Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.

Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

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.

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Applications open for MMI research grants

News Story 1
 RCVS' Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) has launched round two of its veterinary mental health research grants.

Researchers have until 11.59pm on Wednesday, 28 May 2025 to apply for a grant for research which reflects MMI's 2025 focus areas.

Only one Impact Grant was awarded last year, and so this year there are two Discovery Grants and one Impact Grants available. Each Discovery Grant is worth £5,000 and the Impact Grant is worth £15,000.

For more information or to apply, email researchgrants@rcvs.org.uk to contact the MMI team.

 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Germany livestock import ban lifted

The UK government has amended its ban on the import of livestock, meat and dairy products from Germany.

Defra said the decision follows 'rigorous technical assessment' of the measures applied and the current situation. "If the situation changes, we will not hesitate to take necessary action in response to the FMD outbreaks in the European Union to protect our domestic biosecurity," it said.

The ban was implemented in January following an outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) near Berlin. Personal imports of meat, milk and dairy products will remain in place at a country level.