Natural England

One of the rarest and most highly threatened insects in Britain is now being protected on the Essex coast, through Natural England environmental schemes.

The Fisher’s estuarine moth lives in low-lying coastal areas where it feeds on the Hog’s Fennel plant - the only food the caterpillar of the species will eat.

However, areas of the moth’s habitat – including one of the last remaining strongholds at Skipper’s Island in the Walton Backwaters area on the North Essex coast, are gradually being lost each year through flooding due to rising sea levels.

Now landowners and farmers in Essex are looking to preserve the moth by providing alternative areas of Hog’s Fennel inland and away from the threat of the sea.

Both Natural England’s Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) and Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) agreements have encouraged the landowners to create habitat for the moth by planting Hog’s Fennel plugs and sowing Hog’s Fennel seed into established grassland and control fast growing species such as thistles and nettles.

Around fifteen new sites have been developed in the Essex area for the moth through these agri-environmental schemes thanks to the commitment and support of Natural England, Environment Agency, Writtle College, the Cambridgeshire and Essex Branch of Butterfly Conservation and Tendring District Council.

The moth can be seen in flight during September and October and is quite distinctive due to its relatively large size (wing span 4 to 5 cm) and pale gold-brown wing colour with light and dark spots.

Sarah Brockless from Natural England who advises farmers on the agreements said: “If we hadn’t stepped in to create new areas of Hog’s Fennel away from the threat of rising sea levels this beautiful moth would have struggled to survive. The fantastic co-operation and enthusiasm of landowners has extended a life line so this very vulnerable species may continue to survive long-term in this part of the country.”

Zoe Ringwood, Co-ordinator for the Fisher’s Estuarine Moth project at Writtle College said: “Development of a conservation programme for Fisher’s Estuarine Moth through agri-environmental schemes is enabling habitat creation and protection work for the species to be conducted on a landscape-scale. This combined with the support and expertise of Natural England and the positive attitude and commitment of local landowners, are essential to securing the long-term future of the species in Britain.”