Hampshire County Council has bagged over £150k in funding to deliver a nature recovery project.
The £160,000 cash injection will be invested into the Boosting Butser’s Butterflies scheme, which aims to support the restoration of 48 hectares of chalk grassland and woodland edge in the next three years.
It is designed to enhance conditions for wildlife such as orchids, cowslip, harebell, and butterflies, through measures such as reintroducing a natural water supply to promote animal grazing.
According to the council, the project will create better visitor access to the Butser area, while using a ‘more natural, less intensive approach to managing this fragile habitat’.
It will also lower the risk of wildfires, improve land management, boost natural carbon storage, and reduce the impact of nearby pylons on the landscape.
Organisations that have contributed to the scheme are the National Grid’s Landscape Enhancement Initiative (£99,000), the South Downs National Park Authority’s Community Infrastructure Levy (£40,000), and the Big Chalk Partnership’s Nature Recovery Fund (£20,000 grant).
Cllr Kirsty North, Hampshire County Council’s Cabinet Lead Member for Universal Services, said: ‘Protecting and enhancing Hampshire’s natural environment is one of our key priorities, and this project shows how practical action can deliver real benefits for both people and wildlife.
‘It will enrich this treasured landscape, creating more opportunities for nature to thrive while ensuring it remains a wonderful place for residents and visitors to enjoy, helping us meet the challenges of a changing climate.’
