I’ve been grateful to spend a big chunk of my summer at our Lyscombe nature reserve. If you haven’t been already, I fully recommend giving the site a visit. The reserve is 335 hectares, made up of Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) designated chalk downland, wildflower meadows, ancient woodland, and has several Scheduled Monuments. What I love about Lyscombe is it doesn’t matter where you stand, you’ll have an amazing view. A big draw to the reserve besides the ancient Chapel is the ‘bowl’ or ‘horseshoe’ shape of the main part of the nature reserve.

During my time at Lyscombe when I’m not admiring the view, or the wild orchids, I like to observe the invertebrates that call the reserve home. The butterfly transects on site pass through all the various habitats, allowing us to gather information on the species living there and their population numbers. With the help of our wonderful volunteers, we’ve counted 29 butterfly species on the reserve so far this year. 

An exciting find for me was my first ever sighting of a marsh fritillary butterfly, a species threatened in the UK and Europe. The caterpillars of this species feed mainly on devil’s-bit scabious, a plant that thrives in damp meadows and marshes. These habitats have declined over time due to humans reshaping our water ways and draining land for other uses. At Lyscombe, the plant is currently present, and surveys are carried out to locate and map its distribution, allowing us to return in the autumn to collect the seeds.

One of my favourite butterfly species is the dingy skipper, a small widespread butterfly that is unfortunately becoming increasingly rare. They favour chalk downland, dunes, heathland, and woodland ride habitats. The plant food for their caterpillars are common bird’s-foot-trefoil and horseshoe vetch, both present at Lyscombe. With the help of the SSF funding, we’ve fenced the SSSI designated land on the reserve, allowing us to manage the grazing of the sensitive chalk downland habitat, helping the plant foods for these species and many more to thrive as the ponies and cattle play their part in managing the vegetation levels.

During the summer, it’s hard to not take notice of the grasshoppers and crickets at Lyscombe, almost every step in the long grasses sees multiple grasshoppers leaping out of your way. And when all these individuals start to mature, their collective calls can be quite something. A species of bush-cricket that can be easily overlooked due to its quiet call (usually heard within a metre of the males, unlike the great green bush-cricket which can be heard up to 20m away) and long green slender body is the long-winged conehead. This species is found in rough grassland, woodland rides, dry heaths and coastal habitats. Fortunately, this species appears to be doing well in England as they can establish easily in suitable habitats and have good dispersal abilities. This is thought to be aided by changes to land management techniques, such as the addition of riparian buffer strips on farms and managed land, Countryside Stewardship schemes, and projects like the SSF which manage land to enhance species abundance.

Another species which is easy to go unnoticed at Lyscombe is the common crab spider. I noticed these tiny spiders that are no larger than 8mm waiting in the yarrow with their front legs wide open waiting to ambush unsuspecting pollinators. They can catch prey much larger than themselves, such as bumble bees, beetles, flies and caterpillars. Once their prey is caught, they use their fangs to inject a solution that paralyses the victim before feeding on them. Our wildflower meadows are stunning areas filled with colour for us to enjoy, whilst also providing a place for wildlife to feed, take refuge and call home.

These small species are a reminder of what we can see if we take a moment to stop and observe the natural world around us. By protecting and nurturing insects and plants we strengthen the foundation of the ecosystem’s food web, providing vital resources that support birds, insects, amphibians, and small mammal numbers, which in turn sustain predators such as owls, falcons, foxes, and reptiles. With the support of the Species Survival Fund, we can give nature the boost it needs to keep all these wonderful creatures around for us to enjoy.

Learn more about Lyscombe