As summer fades and the vibrant colours of hay meadows wane, a small but essential flower still blooms across the Cumbria landscape—Devil’s-bit scabious. This unassuming purple plant is critical to the survival of one of the UK’s rarest butterflies, the marsh fritillary, and Cumbria Connect is calling on farmers and land managers in the Lowther and Eden Valleys to help identify where it is growing.
The marsh fritillary, once declared extinct in Cumbria due to the loss of its wet grassland habitats, has made a remarkable comeback. Last summer, conservationists were thrilled to rediscover these beautiful butterflies in the Swindale Valley and near Shap. Now, Cumbria Connect is spearheading an effort to support the long-term recovery of the marsh fritillary by creating “stepping stones” of habitat that will allow the butterfly population to spread across the landscape.
A delicate balance
The marsh fritillary’s survival is intrinsically linked to the presence of Devil’s-bit scabious. This plant is the sole food source for the butterfly’s caterpillars, and without it, the species simply cannot thrive. Annabelle Kennedy, senior farm and conservation advisor at Cumbria Connect, explains, “These caterpillars rely entirely on this one plant, making the presence of Devil’s-bit scabious critical to their survival.”
This year, surveys conducted by the RSPB team at Wild Haweswater revealed an encouraging sign for the marsh fritillary population. In 2023, conservationists found 23 webs—structures spun by the caterpillars to protect themselves. But the numbers are on the rise. “This year, they have discovered 101 webs, each containing dozens, sometimes hundreds, of caterpillars busily feeding on Devil’s-bit scabious,” Kennedy noted. The team’s findings represent a huge leap forward in securing the future of this species in the region.
The role of farmers in butterfly conservation
Grazing management is another crucial factor in maintaining suitable habitat for the marsh fritillary. In places like Swindale Valley, traditional grazing by fell ponies and cattle has helped keep the grassland open, allowing Devil’s-bit scabious to thrive. Without this carefully managed grazing, the meadows would become overgrown, crowding out the delicate wildflowers and reducing the quality of habitat for the butterflies.
This delicate balance of farming and wildlife conservation is at the heart of the marsh fritillary’s resurgence. Farmers are in a unique position to help ensure that these butterflies continue to return to Cumbria. By identifying and preserving areas where Devil’s-bit scabious is growing, farmers can directly contribute to the recovery of this rare species.
Taking action
Cumbria Connect is urging landowners to survey their fields and meadows for signs of Devil’s-bit scabious. “We’d love for others to get in touch so that we can map where in the landscape it is growing,” Kennedy said. “The more areas of Devil’s-bit scabious we can create, the greater the chance we have of seeing these beautiful creatures thrive once again.”
Farmers who have already identified the plant on their land are invited to work with Cumbria Connect to plant new areas and create the stepping stones needed for the marsh fritillary to move and establish a stronger population. Kennedy explains: “These butterflies depend entirely on the right habitat to survive. The more areas we can establish, the better their chances.”
If you’ve spotted Devil’s-bit scabious growing on your land, you can contact Cumbria Connect at farming@connectfornature.org.uk to contribute to the survey and join the effort to save one of Britain’s rarest butterflies. To find out more about Cumbria Connect, visit their project page.
