Surveys held at nature reserve where Large Blue was re-introduced

2 July 2019

News image — The Green Down site has the UK's highest number of Large Blues

Sophie Cooper Large Blue — The Green Down site has the UK's highest number of Large Blues

Habitat surveys have been taking place at a nature reserve which is home to the country's biggest population of the rare Large Blue butterfly.

The Green Down site re-introduced the butterflies after they had been declared extinct in the UK in the late 1970s.

Wild thyme was planted on the reserve to help boost numbers of Large Blues.

Naturalist Sophie Cooper was carrying out vegetation surveys as part of her Msc studies into wildlife conservation.

She has shared the photos on social media to show the wide variety of insects which are thriving on the nature reserve which is based between Charlton Mackrell and Somerton.

Sophie Cooper Marbled White and Large Blue — The Marbled White male and female butterflies on Green Down

Sophie Cooper Marbled White — Marbled whites seem to have fallen in number this year

Several species thrive on the reserve such as the Large Skipper

Sophie Cooper Nemophora metallica feeding on field scabious. They are beautiful and one is joined by a thick-legged flower beetle — Nemophora metallica feeding on field scabious (l) with a thick-legged flower beetle

Surveys held at nature reserve where Large Blue was re-introduced

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