The Friends of Allestree Park are taking part in a project being organised by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and Butterfly Conservation - an attempt to improve the fortunes of one of our less common butterflies, the White Letter Hairstreak. This species has become even less common in recent years due to elms, the flowers of which the caterpillar feeds on, being killed by Dutch elm disease.
The project involves the planting of disease-resistant elms throughout the County, funding having been secured for the purchase of these.
FOAP is helping by planting some of the elms at a site on the eastern side of Allestree Park - where the butterfly has been recorded in the past and where nearly all the elms have since died. Derby City council has also planted three larger elms near the A6 entrance to the Park.
UPDATE: Ten young elms were planted in the Park by a group of people from FOAP and the Appletree Hundred Group of Derbyshire Wildlife Trust on 9th March. PICTURES BELOW...
