One of the West Midland’s rarest butterflies has been given a lifeline thanks to a project to reintroduce it to several woodlands in the region.
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.
Wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation (BC) has received a £98,400 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to help boost the butterfly’s numbers across Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire.
Reintroductions will take place at four woodland sites as part of the Making a Stand for the Wood White project. The butterflies used for the project will come from other established colonies in the area.
The Wood White 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.
BC’s Project Officer, Rhona Goddard, said: “The Wood White is a very pretty and delicate butterfly and it really needs our help if we want to secure its future here in the West Midlands.
“In the last 40 years this butterfly has fallen in abundance by 88% across the UK and it is declining rapidly in this area, so the monitoring aspect of this project is really important in helping us find out just what is happening to them.”
The scheme, which will run for three years, will involve volunteer survey work and monitoring to find out how the butterfly is doing and to identify potential new sites for the Wood White to colonise.
Rhona added: “We’re extremely grateful to all the partners involved in getting this project off the ground, from the local Wildlife Trusts to the Forestry Commission and all the volunteers working with BC’s West Midlands Branch.
“We need help from the local community too, so if anyone is interested in supporting their local wildlife, or if you just love butterflies, please join us!”
Guided woodland walks, practical conservation days, public talks and free training courses will be held over the next year.
To book on to a free event or to find out how you can help the Wood White butterfly, email Rhona at @email or call 01746 762 364.
Vanessa Harbar, Head of HLF West Midlands, said: “Thanks to National Lottery players, one of the rarest butterflies in the West Midlands will now be protected. HLF is pleased to support BC with this vital wildlife conservation project saving the Wood White butterfly.”
Acknowledgements:
‘Making a Stand for the Wood White’ involves a number of partner organisations, including the 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 and English Heritage.
An extra £6,500 of funding has recently been put into the project thanks to the Welcome to Our Future landfill tax grant scheme.