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Location of reintroduced chequered skipper butterflies revealed
Butterfly Conservation is expecting many wildlife enthusiasts to visit the location in summer to catch a glimpse of the species.
The species has not been seen in England for 45 years.

The location of the recently reintroduced rare chequered skipper butterfly species has been revealed for public viewing.

Chequered skipper butterflies, with their distinctive yellow markings, have not been seen in the wild in England since 1976. 

In order to allow the population to become stable, the location of the butterflies was kept secret as Butterfly Conservation and Forestry England worked hard to ensure the species' success.

Butterfly Conservation has now revealed that the chequered skipper population is in Fineshade Wood, Northamptonshire – allowing wildlife enthusiasts the opportunity to go and see this rare species in person. 

The reintroduction of this species is part of the Back from the Brink conservation project - butterflies were collected in Belgium in 2018 and 2019 to be released in Fineshade Wood. 

The organisation is hoping to establish further chequered skipper populations in additional sites, and ultimately ensure long-term sustainability for the species.

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Voting opens for BEVA Council

News Story 1
 Eligible members of BEVA will be able to vote for their Council team until Monday, 17 August 2026. Members will have received an election email on 17 July.

There are five candidates standing for four available places on Council. They are:

  • Alexandre Triguino
  • Angela Jones
  • Beth Bryant
  • Holly Rees
  • Hugh Somerville
Full profiles for each candidate can be found on the BEVA website

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Government releases latest bluetongue statistics

APHA has confirmed the number of bluetongue cases that have been logged in the UK since 1 July 2026.

The total number of BTV-3 cases, as of 6 August, is 187. This includes 183 cases in England and four cases in Wales.

There have been no recorded cases in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The location of premises in Great Britain where at least one animal has tested positive by PCR for BTV-3, BTV-8 or BTV-12 is available on the bluetongue case map. All livestock keepers in Great Britain are urged to familiarise themselves with nation-specific bluetongue control policies.

Bluetongue virus is a notifiable disease. It is a legal requirement that any suspicions, even if livestock has been vaccinated, are reported immediately.