Saving the Blues

The Adonis blue (Polyommatus bellargus) is a small butterfly, with males displaying vivid sky-blue wings and females brown with orange spots. Both sexes have pale brown undersides with black spots. They thrive in chalk grasslands, often seen on low plants like horseshoe vetch.

A Big Chalk Project

Saving the Blues

Lead organisation

Isle of Wight National Landscape

Partner organisations

  • Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust
  • National Trust
  • Gift to Nature
  • Local landowners

Project description

The Isle of Wight National Landscape is important for its chalk grasslands, which are a haven for rare and beautiful plants, insects and birds. The grasslands hold nationally important populations of five species of blue butterfly, whose caterpillars feed on plants found almost exclusively on the chalk.

Working with landowners within the National Landscape, the project will improve habitat for the five blue butterflies, including the Adonis Blue and Chalk Hill Blue. The project will be completed by February 2025 and is funded by the project partners.

Project location

The chalk grasslands of the east Wight at Arreton Down SSSI, Brading Down Local Nature Reserve, Bonchurch and Bembridge Down SSSI.

Contribution to Big Chalk

The project will deliver improved management of 158ha of chalk grassland habitat across six sites through better fencing, cattle management, scrub removal and water provision.

This will provide the mixture of warm, south-facing, short-grass habitats and foodplants needed for the butterfly caterpillars to feed as well as a variety of nectar sources for the adults.

Read more

Have a project that could strengthen the future of southern England’s iconic chalk and limestone landscapes?

The Big Chalk programme brings together a dynamic suite of partner-led projects, each unique in its focus, area, and partnerships but sharing a commitment to our collective vision.

If your project contributes to the Big Chalk mission, we invite you to register it as a Big Chalk Project. Registered projects gain access to networking, shared learning, and best practice—alongside the Big Chalk brand, boosting your profile and connecting you to a powerful, growing network of partners.

Together, these projects form a united effort to secure the future of southern England’s chalk and limestone landscapes, making a lasting impact for nature and communities.

Register your project
By Isle of Wight National Landscape
02 September 2024

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