4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313136343932 English Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en 2026-10-07T15:08:06.595Z NRW 1.0 wel utf8 British National Grid (EPSG::27700) Assessment of Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia) Habitat Quality on Castlemartin Range Pembrokeshire (2015) Assessment of Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia) Habitat Quality on Castlemartin Range Pembrokeshire (2015) Asesiad o Ansawdd Cynefin Britheg y Gors (Euphydryas aurinia) ar Faes Tanio Castellmartin, Sir Benfro (2015) 2015-10-04 NRW_DS116492 http://naturalresources.wales/ The marsh fritillary Euphydryas aurinia is an Annex II species of European conservation importance and a primary feature of Castlemartin Range Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in south Pembrokeshire. The Castlemartin metapopulation was discovered in 2003 and, although identified too late for inclusion in the Limestone Coast of South West Wales Special Area of Conservation (SAC), is recognised as a key SSSI feature within the SAC Core Management Plan. As marsh fritillary populations function as metapopulations, with local extinctions and recolonisations occurring naturally over time, the availability of an extensive network of suitable habitat is essential for their long-term persistence. This survey was undertaken to identify and assess potential marsh fritillary habitat across the Castlemartin Training Area and to determine the extent and condition of habitat available to support the metapopulation. The survey area covered approximately 360 hectares of grassland and heathland within the Castlemartin Range SSSI, the majority of which lies within the Limestone Cliffs of South West Wales SAC. The marsh fritillary Euphydryas aurinia is an Annex II species of European conservation importance and a primary feature of Castlemartin Range Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in south Pembrokeshire. The Castlemartin metapopulation was discovered in 2003 and, although identified too late for inclusion in the Limestone Coast of South West Wales Special Area of Conservation (SAC), is recognised as a key SSSI feature within the SAC Core Management Plan. As marsh fritillary populations function as metapopulations, with local extinctions and recolonisations occurring naturally over time, the availability of an extensive network of suitable habitat is essential for their long-term persistence. This survey was undertaken to identify and assess potential marsh fritillary habitat across the Castlemartin Training Area and to determine the extent and condition of habitat available to support the metapopulation. The survey area covered approximately 360 hectares of grassland and heathland within the Castlemartin Range SSSI, the majority of which lies within the Limestone Cliffs of South West Wales SAC. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en Habitats and biotopes Species distribution GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 2008-06-01 geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.httpinspireeceuropaeutheme-theme marsh fritillary butterfly eurodryas aurinia (Euphydryas aurinia) NRW Thesaurus 2026-08-27 geonetwork.thesaurus.local.theme.converted_nrw-keywords There are no access restrictions on this data. NRW may release, publish or disseminate it freely. no limitations © CNC/NRW Data may be re-used under the terms of the Open Government Licence providing it is done so, acknowledging both the source and NRW's copyright. It is the recipient's responsibility to ensure the data is fit for the intended purpose. Contains Natural Resources Wales information © Natural Resources Wales and Database Right. All rights Reserved. Open Government Licence English biota SeaVoX Vertical Co-ordinate Coverages 2021-01-06 SIR BENFRO - PEMBROKESHIRE Wales (WLS) -5.56224079 -4.47143951 51.56848231 52.26580291 2015-08-28 2015-10-04 Assessment of marsh fritillary habitat quality on Castlemartin Range Pembrokshire in 2015 Database Unknown Species records on Welsh Invertebrate Database Documents Unknown Report as pdf format Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 of 23 November 2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards interoperability of spatial data sets and services 2010-12-08 This dataset has not been assessed for conformance to the referenced INSPIRE regulation. false Natural Resources Wales supplied an outline map identifying approximately 360 hectares of grassland and heathland considered capable of supporting marsh fritillary populations within the Castlemartin Training Area. Habitat surveys were undertaken using the standard NRW marsh fritillary habitat assessment methodology. Survey areas were classified into six habitat categories based on the presence and abundance of devil's-bit scabious Succisa pratensis, the principal larval foodplant of the marsh fritillary. During habitat assessment, incidental records of marsh fritillary larval webs were collected where encountered. Due to time constraints, systematic transect surveys were not undertaken and these records should therefore be regarded as casual observations rather than comprehensive population data. Habitat quality assessments also considered vegetation structure, particularly the presence of tussocky swards, which provide shelter, overwintering habitat and spring basking sites for larvae and are characteristic of many Welsh marsh fritillary sites, especially on damp rhos pasture. Results were used to assess the extent, distribution and condition of habitat capable of supporting the Castlemartin marsh fritillary metapopulation. Natural Resources Wales supplied an outline map identifying approximately 360 hectares of grassland and heathland considered capable of supporting marsh fritillary populations within the Castlemartin Training Area. Habitat surveys were undertaken using the standard NRW marsh fritillary habitat assessment methodology. Survey areas were classified into six habitat categories based on the presence and abundance of devil's-bit scabious Succisa pratensis, the principal larval foodplant of the marsh fritillary. During habitat assessment, incidental records of marsh fritillary larval webs were collected where encountered. Due to time constraints, systematic transect surveys were not undertaken and these records should therefore be regarded as casual observations rather than comprehensive population data. Habitat quality assessments also considered vegetation structure, particularly the presence of tussocky swards, which provide shelter, overwintering habitat and spring basking sites for larvae and are characteristic of many Welsh marsh fritillary sites, especially on damp rhos pasture. Results were used to assess the extent, distribution and condition of habitat capable of supporting the Castlemartin marsh fritillary metapopulation.