This three-year project is all about securing the future of the Wood White butterfly across the West Midlands.

The Wood White is one of the UK’s fastest declining butterflies and is found on just 50 sites across the country, with 42% of these found in the West Midlands.

It is the smallest of the UK’s white butterflies with an average wingspan of just 44mm and can be seen on the wing between May and early July. In warm years, a partial second brood can emerge around August.

Thanks to a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) we are hoping to boost the population in the West Midlands by reintroducing the butterfly to four woodland sites across Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire.

The butterflies used for the project will come from other established colonies in the area.

Project Aim

To boost the population of Wood White butterflies in the West Midlands and to identify new potential sites for colonisation.

Methods

  • To oversee the reintroduction of the Wood White butterfly at four woodland sites over the next three years.
  • To work alongside BC’s West Midlands Branch to co-ordinate and run a programme of conservation management work to maintain, enhance or create suitable Wood White habitat.
  • To engage with the local community by organising and overseeing a number of public events and training workshops covering landscape history, natural heritage, woodland ecology and sustainable woodland management.
  • Guided woodland walks, practical conservation days, public talks and free training courses will be held throughout the projects duration, so members of the public are being invited to get involved.

Contact

Rhona Goddard, West Midlands Regional Officer and Wood White Project Officer.
Email: @email or Tel: 01746 762364

Funders

Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), Forestry Commission, the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, Shropshire Wildlife Trust, Herefordshire Wildlife Trust, the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre (home of Grow, Cook, Learn), the Duchy of Cornwall, National Trust, English Heritage and the Severn Waste Environmental Fund (SWEF), the Cambridge Chrysalis Trust.