Environmental designations such as Area of ​​Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) help protect areas where it can be found.

The butterfly feeds almost exclusively on the leaves of a plant called devil’s scabious, which has also suffered from habitat loss and changes in agricultural practices.

In September, thirteen volunteers and two Butterfly Conservation staff carried out surveys at 20 sites, with recorded numbers more than doubling.

A short period of dry, mild weather in June is thought to have played a role in the butterfly’s rise, as well as the management of the site.