Protecting our chalk grassland and butterfly populations
In 2018, Brighton & Hove City Council declared a climate and biodiversity emergency, and since then we have pledged to become a carbon neutral city by 2030.
Although we have been making progress on climate and biodiversity action as a city, the biodiversity crisis is still ongoing.
Recent research found that grassland butterfly populations have declined by more than a third across Europe over the past 10 years. Of the 17 species identified in the study, 16 can be found on the chalk grassland in and around Brighton & Hove.
Protecting our chalk grassland
To the north of Brighton & Hove is the South Downs, a rare chalk grassland and rich habitat for pollinators such as bees and butterflies. Around a third of the food that we eat depends on pollinators, highlighting the importance of conserving and protecting our chalk grasslands.
The council’s Conservation Grazing Project manages 110 hectares of this habitat to maximise its biodiversity.
We are working with the National Trust, the South Downs National Park Authority and others as the Changing Chalk Partnership. This project has been funded by players of the National Heritage Lottery and People’s Postcode Lottery to restore more species-rich grassland around Brighton & Hove.
Wilding Waterhall is the council’s key project within this partnership, managing a further 90 hectares of downland by rewilding a former council golf course. This work will directly benefit declining butterfly species, especially those such as the Small and Adonis blues which are only found on species-rich chalk grassland.
Butterflies and other pollinators have also benefited from projects such as local schools’ City of Meadows project, where children created micro, mini or medium meadows.
Our Wilder Verges project piloted implementing a no-mow approach on 23 verges throughout Brighton & Hove. The project helped to boost biodiversity as we observed a new pollinator or downland plant species on 70% of the sites.
Valuable habitat
Councillor Tim Rowkins, Chair of the City Environment, South Downs & The Sea Committee, said: “We are privileged to have the South Downs National Park right on our doorstep in Brighton & Hove. This rare chalk grassland plays an important role for many pollinators.
“Brighton & Hove also sits at the heart of The Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere, which is made up of 3 environments – downs, towns, and coast.
“With butterfly populations declining throughout Europe, we have a duty to protect this valuable habitat, and many local initiatives like Wilding Waterhall are helping us to achieve this goal.
“But there is more to be done, and biodiversity and nature recovery will continue to form a crucial part of our journey to carbon neutrality.”
How you can help
The Wildlife Trusts have shared 5 simple ideas of ways to make your garden, balcony or outside space more pollinator-friendly:
- Plant nectar-rich flowers, shrubs and trees
- Let wildflowers grow in your garden, as these make great nesting and feeding sites
- Avoid using pesticides which can harm pollinators and other invertebrates
- Cut your grass less often and remove cuttings to let plants flower
- Avoid disturbing or destroying nesting or hibernating insects in grass margins, bare soil, hedgerows, trees, dead wood or walls
Biodiversity in Brighton & Hove
Biodiversity is our planet’s life support system. Restoring nature underpins the health and wellbeing of people and wildlife in an era of climate change.
Changing Chalk
Changing Chalk is a partnership of organisations, led by the National Trust, working together to restore lost habitats, bring histories to life and offer new experiences in the outdoors. It is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, players of People’s Postcode Lottery, and The Linbury Trust.
