A recent study by the University of Oxford and Butterfly Conservation, with funding from The Woodland Trust, has found that trees and hedges on farmland can significantly increase butterfly populations. This discovery comes amid troubling times for butterflies in the UK, as data from 2024 indicated a severe decline in their numbers.
Lead researcher Dr. Ruth Feber emphasized the importance of these natural habitats: "We know that butterflies are in desperate trouble, including our common countryside species. Butterflies are important indicators of wider biodiversity, so actions that help butterflies will also help other declining wildlife." She highlighted the crucial role farmers and landowners play in restoring hedgerows and trees to aid recovery efforts.
The research involved analyzing survey data collected over ten years across England by volunteers participating in the Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey (WCBS). The results showed a positive correlation between butterfly numbers and the presence of hedgerows and small woodlands, especially in arable landscapes.
Dr. Feber noted concerns among farmers regarding the costs associated with maintaining these habitats but stressed their broader benefits: "It is clear that farmers recognize the importance of these crucial habitats, but they need to be supported: we need to recognize that these trees and hedgerows provide public goods which benefit wildlife and people."
The study forms part of a broader initiative within Oxford's Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU) to explore interactions between agriculture and wildlife. Dr. Feber's ongoing research investigates regenerative farming practices aimed at enhancing soil health while promoting biodiversity.
Her current project at Northfield Farm employs a "mob" grazing system intended to improve habitat quality for butterflies and other pollinators. These findings may inform future policy incentives supporting sustainable land management practices among farmers.
The study titled ‘Quantifying the value of trees outside woods for promoting biodiversity on farmland’ is published in Ecological Solutions and Evidence.