BEARSWOOD Common, near Suckley, will soon have two and a half miles of livestock fencing to help protect an endangered species of butterfly.

Farmer Ron Cottam, who owns the land, is putting up one and half miles of deer fencing and a mile of sheep fencing to help maintain suitable vegetation for the rare brown fritillary butterfly.

There were no objections to the application from local residents and DEFRA, which approved the plans, said they received a great deal of support.

Mr Cottam believes this is because people can still use gates to access the land if they wish, but the common is rarely walked across because the land is steep and bracken covered.

The only objection came from The Open Spaces Society, Britain's oldest national conservation body.

It objected because it did not feel the case for fencing the common had been justified, as Mr Cottam gave no indication that he had tested other ways of managing the common in the interests of the butterfly.

Under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, members of the public have the right to walk across every inch of the common.

Kate Ashbrook, secretary for the society, said: "The fencing will impair that right and, even with gates and stiles, it will be a psychological as well as physical barrier. We felt that the interests of the public had not been given due weight.

"Deer fencing is tall and unsightly, so it will also be a blot on the landscape."

English Nature initially submitted an objection to the application, which it withdrew after visiting the site.

However, spokesman Rob Williams said he did not think there was a population of the brown fritillary butterfly near the common.