Beauty spot enters top flight for insects

A beauty spot in Cannock Chase has been named as one of the best places in the county for attracting butterflies and moths.

Hednesford Hills Nature Reserve, which is managed by Cannock Chase Council, has been highlighted in a survey which reveals the site has more moths and butterflies than anywhere in the county. The report, carried out by independent moth expert David Grundy, found the reserve is home to many uncommon and rare moth species.

The number of butterflies and moths present on Hednesford Hills is also impressive with 112 new moth species recorded for the first time in 2008. This brings the total list to 544.

In July last year 202 species were recorded in just one night. This was the highest species count ever recorded in one night at any site in Staffordshire.

This was then exceeded by an even higher count of 218 species a few weeks later. These are the only two occasions where over 200 moth species have been recorded at one site in Staffordshire in one night.

Mr Grundy, who has carried out work for the Forestry Commission and the Butterfly Conservation, concludes that Hednesford Hills is of greater importance for moths than several other celebrated sites including Sutton Park National Nature Reserve and parts of Cannock Chase.

Dexter cows were brought in by the council to graze on Hednesford Hills which is helping to create the right habitat for wildlife.

Countryside officer Simon Siddle said about the report: "Reintroducing grazing on this heathland site has been a huge success and we are very pleased with the findings in this report."