Top Common Nature Area

History of Top Common

The latest butterfly to be sighted at the Top Common Nature Area is the increasingly rare Dingy Skipper. As this butterfly was freshly emerged, it is likely that this species is now breeding locally. The Dingy Skipper is a UK Biodiversity Action Plan priority species; a Section 41 species of principal importance under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act in England and a High Priority species for Butterfly Conservation so it is great that it has been sighted locally at Top Common on the edge of the village! Since the BBH Parish Council began managing Top Common as a Nature Area the number of butterfly sightings has been steadily increasing and the Dingy Skipper is the 20th species to be recorded there. (Photo:by Bill Thornton).