Protect the places butterflies and moths call home

Aim

Will you help to protect the precious places butterflies and moths call home?

Butterfly Conservation cares for 25 nature reserves across the UK, covering more than 500 hectares of vital habitat. Each reserve has its own unique history, ecology and species – and each one provides a safe haven for wildlife and a lifeline for some of our rarest butterflies and moths.

With habitat loss being one of the biggest drivers of butterfly and moth declines, reserves safeguard our vital natural landscapes. However, simply allowing these greenspaces to go “wild” isn’t enough for butterflies and moths to thrive. They must be carefully managed so native foodplants and wildflowers can flourish.

With spring just around the corner, will you donate to help maintain and improve these important spaces?

Across the country, our reserves are cared for by dedicated volunteers, supported by our regional Reserves Officers. These amazing teams are committed to preserving and improving the greenspaces on their doorsteps.

Winter is one of their busiest seasons – with work parties out most weeks from October onwards, clearing scrub, improving habitats, and preparing sites for the explosion of life that spring brings.

Even with thousands of volunteer hours each year, some work requires specialist equipment, training or resources – and that’s where your generosity makes a crucial difference.

"People don’t realise it but there are many “hidden” costs involved with managing our reserves. For example, maintaining fencing to protect areas of planting, or to keep grazing livestock safely contained. We sometimes need to bring in contractors to support us with larger jobs too – if it requires specialist skills or equipment." Fiona Scully, Reserves Officer for South East England

"In our work parties, we routinely use brush cutters and chainsaws to help control scrub and invasive plant growth. The equipment is costly, and volunteers must receive proper training to use it safely." Charleen Case, Reserves Officer for Central England

"We do everything we can to keep running costs as low as possible, even harvesting native seeds by hand to then sow and improve the habitat in other areas of the reserve. However, some costs are unavoidable." Nick Purdew, Reserves Officer for South West England.

From flower-filled pastures to peaceful woodlands, Butterfly Conservation’s reserves vary greatly across the country, and so do the species of butterflies and moths that depend on them. 

At Rowland Wood in East Sussex, winter scrub clearance makes way for swathes of violets in the spring, a favourite of the threatened Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary.

Further west at Magdalen Hill Down in Hampshire, careful chalk grassland management encourages a bounty of spring wildflowers like kidney vetch, which is vital for the rare Small Blue butterfly.

Over in Warwickshire at Ryton Wood Meadows reserve, removal of encroaching plants helps to support local populations of Wood White and Brown Hairstreak butterflies.

Your support will ensure our reserves across the UK are ready to burst into life this spring. Your donation today could help to:

• Provide essential equipment and training to volunteers
• Repair fencing and infrastructure that protect sensitive habitats
• Support the planting of native foodplants
• Maintain safe access for volunteers and visitors

Please donate today to support our reserves at this important time of year. 

Your generous gift will help to safeguard these precious habitats for the year ahead – for all the butterflies, moths and many other animals that call them home. Thank you.

Donations to this appeal will support this work as well as other vital conservation projects to save butterflies and moths across the UK.

This project successfully funded on 25th February 2026