Dr Martin Warren, one of the wisest and most knowledgeable conservationists on the scene during my lifetime, is to retire from the role of CEO of Butterfly Conservation in the autumn. He will be missed not only because he knows a lot and has never been known to say anything daft, but also because he is the nicest nature conservationist you could ever meet. He is much loved and much admired.
I was on the interview panel that appointed Martin to his role of CEO though it was not a very taxing decision for the group: that was 13 years ago and by then Martin had worked for BC for 10 years already. Before coming to BC Martin had been a butterfly specialist with the Nature Conservancy Council.
I have talked to Martin in pubs, coffee shops, over tea at conferences and it has always been a pleasure,a and I have always learned something from him, but I have only been in the field with him on a few occasions. Once, Martin, Victoria Chester (then CEO of Plantlife) and I met up in Dorset and Martin showed Victoria and me Marsh Fritillaries which was a real treat. But he also showed us the egg of an Orange Tip butterfly on one of its host plants, Milkmaids, and ever since that time I can’t pass a patch of them without wondering whether they have Orange Tip eggs on them – and every year I search for them at my local patch of Stanwick Lakes. I know I’m not the only person, far from it, who has been educated and inspired by Martin.
I took the opportunity earlier this week to wish him well, suggest some days out that we should have together, and to ask him a few questions that he was kind enough to answer:
Q: What do you think has been your greatest achievement at BC?
Martin: ‘Well I guess it’s really assembling a fantastic team here. We’ve recruited some great people – and helped them reach their potential. We now have the biggest body of butterfly expertise under one roof probably anywhere in the world.’
![James Lindsey at Ecology of Commanster [CC BY-SA 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5) or CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://markavery.info/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Melitaea.athalia.2.jpg)
Martin: ‘That would have to be the Heath Fritillary. We really could have seen it slip into extinction but we saved it. It’s still not doing brilliantly but it has hung on in Kent, and the West Country.’
Q: Greatest challenges for your successor?
Martin: ‘Probably keeping the money rolling in. Our membership has increased, which is good, but government cuts and the expected disappearance of landfill tax revenues will hit many charities looking to fund valuable projects.’
Q: Greatest challenges for Defra?
Martin: ‘Producing an agri-environment scheme that works and is well funded. This has generally been a positive story over the years – when I started there weren’t the grants to back up advice we gave to landowners. If they wanted to help butterflies and other wildlife then they had to find the money themselves. But the current scheme in England is not working very well yet. It is for five years instead of ten, has less money involved and at least as much bureaucracy so it isn’t very popular with farmers.’
Q: Are you an optimist about the future of nature?
Martin: ‘I’m generally optimistic by nature. We can stop the worst from happening but some of the bad is still going to happen. Species are going to decline even though conservation is getting smarter and better.’
Q: What’s your favourite butterfly?
Martin: Red Admiral, because I started by being interested in butterflies in the garden and the Red Admiral made a big impression on me.
![Red Admiral. Photo: Laurence Livermore [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://markavery.info/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/800px-Red_Admiral.jpg)
Photo: Laurence Livermore [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Im sure Dr Martin Warren is a nice guy plus i wish him all the best for the future. And he has done some good work for Butterfly Conservation in his time there. Not everything has been perfect though.
I don’t like it when conservation bodies cover things up and pretend things didn’t happen.
One place, Warsop Vale, that held rare species, Dingy Skipper, Grizzled Skipper and Small Blue was top-soiled over and now rich in nutrients and devoid of any life. The work was carried out by Butterfly Conservation and partners. Out of the three species above the Dingy Skipper just hangs on. Butterfly Conservation new about these species being there and didn’t care.
Another place, Chambers Farm Wood, Lincolnshire. Butterfly Conservation tried to RE-INTRODUCE the Chequered skipper there in 1995 costing no end of money and it failed even when some Butterfly experts was telling them that it would never work. Not only that, once it failed they now say they were re-establishment ‘trials’. The recent report of a future Chequered skipper re-introduction into Rockingham forest seems a long shot too. There is only (I believe) one place left out of all the woods in the area where it has a chance of surviving even after clearance work and the widening of rides in many woods. One thing, the work will benefit many other of species of animals and insects but they should just stick to preserving the Chequered skipper in Scotland and extend its habitat there.
There are numerous more areas where they have gone wrong but also as I said earlier they also do plenty of very good work eg, Morecambe bay limestone project, Large blue project and many more.
One of our modern conservation heroes, whose contributions, influence and successes deserve much wider recognition.
I’m not sure martin should be allowed to retire ! (although he has certainly earnt it). He really is one of the heroes of modern conservation – and as Mark says, an incredibly nice guy who has suceeded through his obvious commitment and charm. Out of the whole of modern conservation management he has been the most consistent champion of woodland management – perhaps not surprising, as butterflies are the first to suffer from cessation of management in formerly heavily managed woods. Sadly, during the time we worked together so many woodland butterflies have been in seemingly irreversible decline – but more recently BC have had quite a lot of successes to report – Mark recently mentioned Wood White in Northants, and the same success has been repeated in the spectacular new landscape of the Neroche forest in Somerset. It hasn’t been easy: our first approach to ride/edge management, developed by FC scientists and supported by martin, failed as continual mowing pushed edges away from butterfly-friendly flowering plants to grasses. However, rather than sniping and moaning we got on with it, tried again and have been increasingly successful. If you don’t fail sometimes you aren’t trying hard enough !
Anyway, my best wishes for a long and butterfly filled retirement to one of the great conservationists of our generation.
Really nice bloke. Worked with him on a few committees in the past. Has done amazing things at Butterfly Conservation. Whatever he does in the future I wish him all the best.
A truly inspirational conservationist. I spent a couple of years looking at habitat management for the High Brown Fritillary and enjoyed every moment, largely because of his and Matthew Oates enthusiasm for this rare butterfly. Enjoy your retirement Martin.