Nature lovers in Devon are being asked to create a home for a declining butterfly before it emerges this spring.
Wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation (BC) need volunteers to help them improve habitat for the Grizzled Skipper near Kingskerswell, just west of Torquay, on Saturday 18 March.
The Chair of BC’s Devon Branch, Barry Henwood, said: “This is an increasingly rare butterfly in Devon and is a priority species for conservation efforts. Populations have been declining due to a lack of grazing and changes in woodland management, which in the past helped to create the short, mixed vegetation that this butterfly favours.
“If people want to help, all they need to do is join us at 10am at the Dainton railway bridge, east of Ipplepen, with cutting tools and gardening gloves. Even if you can only stay for a short time, it will make a big difference to this butterfly.”
On the day, people will be tasked with clearing overgrown weeds, shrubs and small trees on Miltor Mator Common, which borderers Stoneycombe Quarry.
The site has proved popular with the Grizzled Skipper butterfly in the past and it’s hoped that the conservation work will lead to more being seen during the spring and early summer months when the butterfly is on the wing.
The Grizzled Skipper is easily identified by the black and white chequerboard markings on its wings.
This striking butterfly is the smallest of the skippers and is the earliest to appear in spring. The best time to see the butterfly is while it basks in the sunshine, anytime between April and early July.
The caterpillar is small and yellow in its early stages, but quickly turns a dark green colour with brown stripes and likes to feed on plants from the Rose family, like Wild Strawberry.
The meeting point for this free conservation event is the Dainton railway bridge, east of Ipplepen, TQ12 5TZ.
For more information, please contact the Devon Branch volunteer co-ordinator, Jonathan Aylett, on 01626 364016.