Wood white butterflies 'thriving' in Worcestershire say conservationists, a decade on since re-introduction
Over 700 were recorded in last summer's surveys, an increase from the 30 that were released into Monkwood nature reserve over 2016 and 2017
Conservationists have said the number of wood white butterflies are continuing to increase in Worcestershire, a decade on since being re-introduced.
The Making a Stand for the Wood White project was set-up by both the Butterfly Conservation and Worcestershire Wildlife Trust in 2016.
Over that year and the next, 30 wood white butterflies were released into Monkwood nature reserve near Worcester, the last known site in the county that supported a 'thriving population' of the specie, which prior to this, hadn't been recorded there since back in 2008.
In 2018, 133 wood whites were recorded during one visit in mid May, but in last year's surveys numbers had increased rapidly with over 700 seen.
Senior landscape recovery officer at Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, Rhona Goddard, said: "We're very, very pleased that they're still thriving and still doing very well and they're dispersing onto other sites too.
"They're not just at Monkwood, they've now been recorded at some of the local neighbouring sites as well, which again shows that those sites support the habitat that the butterfly needs.
"It's just great to see that collaboration really, the partnership working between the two organisations, and with help from volunteers and from key staff here it means that we've made a real difference."
A walk is set to take place on the morning of 22 May at Monkwood to celebrate the numbers and also help people learn more about them.