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submitted 1 week ago by GreyShuck@feddit.uk to c/nature@feddit.uk

A record number of Purple Emperors has been recorded at the Knepp Estate in Sussex, as the species โ€“ and many other butterflies โ€“ enjoy a prolific summer in southern England.

Ecologists at the rewilding project counted 283 individual Purple Emperors on 1 July โ€“ the highest single-day total ever recorded at the site, which is a national hot-spot for the species.

The species, once in steep decline during the 20th century, has been gradually returning to Knepp since 2001, when Isabella Tree and her husband, Charlie Burrell, transformed the former farmland into a nature-led rewilding estate.

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[-] slartibartfast@feddit.uk 2 points 1 week ago

Great news.

I've definitely noticed more butterflies myself this year. I saw a peacock butterfly the other day in what feels like years.

this post was submitted on 23 Jul 2025
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