Endangered moths find a home at Cotswold Water Park (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)
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The Barberry Carpet Moth is thriving at Cotswold Water Park
10:00am Sunday 14th October 2012 in News By Ian Craig
Barberry Carpet moth larva. Picture by Mark Parsons, Butterfly Conservation
AN ENDANGERED species of moth has been reintroduced to Cotswold Water Park.
The Barberry Carpet Moth has become endangered throughout the UK because of the rarity of the barberry bush, which it depends on to survive.
However, a colony of more than 800 was recently introduced near Ashton Keynes as part of efforts by Natural England and Butterfly Conservation, which have been working alongside the Cotswold Water Park Trust (CWPT) to save the species.
CWPT biodiversity manager Gareth Harris said the trust had been working to restore Barberry bushes to the landscape to allow the moth to breed.
“By restoring Barberry to the landscape we can enhance existing Barberry Carpet moth populations and re-connect those that are distant,” he said.
“Creating a new colony in Ashton Keynes will further strengthen the series of colonies found across the landscape here.”
Project volunteer John Grearson from Ashton Keynes said he was pleased work was being carried out to preserve the species at Cotswold Water Park.
“The introduction, and hopefully establishment, of a new colony in Ashton Keynes will secure the presence of this species in the area for generations to come,” he said.
