The damage caused when hundreds of twitchers trample a fragile nature reserve to bag a photograph of a rare bird is relatively well-known. Butterfly watchers are considered a more genteel breed. Wading through a wildflower meadow in pursuit of butterflies is a supreme summertime pleasure. When one person does it, the flowers spring back within hours. Unfortunately, numerous people, no matter how well-intentioned, congregating in one spot can cause problems.
A highlight of this fine butterfly summer has been big numbers of black hairstreak, a rare and charming insect found in woods between Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire. Whitecross Green Wood is a hotspot, its beautiful rides are linear wildflower meadows. But one volunteer warden reports that black hairstreak seekers this year ignored notices, left mown walkways and trampled flat half of one ride. You often see trampled patches where admirers stand beside brambles, taking photos.
According to the warden, repeated annual trampling is gradually degrading the ride flora and compacting the soil, imperilling ground- and soil-dwelling invertebrates.
What can we do? Tread carefully, respect protective cordons and visit less obvious sites to spread our numbers. And sometimes we must put the needs of a place before a photograph.
