Rare Butterflies Spotted Following Elm Tree Planting Effort
Rare butterflies have been observed after a volunteer group planted hundreds of elm trees in the Quantocks area.
Data from The UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme indicates a significant decline in butterfly populations, with the white-letter hairstreak species decreasing by 80% since the survey began in 1973.
The Friends of the Quantocks have planted over 400 elm trees, which serve as the natural habitat for the white-letter hairstreak, aiming to increase their numbers.
"A number of butterflies have been lost on the Quantocks over the past 75 years," said Robin Stamp, chairman of the group. "We thought, let's do our utmost to find it if it still does exist and then do something about its habitat, which are elm trees."
White-letter hairstreak butterflies are difficult to spot as they tend to fly around the tops of tall elm trees.
Stamp explained that part of the species' decline is due to their preference for very tall elm trees that flower. However, Dutch elm disease has caused many trees to die before reaching full height.
"Most people have forgotten what elm trees look like," Stamp said.
The group discovered approximately 100 elm trees in the Quantocks and has since planted 430 additional disease-resistant elms across 38 plots of land.
The planting initiative was supported financially by the Farming in a Protected Landscape fund.
To date, 11 white-letter hairstreak butterflies and three hairstreak caterpillars have been recorded in the area.
"We hope to find more butterflies this year. We're also looking for other species of butterflies that have not been seen in years," Stamp said.
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