THE Devon Wildlife Trust has been testing out its new machinery, which is set to help boost the fortunes of a number of fritillary butterfly species on Dartmoor.

In 2010 the DWT was awarded money by Viridor Credits Environmental Company, through the Landfill Communities Fund and has purchased a new alpine tractor and two quad bikes to help with its conservation work.

The new kit will be used at four of the charity's key nature reserves: Blackadon, Dart Valley, Dunsford and Emsworthy on Dartmoor.

The low ground pressure alpine tractor is specially designed for safe use on steep slopes like those found in Dartmoor's valleys. The quad bikes will be used in width-restricted areas that the tractor is unable to access. This equipment will enable DWT's reserves staff to better manage the sites for these rare and threatened species.

Matt Boydell, DWT's Land Management Manager said: 'This is a significant boost for us and will help us manage these more difficult sites and create and expand the habitats which these butterflies thrive on.

'The project focuses on the management of south facing bracken slopes, increasing spring-flowering plant species including violets and bugle which are the food plants of the larvae and adults of rare fritillary butterflies such as the pearl- and small-pearl bordered.'

For more information about the project visit http://www.devonwildlifetrust.org">www.devonwildlifetrust.org