Children were all a flutter when they made a special visit to one of Dorset’s newest solar farms.

From butterflies to wildflowers, the youngsters from Wool Primary, Bovington Primary and St Mary and Joseph’s First School explored the varied wildlife flourishing at Good Energy’s Woolbridge Solar Farm.

It was the first time the children had returned to the site since they helped plant new trees there a few months ago.

During this latest visit they were joined by professional ecologist Hannah Montag who led the children on a butterfly hunt and helped them to build a hibernaculum for reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates.

Hugo House, from Good Energy, said: “It was great to welcome back the children to our Woolbridge solar farm so they could see how the trees they planted have come into leaf and are beginning to grow.

“We have this great opportunity to nurture and enhance wildlife on our solar farms and we love showing the children how this works in practice. As well as planting new trees, we have also planted new hedgerow and a meadow full of Dorset wildflowers. This will create new habitat for local butterfly and bee populations, native birds and small mammals like hedgehogs.

“Together with low intensity sheep grazing amongst the panels, this will enhance the biodiversity of this site for years to come.”

During their visit, the school pupils were challenged to find out more about the butterflies and wildflowers on site using worksheets provided by Munching Caterpillars, the educational project run by wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation.

Project Officer, Megan Lowe, said: “It was a great opportunity for the local children to return to the site and learn more about the wildlife that now calls it home.

“We found butterflies like the Orange-tip and Brimstone, which were enjoying the plants the children had helped sow in the winter months. It's very important for children to learn about our pollinators and what they can do to help them.”