Barnsley Biodiversity Action Plan. Post-15 BAP. Updated to 2023

 Biodiversity

 Action

 Plan

Butterflies header - small whites

Butterfly Species: Objectives

Recording butterflies

What is being done


Proposed actions

Conserving butterflies

What is being done



Proposed actions


Legal Protection

Dingy Skipper, Small Heath, Wall Brown, White-letter Hairstreak and Small Blue are all species of principal importance, listed under Section 41 of the Natural Environment & Rural Communities Act.


As such the presence of these Section 41 butterflies needs to be taken into consideration for conservation by any public body when performing its functions.


This includes avoiding sites with a colony for development and promoting their conservation and enhancement.


In Barnsley a site with colony of species of principal importance is of sufficient priority to be designated a Local Wildlife Site.


Sites may also be designated LWS when they have an assemblage of 10 or more butterfly species (including species not considered to be under threat nationally).


LWS site boundaries should be determined by the extent of the habitat/plant assemblage with which the species is associated.


Local Wildlife Sites have a presumption against development but no protection against operations that do not require planning or change of use consent.


The Small Blue and White-lettered Hairstreak have legal protection under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) against sale.


For further information:

Butterfly Conservation:Link

UK Butterflies: Link

BugLife Link

Marking progress

 Butterfly Actions