Could you become a Forest Guardian? West Midlands Butterfly Conservation is launching a new volunteer programme in the Wyre Forest.

We are teaming up with Natural England and the Forestry Comission to provide opportunies in practical conservation work, as well as wildlife surveying and monitoring.

And the beautiful Wyre Forest is one of the most important sites for butterflies and moths in the UK, so this is a great chance to see and learn more about the species found here.

The kind of butterflies that call it their home include the declining Pearl-bordered Fritillary, the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, the Dark Green Fritillary, Silver-washed Fritillary, the rare Wood White and Dingy and Grizzled Skippers.

Jenny Joy, Senior Regional Officer for Butterfly Conservation, said: “The Wyre is particularly renowned for its Fritillary butterflies. These include the iconic Pearl-bordered Fritillary which has declined by over 70% nationally but, thanks to great work carried out by Butterfly Conservation, the Forestry Commission and Natural England working in partnership, is now widespread across the Forest.

"Volunteers play a huge role both in maintaining good quality habitat and carrying out vital monitoring and survey work. We hope that the new Forest Guardians programme will attract new volunteers and allow this fantastic work to continue.”

The new programme will offer regular opportunities for volunteers to get involved in practical conservation tasks both midweek and at weekends and also the chance to become involved in survey work on butterflies, birds and other wildlife.

For further information about the volunteer programme, please contact Alice James from Natural England, by email or by calling: 01299 400686.

Or you could just come along to the first conservation task on 25th January! It starts at 10am.

Dingy SkipperAlice James, Reserve Manager for Natural England, said: “There is a long tradition of volunteering within the Wyre Forest which has contributed hugely to our knowledge of its wildlife and to the rich mosaic of habitats which is the Forest today. We are keen to recruit new volunteers to continue this really important work and to make sure that the Forest is well managed and our knowledge of the wildlife it contains is kept up to date.

"The Wyre Forest is one of the most important areas of woodland in the country and has retained important populations of butterflies and birds which have been lost elsewhere. We want to ensure that this wealth of wildlife continues into the future."