Butterflies - Save Danes Moss

Home » Wildlife » Butterflies

Butterflies at Danes Moss

Danes Moss is a great place for finding butterflies. 24 species out of 27 species known to breed in Cheshire have been recorded across the whole Moss so far which makes it a biodiversity hotspot for them in Cheshire East (21 have now been recorded in the area at risk of development). Some species can be found all summer but others have specific times when they are on the wing. Sunny days with little or no wind are best.

All 23 species are listed below. Clicking on the image will open a new page showing photo observations of them from Danes Moss.

Sadly, many of the UK’s butterfly populations are declining – a key factor contributing to this is habitat loss. Restoration of the area of Danes Moss at risk of development could help increase the abundance of butterflies across the whole of Danes Moss and help reverse this decline in Cheshire East.

The ecology reports produced as part of the planning process are inadequate. They have not identified the key species in need of protection. Knowledge of their presence is required and is of great importance so that the impact of future development can be avoided or mitigated. There are two legally protected species of butterfly which will be impacted by any development at Danes Moss that are listed as ‘Section 41 (S41) Species of Principle Importance’ whereby Cheshire East Council is required by law to demonstrate its duties to conserve biodiversity.*

The Dingy Skipper in particular has an IUCN** status in the UK of ‘Vulnerable’, this means it is at risk of not just disappearing in Cheshire East but the whole of the UK – more evidence that the proposed development of Danes Moss is of national significance.

* According to the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006

** International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Considered one of the world’s most authoritative nature conservation bodies.

Dingy Skipper

RECORDED WITHIN THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AREA. IUCN Status: Vulnerable to extinction across the whole of the UK Section 41 Species of principle importance An extremely rare and declining butterfly in the UK. Difficult to spot as it flies off low and fast when disturbed, it can usually be spotted feeding on the yellow flowers of it's favourite foodplant, the Common Bird's Foot Trefoil in May. There are only a very small handful of sites left in the whole of Cheshire where this butterfly can be found.
Small Heath

RECORDED WITHIN THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AREA. IUCN Status: Near Threatened, close to qualifying as at risk of extinction across the whole of the UK Section 41 Species of principle importance. A small butterfly that flies from may to September.
Large Skipper

RECORDED WITHIN THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AREA. This butterfly favours damp grassland areas and flies from June to August.
Small Skipper

RECORDED WITHIN THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AREA. Can be seen flying around the purple flowers of Knapweed from June to August. Smaller and with less black wing markings than the Large Skipper.
Brimstone

RECORDED WITHIN THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AREA. An unmistakeable large yellow butterfly that flies in May, it's main foodplant is Alder Buckthorn which can be found across the moss.
Peacock

RECORDED WITHIN THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AREA. A common species with spectacular markings that can be found mainly in May.
Red Admiral

RECORDED WITHIN THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AREA. Unmistakeable with its lovely red markings, it flies from April through to autumn.
Painted Lady

The only migratory species in the UK, the adults that hatch here migrate all the way to North Africa before the onset of winter, it is one of the longest butterfly migrations that can be found globally. It's numbers vary from year to year and can be found anytime from May to September.
Small Tortoiseshell

RECORDED WITHIN THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AREA. One of the most familiar butterflies which appears in May and is also common in July and August.
Comma

RECORDED WITHIN THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AREA. A common butterfly that can be found in April and May and then again in July and August. This is one of the few species that is currently doing well, it is believed one factor in this is the impact of climate change.
Dark Green Fritillary

RECORDED WITHIN THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AREA. This striking large butterfly is a rare visitor to Cheshire East and is possibly not a breeding species in Cheshire.
Small White

RECORDED WITHIN THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AREA. A common species that can be seen across the moss in May, June and August. Also known as the Cabbage White due to its caterpillars love of eating cabbages in the garden!
Green-veined White

RECORDED WITHIN THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AREA. A common species that can be seen throughout the summer from May onwards. Look on the underside of the wings to see the amazing green vein pattern.
Large White

RECORDED WITHIN THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AREA. A common species that can be seen across the moss in May, June and August. It has more black on the wingtips than the Small White.
Orange-Tip

RECORDED WITHIN THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AREA. The males are obvious with their orange tips flying endlessly to hold a territory in April and May. The females do not have the orange tips and can me mistaken for one of the other white butterflies, to check - look for the strongly green and white patterned underwings when they land on a flower. They are one of the earliest butterflies to emerge.
Speckled Wood

RECORDED WITHIN THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AREA. A common woodland species that flies in woodland glades, in the proposed development area it can be found mostly in the wet woodland any time from April though to late autumn.
Ringlet

RECORDED WITHIN THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AREA. Named after the striking ring patterns that can be found on both the upper and underside of the wings. This species flies mainly in July in woodland edges and glades with high shrubs.
Gatekeeper

RECORDED WITHIN THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AREA. A pretty brown and orange butterfly that occupies shrubby grassland areas in July and August.
Meadow Brown

RECORDED WITHIN THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AREA. One of the more common brown butterflies that are seen flying around in grassy areas from June to September.
Common Blue

RECORDED WITHIN THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AREA. Favours grassland areas with Common Bird's Foot Trefoil flowers, most commonly seen in June, August and September.
Holly Blue

RECORDED WITHIN THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AREA. Most commonly seen in May, June and August usually fluttering past without stopping. It is quite often seen resting on Ivy which along with Holly are the key caterpillar foodplants.
Small Copper

RECORDED WITHIN THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AREA. A very pretty butterfly that can be seen throughout the summer but only in small numbers.
Purple Hairstreak

A butterfly that flies in the treetops of mature Oak in July and August and for this reason is rarely seen without a pair of binoculars.
Green Hairstreak

Can be seen in May and June within the Nature Reserve side of Danes Moss feeding on Bilberry flowers. Habitat loss is a key driver in the declines of this bright metallic green butterfly, restoration rather than destruction of the peatland in the proposed development area could positively increase the abundance of this butterfly.