Rare butterfly reaches Redditch (From Redditch Advertiser)

Rare butterfly reaches Redditch

1:30pm Tuesday 11th September 2012 in Local

RESIDENTS have been asked to look out for a rare butterfly that has been sighted in the area.

The Brown Hairstreak butterfly, only found in a small area of east Worcestershire, has reached Redditch much to the delight of conservationists.

The butterfly, which lays its eggs on blackthorn hedges and suckers, has been slowly spreading eastwards in the county but this is the first sighting within Redditch itself.

Now local members of national charity who have been closely monitoring the fortunes of the butterfly are keen to see it become well established.

Mike Williams from Butterfly Conservation said: “It is exciting news that the Brown Hairstreak has reached Redditch and we feel that, with the support of the local community we can help the butterfly to spread still further.

“We are keen to monitor the spread of the Brown Hairstreak within the town and if anyone believes they have seen the butterfly we would urge them to get in touch on mike@stagborough.fsnet.co.uk or 07802 274552.”