Questions Raised Over NRW’s “Two-Tier” Approach to Butterfly Conservation

Fresh questions are being raised over what local residents describe as a “two-tier” approach to environmental protection in Wales following a new Natural Resources Wales (NRW) story celebrating conservation work for Wales’s rarest butterfly.

NRW’s latest article highlights volunteer efforts to protect the High Brown Fritillary at Old Castle Down in the Vale of Glamorgan, praising long-term habitat management, species recovery work and community involvement.

However, concerns remain unresolved in Cynon Valley over land at Aberdare Cemetery identified in official planning documents as part of a Marsh Fritillary mitigation and compensation strategy linked to the A465 bypass scheme.

Planning reports for the scheme described the cemetery compensation area as having the potential to restore important marshy grassland habitats, including Devil’s-bit Scabious associated with Marsh Fritillary ecology, with management intended “in perpetuity”.

Residents have questioned why land identified for ecological compensation was later used for waste-related activity, with NRW subsequently issuing a waste exemption after material had already been deposited.

Correspondence sent to NRW seeking clarification over the handling of the site, regulatory decisions and compatibility with the approved mitigation strategy remains unanswered.

Critics say the contrast between NRW’s public promotion of rare butterfly conservation projects and the ongoing concerns surrounding the Aberdare Cemetery compensation land raises serious questions about consistency, accountability and environmental regulation in Wales.

Aberdare Cemetery is a Marsh Fritillary Butterfly site

The Curry Club is looking after Wales’ rarest butterfly

A team of volunteers and conservationists have begun a monthly tradition after working together to safeguard Wales’s rarest butterfly at Old Castle Down, Vale of Glamorgan.

The group, made up of project officers, conservationists and volunteers that work to preserve the last Welsh colony of the High Brown Fritillary have made it a habit to come together and celebrate their successes with a group curry.

The tradition began when two long term volunteers decided to take one of their colleagues out to a curry house to celebrate his 70^th birthday in 2024. The group enjoyed themselves so much that they suggested it become a monthly event.

Every month since then, the group have organised their ‘Curry Club’ which can consist of anywhere between six and 13 people. While they usually head to Salkaara in Bridgend, on two occasions they’ve even had outdoor sessions, involving take away being delivered for 11 people to an area along the edge of Old Castle Down.

The work being done is part of the High Brown Fritillary project, one of 11 under Natur am Byth, Wales’s flagship species recovery programme.

Work at Old Castle Down and the surrounding area, done in partnership with Butterfly Conservation Trust, involves managing the delicate habitat so that the High Brown Fritillary can thrive as well as conducting surveys of the species itself to monitor their numbers.

Dot Williams, Project Delivery Officer for Butterfly Conservation, said:

“The work being done to protect the High Brown’s last colony in Wales is so important and it’s amazing to see so many volunteers sharing our passion for its survival.

“Our ‘Curry Club’ is always such a good night and a great opportunity to cement the relationships within the group so that we really feel part of a community.

“These social events give us something extra to look forward to and a chance to celebrate all the hard work that goes into ensuring the survival of this rare and beautiful species.”

The High Brown Fritillary project is currently looking for volunteers for habitat monitoring in May and butterfly counting throughout June and July. For details on these events email naturambyth@naturalresources.wales