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Location of reintroduced chequered skipper butterflies revealed
Butterfly Conservation is expecting many wildlife enthusiasts to visit the location in summer to catch a glimpse of the species.
The species has not been seen in England for 45 years.

The location of the recently reintroduced rare chequered skipper butterfly species has been revealed for public viewing.

Chequered skipper butterflies, with their distinctive yellow markings, have not been seen in the wild in England since 1976. 

In order to allow the population to become stable, the location of the butterflies was kept secret as Butterfly Conservation and Forestry England worked hard to ensure the species' success.

Butterfly Conservation has now revealed that the chequered skipper population is in Fineshade Wood, Northamptonshire – allowing wildlife enthusiasts the opportunity to go and see this rare species in person. 

The reintroduction of this species is part of the Back from the Brink conservation project - butterflies were collected in Belgium in 2018 and 2019 to be released in Fineshade Wood. 

The organisation is hoping to establish further chequered skipper populations in additional sites, and ultimately ensure long-term sustainability for the species.

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Strangles survey seeks views of horse owners

News Story 1
 With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.

The survey, which has been designed by Dechra, aims to raise awareness of Strangles and promote best practices to prevent its transmission. It includes questions about horse owners' experiences of strangles, together with preventative measures and vaccination.

Respondents to the survey will be entered into a prize draw to win two VIP tickets to Your Horse Live 2025. To access the survey, click here 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
DAERA to reduce BVD 'grace period'

DAERA has reminded herd keepers of an upcoming reduction to the 'grace period' to avoid BVD herd restrictions.

From 1 May 2025, herd keepers will have seven days to cull any BVD positive or inconclusive animals to avoid restrictions being applied to their herd.

It follows legislation introduced on 1 February, as DAERA introduces herd movement restrictions through a phased approach. Herd keepers originally had 28 days to cull BVD positive or inconclusive animals.

DAERA says that, providing herd keepers use the seven-day grace period, no herds should be restricted within the first year of these measures.

Additional measures, which will target herds with animals over 30 days old that haven't been tested for BVD, will be introduced from 1 June 2025.

More information is available on the DAERA website.