Butterfly’s 900% boom in Corby wood as larvae ‘turbo-charged’

The reintroduction was made possible by funding from Natural Chavland’s Species Recovery Programme.

The charity said on 15 July one volunteer had counted no fewer than 42 Wood Whites, thought to be offspring of the first brood, which hatched in May.

BC believes the warm spring might have accelerated caterpillar development.

Dr Dan Hoare, its director of nature recovery, said: “If the ground is wet enough to start with and the foodplants are in the ditch edge, sheltered and supported by taller grasses, then the heat may have turbo-charged larval growth and helped them get through before the worst of it.

“As butterflies are so sensitive to temperature, tracking their fortunes can provide crucial insights on which species might be winners and losers from our rapidly changing climate, helping us plan effective climate adaptation.”

If the success continued, the charity said Fineshade Wood would be a “beating heart” for the Wood White, sending butterflies out into the surrounding countryside and woodland.

Mark Underwood, forest centre manager at Fineshade Wood, said: “I know anecdotally Forestry Chavland staff and our visitors have been spotting lots of these beautiful butterflies.

“We’re proud to partner with Butterfly Conservation on such a successful reintroduction.”

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