A £740,000 three-year conservation project has been launched in County Fermanagh, targeting some of Northern Ireland’s rarest butterflies and moths. The initiative is led by Butterfly Conservation and funded through the PEACEPLUS Nature programme, with work focused on restoring the county’s limestone grasslands.

The species set to benefit include the Marsh Fritillary, Small Blue, Dingy Skipper and Irish Plume Moth, all of which depend on these habitats. The area also supports the Cryptic Wood White, a butterfly found nowhere else in the UK outside Northern Ireland.

Project staff will work alongside farmers, landowners and volunteers to carry out surveys and habitat restoration. Key tasks involve clearing scrub and invasive vegetation that have spread as traditional grazing patterns have declined.

Hazel Long, the project’s Engagement and Volunteering Officer, encouraged residents to take part in this year’s Big Butterfly Count, noting the mental health benefits of spending time outdoors and the importance of conserving pollinators. Lucy Jackson, the Limestone Grassland Landscape Officer, stressed that protecting the grasslands is vital for the wider ecosystem and said she hoped the work would inspire greater appreciation of local wildlife.

Family-friendly events are planned at Marble Arch Caves and Killykeeghan Nature Reserve on July 23, with a further event at Florence Court on July 30. Partner organisations include the RSPB, Ulster Wildlife, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Forest Service NI, Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark, BugLife and the Northern Ireland Moth Committee.

The PEACEPLUS Nature programme is supported by the European Union, the UK Government, the Government of Ireland and the Northern Ireland Executive.