Cemex UK supporting The Sussex Emerald moth

The Sussex Emerald moth may not be a well-known moth that springs to mind but a monitoring project of this rare species is being supported by Cemex UK and four other five well-known organisations: EDF Energy, Butterfly Conservation, Natural England, and Magnox. This rare moth is currently found in one area, Dungeness in Kent, south-east England where it was discovered in 1950. The Sussex Emerald is an endangered species and lives in vegetated shingle found around the Dungeness Power Stations. Cemex U

March 30, 2017 Read time: 2 mins

The Sussex Butterfly – pic Nigel Jarman

The Sussex Emerald moth may not be a well-known moth that springs to mind but a monitoring project of this rare species is being supported by 6156 Cemex UK and four other five well-known organisations: EDF Energy, Butterfly Conservation, Natural England, and Magnox.

This rare moth is currently found in one area, Dungeness in Kent, south-east England where it was discovered in 1950. The Sussex Emerald is an endangered species and lives in vegetated shingle found around the Dungeness Power Stations.

Cemex UK and the four other organisations are working with others like the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) to support a monitoring programme for the moth and to expand and protect the areas of supporting habitat, in the hope of ensuring the continued survival of this rare species.

The monitoring programme was introduced by the wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation (BC) in 2000 and has been carried out annually. BC has found that a decline in the population is in line with a decline in the availability and quality of Wild Carrot, the food plant of the Sussex Emerald’s caterpillar.

Other factors such as increased rabbit grazing and long, cold weather conditions have also had an impact on the survival rate of this species.

BC’s Head of Moth Conservation, Mark Parsons, said: “This delicate species gained a foothold in this country on Dungeness, Kent, in the early 1950s. However, it faces challenges as there have been subtle changes to its habitat in recent years. Dungeness is an extremely important site for a wide range of very scarce species, and the Sussex Emerald is a key feature of this species assemblage. Butterfly Conservation is extremely grateful for the support of Cemex and all the other organisations involved who are working together to try to ensure the long term survival of this moth in this country.”

Andy Scott, Southern Estates and Development Manager, said: “The Sussex Emerald moth may not be well-known but like all the thousands of other species on this planet, it enriches our environment and our world. CEMEX UK has quarrying operations locally and is delighted to be instrumental in helping the moths’ survival through the monitoring programme.”

For more information on companies in this article

Cemex UK

Rare butterfly species at Cemex UK sites despite national decline

Management of seven Cemex UK sites around Rugby in County Warwickshire, central England, in partnership with Butterfly Conservation, has resulted in increased numbers of one or more nationally rare butterfly species despite numbers being at an all-time low. Green Hairstreaks, which nationally have declined by 68% (according to the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme), are now found at four of the Cemex sites, with biodiversity priority species such as the Small Blue and Grizzled Skipper also increasing at the s

September 2, 2015

Cemex UK creates conservation habitat equivalent of 850 football pitches

November 26, 2019

CEMEX and RSPB celebrate ten years of biodiversity partnership

Building materials supplier CEMEX and nature conservation charity the RSPB have celebrated 10 years of their UK biodiversity partnership.

The partnership has seen the restoration of over 1,000 hectares of priority habitat at CEMEX quarry sites.

CEMEX has around 50 quarry sites in the UK. The company says it decided to collaborate with the RSPB in 2009 because of the organisation’s huge conservation knowledge, experience and expertise, and scale and willingness to work in a trusted partnership, to lea