The High Brown Fritillary butterfly, one of Wales's most endangered species, is being saved in a Vale of Glamorgan project organised by Butterfly Conservation.

For the first time in 60 years, commoners have been encouraged to graze their cattle on Oldcastle Down, creating more varied habitats for the butterfly.

Complementing this new approach, Vale of Glamorgan Council contracted a robotic mower to cut wide pathways through 15 hectares of dense bracken.

Butterfly Conservation project officer Dot Williams said: "This is such a fantastic project for Wales.

"The funding for this project rewards decades of hard slog by our amazing volunteers, and we can now take the conservation at this site to a whole new level."

The High Brown Fritillary butterfly has seen a severe reduction in population, its distribution dwindling by a devastating 87 per cent since the 1970s.

The butterfly is now only found at five sites in England and one in Wales, largely due to habitat destruction, development and changes in traditional land management practices.

Butterfly Conservation volunteers, led by Richard Smith, have been working relentlessly to maintain the violets necessary for the butterfly's survival at Oldcastle Down since 1997.

The charity's head of conservation for Wales, Alan Sumnall, said: "If our key volunteers hadn't been doing this fantastic work, this species would be extinct in Wales."

The project is seeing results: the number of butterflies spotted per hour during annual surveys has risen from 1.5 in 1999 to 17.4 in 2019.

Much of the progress comes from holding back overzealous vegetation that could swamp the tiny violets, ultimately increasing the area of suitable breeding habitat by two thirds.

The project has been awarded £63,000 via the Natur Am Byth Species recovery partnership, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and other backers.

However, the project's longevity relies on engagement, with Mr Sumnall highlighting the need for additional volunteers and cooperation with landowners.

He said: "Our big concern with this whole project is legacy - what comes after this work.

"We are appealing for all local landowners who love nature to get in touch so we can secure the future of these beautiful butterflies and many other wonderful species."