'Elusive' butterfly spotted in Fryent Country Park by Conservation Group

 

Brown Hairstreak butterfly 

Barn Hill Conservation Group in its latest Newsletter  report some good news in this summer which has not been kind to butterlies and moths. On 14th August, on the Beane Hill Butterfly Transect study, a butterfly was resting on a plant and opened its wings. It was unmistakenly a female Brown Hairstreak – the first adult ever seen at Fryent Country Park. This confirms the presence of the Brown Hairstreak at the Park following the first record of eggs on New Year’s Day 2019. The Brown Hairstreak is an elusive butterfly to observe and has only recently moved into North and West London, and depends on blackthorn for the larval food. 

The Brown Hairstreak is on the "at risk" species list, because it relies on hedgerows. Having it in our local Country Park, which has deliberately retained old hedgerows, managed by BHCG, is a great story for a holiday weekend.

Meanwhile Harry Mackie  has reported on the website Next Door two  sightings in  in his Queens Walk garden,  10 minute's walk from the borders of the park.

 

Mint Moth

Holly Blue butterfly