A SIGHTING of a special butterfly has been made by a volunteer at Quarry Bank.
Despite its name, Common Blue butterfly, the species is very much in decline in Cheshire, with numbers for 2017/18 the lowest ever recorded.
The dwindling numbers are due to the decline of the caterpillar’s main food plant - Common Bird's-foot-trefoil.
They also lay their eggs on the upper-side leaves of the Common Bird's-foot-trefoil.
Volunteer Derek Hatton discussed the butterfly’s decline with Head Gardener Ann Gaughan last year, and the decision was made to leave patches of the plant in the Upper Garden at Quarry Bank, with the hope that the butterfly would appear.
The Common Blue has been spotted on the Common Bird's-foot-trefoil, showing that the conservation efforts of the team are paying off.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here