EFFORTS have been stepped up in a bid to save Worcestershire’s rarest butterfly after it was spotted on the Malvern Hills earlier than normal.
The first Grayling emerged on June 23 this year, which is the earliest ever on record.
And the West Midlands Butterfly Conservation along with the Malvern Hills Trust are now turning their attention to save the county’s rarest species.
During the last winter, WMBC organised 365 volunteer hours of work while the Trust contributed even more volunteer days to improve the habitat, particularly around North where the remaining Grayling’s survive.
Mel Mason, from WMBC and has helped to organise the work, said, “The Grayling butterfly has been recorded along the eastern slopes of the Malvern Hills since at least 1853 and once occurred along the full length of the hills.
“Its range has declined dramatically in recent years and it is struggling to survive.
“The butterfly needs bare rocks open to the sun around which they fly during a few short weeks in July and lay their eggs on short tufts of fine grasses.
“Unfortunately, many of these favoured areas are becoming smothered by encroaching gorse, broom and bramble which is bad news for the butterfly.”
Mark Roberts, deputy conservation officer for the Malvern Hills Trust, added, “Large areas of scrub have been removed from the rocky outcrops that are essential for the Grayling’s survival.
“Re-establishing more open grassland on the higher slopes with a mix of trees and scrub on the lower slopes encourages the greatest diversity of wildlife for everyone to enjoy.”
There are three Grayling walks organised by WMBC, MHT, and Worcestershire Wildlife Trust during this month.
Contact Mel Mason on [email protected] for more information on helping with future conservation work.
