Anger over damage to Derbyshire butterfly habitat
Conservationists are protesting the actions of Longliffe Quarries, which covered a wildflower-rich butterfly habitat in Derbyshire with soil for safety reasons. The site, previously a haven for the rare Wall butterfly, has seen a significant drop in butterfly sightings following the intervention.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the ongoing tension between industrial safety requirements and the preservation of biodiversity in protected habitats.
Image caption, Ken Orpe, of East Midlands Butterfly Conservation, said volunteers were left distraught
Conservationists have said 15 years of work to encourage rare butterflies has been abruptly halted by a quarrying company.
Butterfly Conservation East Midlands said an area of the former Hoe Grange Quarry in Brassington, Derbyshire, which had been planted with wildflowers, was covered with mounds of soil in January.
The site had previously been identified as a popular spot for the rare Wall butterfly , which had experienced a significant decline in numbers.
The company behind the work, Longliffe Quarries, said the work had been carried out for safety reasons with the butterfly group informed in advance.
Image source, Ken Orpe Image caption, More than two dozen types of butterfly have been observed at Hoe Grange Quarry
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