WORK is taking place to make the Malvern Hills a better habitat for an increasingly rare butterfly species.

The Grayling butterfly has experienced a 50 per cent decline over the past 25 years, leading to it being classified as a UK Biodiversity Action Plan species.

Butterfly Conservation considers Malvern to be an “important, but isolated stronghold” for the species, and so field staff and volunteers from Malvern Hills Conservators have been working hard to open up areas around rocky outcrops on the northern hills.

The butterfly needs rocky outcrops in sunny, sheltered positions as it is dependent on the fine grasses that grow on the shallow soil to lay its eggs. Such habitats also help it camouflage itself from predators.

Over the years though the scrub has crept up the hills and the Grayling butterfly’s range has contracted.

Rob Havard, deputy director of the Conservators, hopes the current work, which is being supported by funding from Natural England, will soon see numbers start to rise again.

“We’ve had the staff and contractors working onsite with the local butterfly experts,” he said.

“We can’t wait to see how this impacts on the butterfly numbers over the next few years.”

Another benefit of the scrub clearance is to increase the amount of acidic wildflower grassland, which is one of the reasons for the hills being designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Annual surveys conducted by Butterfly Conservation will give a good indication of whether the work has been successful.