Conserving the Betony Case-bearer Moth

The main aim of the project is to prevent further declines of the rare Betony Case-bearer moth by carrying out a programme of practical conservation to improve and restore ancient woodland and lowland acid grassland habitat in the West Weald.

The project aims to stregthen the moth’s core population at Oaken Wood as the first step towards re-establishing a functioning metapopulation of this species in the project area, either by natural recolonisation of new sites, or if necessary, by carrying out a reintroduction programme.

Habitat condition assessments would be undertaken to identify locations within the project area where conservation work is needed to increase/extend the moth’s population naturally, or where the moth could be reintroduced.