Learn

In London chalk grassland can be found mainly on the North Downs. A flora and fauna rich habitat supporting up to 40 species per meter squared, where rare and beautiful butterflies can be enjoyed in the capital.  

The weathering of chalk and other limestone base geology, forms well-drained, nutrient poor soils. A sunny climate and our relationship to traditionally managing land with grazing sheep, keeps turf short and open, allowing lime loving plants and invertebrates to flourish. There are many rare and scarce species associated with the habitat such as the small blue butterfly and roman snail. Scrubby grassland margins of dogwood and guelder rose help to create a mosaic of habitat and supports other species not found out on the open grassland, such as great green bush cricket.  

Brilliant Butterflies has worked with local communities, schools, and landowners to create new wildlife habitats we call butterfly ‘banks’. This will help to address the decline of special chalk grassland habitats and provide refuges for rare insects by creating a ‘living landscape' in south London.

Brilliant Butterflies captures vital monitoring data to help make a case for the future protection of specialist chalk grassland sites, which are located in an increasingly vulnerable part of London’s Green Belt (a protected area of green land around London and the home counties). 

Download our free resource to monitor London’s butterflies

Natural History Museum (NHM) have undertaken ground-breaking environmental DNA (eDNA) surveys across Brilliant Butterflies project sites, investigating the communities of insects on these beautiful chalk grassland habitats. The acquired knowledge from these surveys will inform conservation practice for invertebrate communities.