Rare butterflies spotted after 430 trees planted

A conservation effort in the Quantocks has led to the sighting of rare white-letter hairstreak butterflies following the planting of over 430 elm trees. The Friends of the Quantocks group, supported by funding from the Farming in Protected Landscapes scheme, planted the disease-resistant elms across 38 plots to restore the butterfly’s natural habitat. This species, which has declined by 80% since 1973, had not been seen in the area since 2008 and was recorded only five times in 75 years prior to this initiative. The white-letter hairstreak butterfly relies on tall elm trees that flower, but Dutch elm disease has devastated these trees, preventing them from reaching maturity and contributing to the butterfly’s decline. Robin Stamp, chairman of the Friends of the Quantocks, highlighted that many people have forgotten what elm trees look like due to their scarcity. The group discovered around 100 existing elms in the area and has since planted hundreds more to encourage the return of the butterfly and other species. Since the planting began, volunteers have spotted 11 hairstreak butterflies and three caterpillars, signaling a positive start to the habitat restoration project. The group aims to continue planting more elm trees in the coming winter and hopes to find additional rare butterfly species that have not been seen in the region for years. This project underscores the importance of habitat restoration in reversing the decline of vulnerable species and highlights community-led conservation as a vital tool in biodiversity preservation.