A RARE butterfly has been released back into Worcestershire woodland after a 30-year absence.

The pearl-bordered fritillary is once again fluttering between the boughs of Grafton Wood nature reserve near Worcester after 24 butterflies were released by the regional butterfly conservation branch.

Although the butterfly variety is doing well in the Wyre Forest, it has not appeared in Grafton Wood since the 1970s.

The pearl-bordered fritillary has seen its population plummet in the last 30 years and is one of the country’s most endangered butterflies.

The release, assisted by Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, only came about because the trust and conservationists have spent the last five years creating a suitable habitat in the reserve near Grafton Flyford.

The released stock was bred in captivity by conservation group members Trevor Bucknall, of Worcester, and Nick Greatorex-Davies.

John Tilt, reserve manager, said: “Butterflies are in serious decline in Britain as a whole and it is great to be involved in a project to restore the pearl-bordered fritillary to one of its former sites.

“The butterfly has thrived in the Wyre Forest because of good woodland management, developing the violets on which the butterfly lays its eggs to grow.

“We have worked hard to create similar conditions at Grafton Wood through the creation of new clearings and sunny glades and are hoping if the butterfly does well, it may spread to other nearby woods.”

Mr Bucknall said: “Feeding several hundred hungry caterpillars was no easy task and I am delighted that we are now in a position to release the first butterflies into the wood.”

Natural England and the Forestry Commission assisted in the breeding programme.