From Three Butterflies to Six Hundred: How Kent Pulled a Species Back From the Edge

The population of the rare Duke of Burgundy butterfly in Kent has grown by over 9,000%, rising from fewer than 50 individuals in 2005 to nearly 600 in 2024. This recovery was achieved through collaboration between Butterfly Conservation, Natural England, and farmers, who created new habitats and planted food sources such as cowslips and primroses under government environmental land management schemes. Conservationists describe Kent as the standout example of this approach working, though the species has still declined by 89% across the UK since 1982.