Butterfly and Moth surveys to monitor the effectiveness of buffer strips

This summer, South Cumbria Rivers Trust (SCRT) trained 4 volunteers, 4 National Trust volunteers and staff and 2 members of SCRT staff to take part in series of trial butterfly and moth surveys, to help monitor the impact of buffer strips around rivers in the Coniston and Crake catchment. If the project proves successful South Cumbria Rivers Trust will look to provide further training opportunities in the future. 

Using a series of heath moth traps, made from a specifically designed light and bucket style trap, the group will be looking for over 24 species of moth and butterfly in the area. This will be supported by basic vegetation surveys to further assess the impact and development of the buffer strips.

The survey will be carried out before and after the buffer strips have been installed, to assess the difference that the buffer strip is making to the river habitat and the change in biodiversity to the river environment.

Buffer strips are fenced off areas on farmland and run alongside the river, these areas keep livestock out of the river, and reduce sediment run-off and bank erosion.

In the Coniston and Crake catchment, South Cumbria Rivers Trust plan to implement 30 km of fencing with buffer strip in the catchment over 3 years.

If you would like to hear more about this project, please visit: https://ccc.scrt.co.uk/