Small victories

For the past five years I've been trying to persuade the rangers to avoid cutting the firebreaks on the common where I have my heathland butterfly survey. They usually do this in the second or third week of July with a devastating effect on the emerging population of Gatekeepers. The number of Gatekeepers I've recorded on this transect has averaged just 96 per year over the past five years. This year the ranger agreed to a one year trial where they mow later in the season. On this afternoon's transect walk I recorded 146 Gatekeepers (in 30 minutes) bringing the total so far to well over 300. I think that's already looking like a small victory for this beautiful butterfly.