues and dingy skippers had never been recorded there before. Counters also saw small heaths, common blues, green hairstreaks, and birds such as skylarks. A plan for next year would add more flowers for other rare butterflies. That part has not happened yet.
- What changed on this farm between a wheat field and a place full of butterflies?
- Why might a butterfly that was never seen there before be a hopeful sign?
- What is one thing a class could plant to help insects near school?
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