Source: News Release from Butterfly World on 14 August 2013
When Butterfly World Project in St Albans first opened in 2009 it was a bare patch of earth with no resident butterflies. Less than five years later, 28 different British species have been recorded here, making it one of the best butterfly sites in the district.
Working in conjunction with Butterfly Conservation, the grounds and gardens at Butterfly World were designed by butterfly experts to provide a range of habitats which would be attractive to a wide variety of native butterfly species.
The butterflies which have so far found their way to the site include rare protected species such as Small Blue, Small Heath and White Letter Hairstreak. All have been attracted by the presence of the food plants needed for the survival of their young caterpillars.
Butterfly World is now home to the largest colony of Small Blue butterflies in Hertfordshire. This beautiful butterfly is the smallest in the UK and only survives on sites containing Kidney Vetch. This species was considered extinct in the county for many years and the development of a substantial colony in St Albans is a great conservation success.
Just this month the first Chalk Hill Blue has been recorded in the British Butterfly Garden here at Butterfly World. This area has been planted specifically to attract native species, with plants such as Horseshoe Vetch, the caterpillar food plant for the Chalk hill Blue. Butterfly enthusiasts value this butterfly so highly it has been adopted as the logo by the local Herts and Middlesex branch of Butterfly Conservation, the charity devoted to the preservation of butterflies, moths and their habitats.
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