Barberry Carpet Carpet Barberry be locally common in the hedgerows. in the common locally be in further losses. However, there are still some parts of Oxfordshire and Wiltshire where Common Barberry can greatly reducednow have this varieties problem. wheat UK GeneralRust-resistant the crops. hedgerow wheat of protect removal areas to and large onwards the century from impacts 19th removed the of from was mechanised countryside plant trimming the have consequence resulted a As past. the in crops barley and wheat Common Barberry is an alternate host for a species of Emerald. Common and Moth Dot Brocade, Pale-shouldered Moth, Mouse Ermine, Buff Tussock, Pale Beauty, Mottled Hazel, Scalloped Pug, Grey Pug, Mottled Tissue, licence. Just over 20 species of moth are known to feed on Common Barberry in the UK, including the Scarce 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act and surveying for this moth can only be undertaken under an appropriate Schedule under protected is It Barberry. Common on reliant entirely is moth Carpet Barberry threatened The droppings. in their seeds the disperse which birds many for food plant. The yellow flowers are an excellent nectar source for many invertebrates and the berries are an important Common Barberry is a useful plant for wildlife and should be considered in planting schemes and as a garden qualities. other amongst sugar blood regulates and system immune the stimulates health, heart improves apparently which Berberine, compound the to due benefits health many have to reported is Barberry dishes. Persian and Asian in ingredient common more a are Barberries jellies. and pickles tart jam, making in used frequently were and pipperages as known were berries the past the In was. it than common less is plant the as possibly nowadays, UK the in consumed widely not are They C. vitamin in rich and edible are berries The autumn. and summer in late ripen berries red oblong The spring. in late bloom and yellow are flowers The hedging. for plant popular a this made once branches spiny and packed densely The spine. The oval leaves have serrated margins and are borne in clusters of two to five, subtended by a three-branched flint in Norfolk. mine Neolithic a Graves, at Grimes in deposits found been has is evidence as times, Neolithic least at since here been It has it know do we but UK the in species native true a is Asia. western and Africa northwest it whether unclear is It wild. the Europe, in established been long has southern it UK the in and Europe, and northern in naturalised central to native is plant The high. metres Barberry Common Common Barberry Its importance for wildlifemoths other and importance Its vulgaris Berberis Berberis vulgaris Berberis is a deciduous shrub of hedgerows and woodland edge growing up to 4 to up growing edge woodland and hedgerows of shrub deciduous a is Puccinia Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici that has affected

factsheetfa c ts h e e t The Barberry Carpet moth berberata This moth has been recorded more widely over southern England in the past, being found as far north as Yorkshire. Around the mid-1980s there was only one known colony, but through conservation efforts this had risen to eight by 2000. As of 2020 there are twelve colonies, mainly in north Wiltshire, but with colonies also in Gloucestershire, Dorset and Oxfordshire. Little is known about the dispersal of this species, although individuals are known to occasionally wander from breeding sites. Extant colonies are isolated from each other, some of which are small, and are therefore vulnerable. There are two generations of the moth per year, with adults on the wing from early May to mid-June, and then from late July to the end of August. They fly from dusk until dawn, but are sometimes disturbed from amongst the bushes by day. When the caterpillar is fully fed it leaves the bush to pupate just below the soil surface or amongst plant debris. The Barberry Carpet project, part of the National Lottery funded Back from the Brink Project, Common Barberry flowers builds on earlier conservation work. It has focussed on strengthening the remaining populations in Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Dorset. At least 3200 new Common Barberry plants will have been planted by Butterfly Conservation and their volunteers by the end of the four year project in 2021. These have been planted to create links and encourage colonisation of new sites between the extant colonies in Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, and to strengthen the Dorset colony with additional habitat. The protection of existing Common Barberry bushes and establishment of new plants on existing and neighbouring sites has been demonstrated to encourage the moth to spread, whereas past reintroductions have largely failed. Any future planting should follow current guidance to minimise any potential risk from stem rusts, currently this is that plants should be sited at least 20 metres from arable land.

Planting and Protection of Common Barberry Planting should take place during the winter On or adjacent to farmland sites, care is months. Common Barberry can be slow needed to avoid spray drift from insecticide Common Barberry fruits growing and aftercare is needed for the first few and herbicide treatments. Treatment should years after planting. This can include watering only happen on still days. A conservation during drought periods and removing competing headland of at least 5 metres adjacent to any vegetation such as Brambles, Nettles, and hedgerow supporting Common Barberry is Clematis. Aftercare during the summer should likely to be beneficial. be undertaken with great caution and only when Appropriate Countryside Stewardship options caterpillars are not on the bushes, typically late that may be helpful for Common Barberry and July/early August. the Barberry Carpet moth are If pruning or hedgerow cutting is necessary, it Ÿ AB10 Unharvested cereal headland should take place in late autumn, preferably Ÿ BE3 Management of hedgerows leaving sections uncut and ensuring that there Ÿ BN11 Planting new hedges are plenty of berries left on the bushes. This is Ÿ WD1 Woodland creation extremely important in areas known to support Barberry Carpet as the caterpillars will be Common Barberry will grow well from seed or feeding on the plants until the end of cuttings, and plants are available from a few September. suppliers. Contact Butterfly Conservation for more information, advice and details of Barberry Carpet moth Mowing of grass under and around bushes and suppliers. For more information on the Back hedgerows should be avoided. The leaf litter from the Brink project - and ground underneath the bushes should not be disturbed. https://naturebftb.co.uk or @NatureBftB

Scarce Tissue moth

Head Office Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5QP The guidance in this factsheet is evidence based. For further Telephone: 01929 400209 Email: [email protected] information consult Waring, P., 2004. Successes in conserving the www.butterfly-conservation.org Barberry Carpet moth Pareulype berberata (D. & S.) (Geometridae) in England. Journal of Conservation 8: 167 – 171 Butterfly Conservation is registered charity and non-profit making company, limited by guarantee. Compiled by Fiona Haynes & David Green Registered Office: Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5QP Photographs by Fiona Haynes, Alex Hyde & Mark Parsons Registered in England & Wales (254937) and in Scotland (SCO39268) April 2020