Residents of Norton in Stourbridge are set to see a boost to numbers of the striking Scarlet Tiger moth thanks to a £3,938 grant from Ibstock Enovert Trust (IET), an Environmental Body funded through the Landfill Communities Fund (LCF).
The money will be used to sow wildflower seeds, purchase tools and equipment and provide information boards on the Roman Road/Sandy Lane public bridle path, a green corridor in Norton and home to the Scarlet Tiger moth.
Joy Stevens, a Committee Member of West Midlands Butterfly Conservation who are leading the project, in partnership with Dudley Council, believes the grant will help people appreciate and value the nature on their doorstep. She says: “This project will provide a real boost to the fortunes of the Scarlet Tiger moth along Roman Road and create awareness of the beauty and importance of this and other insects. It’s fantastic that Ibstock Enovert has awarded us a grant towards this important project and we’re really looking forward to seeing the biodiversity of our area improving over the next few years.”
Angela Haymonds, Trust Secretary of Ibstock Enovert Trust says: “Supporting projects that focus on enhancing biodiversity is a priority of Ibstock Enovert Trust and the Trustees were delighted to have the opportunity to support this important work. As well as hopefully boosting the numbers of the Scarlet Tiger moth, the project will educate the general public about its importance through the provision of information boards which will leave a lasting legacy for years to come.”
Joy Stevens explained: “The project will get underway this coming summer and will be complete by the end of the year. The Scarlet Tiger moth flies in sunshine in June/July and in contrast with many other moths and butterflies is expanding its range and becoming more common. It was not recorded at all in the Midlands until 1973 when it was spotted in Malvern but since then it has spread northwards reaching Stourbridge in 2013 when a caterpillar was spotted on Roman Road in the spring and a single adult on the day Andy Murray won at Wimbledon for the first time. Its caterpillars can be often spotted in March and April feeding on Green Alkanet which is its main foodplant on Roman Road.”
Angela continued: “This is just one of the many community projects Ibstock Enovert Trust has funded through the Landfill Communities Fund (LCF). The scheme offers funding to projects that benefit communities living within 10 miles of a landfill site. Sadly the Trust has now closed, with this project being one of its final ones supported, however any interested parties should visit the website of Enovert Community Trust (www.enovert.org) which is continuing to fund projects in this area.