THE small tortoiseshell butterfly has continued to fight back against long-term declines this year, an annual survey has revealed.
The familiar butterfly, which has lost three-quarters of its populations since the 1970s, saw its numbers increase by more than a fifth on last summer’s figures in the Big Butterfly Count.
It was the second good year in a row for the species, despite an “August autumn” with the country experiencing the coldest August in 20 years and was the fourth most commonly seen butterfly in the count.
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 The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.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