July: Large Blue Butterfly | News and features

Bristol is a city famous for its blue glass, but the beautiful, once almost extinct large blue butterfly is perhaps less well known. Thanks to conservation efforts, the rare species can once again be seen fluttering over the Polden Hills in Somerset, and a film capturing this special journey back to life is being screened in Bristol.

The film aims to improve people’s understanding of nature and climate change, as butterflies are a key indicator of habitat loss. It can be viewed online and for free at Bristol Museum and Art Gallery throughout the summer months. It was created by two artists in collaboration with Professor Jon Dovey, a screen media specialist and former Head of Theater at the University of Bristol.

Professor Dovey said: “Being on location in idyllic Somerset was like being in an Enid Blyton story – a modern day Secret Seven. We had so many different experts, researchers and artists in dialogue that we were able to present this beautiful story with all the complexity it demands.”

Simon Poulter, who is part of the artistic duo Close and Remote, explained: “We wanted to create the feeling of time slowing down and looking more closely at the world. The film captures a magical day in search of these incredibly beautiful and delicate butterflies, which were decimated after the Second World War due to the loss of hedgerows and hillsides and the growth of intensive agriculture.

“It also recounts the brilliant 25-year project to bring them back to life, starting with habitat recovery and then repopulating the area with Sweden’s Large Blue. It’s a great way to learn about natural history and the far-reaching consequences of climate change.”

The film, commissioned by the University’s Brigstow Institute and the Cabot Institute for the Environment, features Patrick Barkham, natural history writer for The Guardian, and Ray Barnett, former Head of Collections and Archives at Bristol Museum. Intergenerational conversations about climate and access to nature are also featured as the search for Large Blue unfolds.

Patrick said: “I love it. Especially the slightly weird and scary part… and the first photo of the egg hunt surprised me with its depth.

Sophie Mellor, the other half of Close and Remote, added: “We wanted people to stop for a moment and really look in awe at nature. So far it has been very well received, with viewers appreciating the amazing species, recognizing its fragility and serious message.”

In addition, the 20-minute film explores the disused Severn View motorway services, which opened on the M4 as Aust services in a large building overlooking the River Severn in 1966.

Professor Guy Howard, director of the Cabot Institute for the Environment, said: “The film explores the complexity of our relationship with butterflies and redundant buildings. It shows a positive way forward in how collaboration can help us reflect and reassess our role in conservation and reuse.”

Visitors to the city center also had the opportunity to watch the film on the big screen in Millennium Square as part of the Wild Weekend Nature Festival earlier this month. The film can now be viewed on the first floor of the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery until September 1st.

Professor Debbie Watson, director of the Brigstow Institute, said: “It is so important to look at the natural world through a new lens and think about what practical steps we can take to tackle climate change. Essentially, this means getting everyone involved in thinking about what changes can be made. Great Blue Butterflies are in flight in late June and early July and can be seen on a National Trust trail from the Collard Hill site.”

Additional Information

The Personal to the Planetary is a joint initiative between the Brigstow Institute and the Cabot Institute for the Environment, both based at the University of Bristol.

Brigstow Institute

Brigstow advocates radically interdisciplinary and co-produced research around what it means to be human. By providing early-stage project funding, developing equitable collaborations and networking, Brigstow empowers academics, makers, professionals, charities and community members to turn their ideas into tangible outcomes and meaningful impacts, to make a meaningful difference in the world.

Cabot Institute for the Environment

The Cabot Institute for the Environment works with academics, students and research partners, as well as local and international communities, governments and individuals, to help solve the biggest global environmental challenges. Its mission is to provide knowledge, evidence, education and solutions that protect our environment and identify better ways to live on our changing planet.