Portsdown Hill:
its wildlife and conservation
Portsdown hill is a ridge of chalk on the South Coast of England. About a quarter of it - the south-eastern section - is a designated SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest). Here, conservation management and a team of volunteers are striving to restore the rich biodiversity that was seen here in the 1950's and before.
On the occurrence of the Chalkhill Blue Polyammatus coridon
within Hampshire. "From the third week in July until the middle of August, many chalk downland sites were awash with a seething mass of pale blue butterflies, whilst at ground level 'females were literally bumping into each other as they trawled the Horseshoe Vetch Hippocrepis comosa...'
...many counts of 100+, and it is pleasing to note that one of these came from Portsdown Hill, where in 1994 grave concern was being expressed about the dramatic decline of the species due to inappropriate (?lack of) management.
The conservation measures taken since then have obviously worked well".
"Hampshire & Isle of Wight Butterfly and Moth Report 2003. Saving Butterflies, Moths and their Habitats". Entry on the 'Chalkhill Blue', Brian Fletcher