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400 Elm Trees Planted to Save Rare Hairstreak Butterfly

4/17/2026

45 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The Friends of the Quantocks planted over 400 elm trees to support the rare white-letter hairstreak butterfly.
The white-letter hairstreak has declined 80% since 1973 due to Dutch elm disease that makes elm trees die young.
Robin Stamp, chairman of the Friends of the Quantocks, said the project has spotted 11 hairstreak butterflies and three caterpillars.
The initiative received funding from the farming in a protected landscape fund.

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Story summary

The Friends of the Quantocks planted over 400 elm trees to support the rare white-letter hairstreak butterfly.
The white-letter hairstreak has declined 80% since 1973 due to Dutch elm disease that makes elm trees die young.
Robin Stamp, chairman of the Friends of the Quantocks, said the project has spotted 11 hairstreak butterflies and three caterpillars.
The initiative received funding from the farming in a protected landscape fund.