TV NEWS; WORKSHOP

We were given a news article entitled 'Rare butterflies booming after conservation boost'; detailing how as part of a conversation project by the National Trust, the population of  a rare butterfly species has now increased dramatically since the start of the project in 1992.

Angle; With the help of the National Trust, rare species of butterflies have now dramatically increased in population.

PRESENTER SCRIPT

Butterfly Boost

Presenter:
Hello and welcome to Nature One. Today’s story discusses the dramatic increase in the population of rare species of butterflies and this is all thanks to the National Trust and their ‘habitat specialist’.  Did you know, that the scarcer butterfly has declined in population, by 25% within the last 25 years, whereas, in comparison the Adonis Blue butterfly has increased by an equally huge 13% with thanks to the National Trust and their work.

Today we are joined with a ranger from the National One who has seen first hand, the success of the conservation projects. Hi Natasha, (she replies)

Q - So, roughly how long has this work been going on?

A - So the National Trust has been working on this issue of the decline in rare butterfly species for a good few decades, weve specifically been working at increasing this number of butterflies on farmlands since 1992, we are trying to get the numbers back to that of 1976.

Q - So, explain to us the work that you are doing?

A - So us at the National Trust have set up a lot of conservation projects in the hope to dramatically increase the population of rare butterfly species, in order to monitor this we have used results from the UK Butterfly monitoring Scheme to compare the numbers at our sites in comparison to those lands that are under other ownership. By producing some specialist habitats to house these butterflies we have successfully grown the numbers of specific rare species.  

Q - What do you think is one of the most important factors in this project?

A - Well aside from the main issue of the decline in butterfly population, i think it’s really important and extremely helpful within this conservation project that we have a wide range of local farmers and Rangers, as well as people like myself from the National Trust, all working together to achieve one common goal.

Q - From the reports, you’ve been very successful in achieving this. What’s the next step?

A - From now on, we are hoping to boost the number of farmland butterflies even further across our 200 000 acres of farmed landed, were pledging to improve butterfly habitats on land in our care with the hope of boosting the ranges of rarer butterfly species such as the mentioned Ble Adonis.  

Thank you for joining us Natasha, unfortunately that's all we have got time for today on Nature One. Next week, we look at more animal stories.