Vibrant future for butterflies

Book looks into patterns over 40 years

BUTTeRFLIeS, like many other insects exist in many different species, from the recognisable Red Admiral to the rare Green hairstreak butterfly.

If you stop to look around you, you will notice that many of them are right on your doorstep, here in west London.

Of course winter is not the best time of year to spot the winged-insects, but a new book reveals all for insect lovers to prepare for when they start to make an appearance.

If you are a fan of butterflies, you may have noticed an increase in those with vibrant coloured wings.

That is due to a growing number of species in the region.

Butterfly expert Andrew Wood has conducted research into the local butterfly trends over the past 40 years, the findings of which he has put into a book – Butterflies of Hertfordshire and Middlesex. Almost five thousand local enthusiasts have contributed to a survey monitoring the activity of butterflies across Hertfordshire and Middlesex over the past 40 years.

Among many discoveries, it finds that butterflies such as the Purple Emperor and the Marbled White butterflies are all growing in number across Middlesex.

There were no records of the Purple Emperor in the area in the 1980s, but now reports show a growing number in areas such as Enfield, Hampstead Heath and Ruislip Woods.

Similarly, the Marbled White was almost unheard of in London around 30 years ago, but it can now be seen in parks across the capital. Experts believe the species have benefitted

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