Hairstreak Conservation

There are five species of hairstreak butterfly in the UK. Of all butterflies, this group is particularly at risk of habitat destruction, especially from development and changes in farming practices. The Oxford and Ampthill Clays are the only place in the UK where all five hairstreak butterflies naturally occur. This unique habitat needs to be protected to ensure all of these butterflies have a future.
The Black Hairstreak and Brown Hairstreak have faced losses due to inappropriate hedgerow and woodland edge management. The White-letter Hairstreak has suffered due to Dutch Elm Disease. Even the more common Purple Hairstreak and Green Hairstreak have suffered declines in recent years.
The Upper Thames branch does a lot of work on hairstreak conservation. Butterfly Conservation head office also took an interest, but the Five Hairstreaks project was ended prematurely in 2020.
Hairstreak Egg Hunts
White-letter Hairstreak Project
  

Black Hairstreak
Brown Hairstreak
Green Hairstreak
Purple Hairstreak
White-letter Hairstreak