Female underside
I attended a very interesting Flora Locale course last week - lowland heath restoration at Prees Heath in Shropshire. The course was run by Stephen Lewis of Butterfly Conservation and Phil Putwain of Ecological Restoration Consultants Ltd. In short the heath was turned into an airfield during the last war and following the war the land was turned over to agriculture and improved, mainly for potatoes. The Silver-studded Blues who are heavily reliant on heather and a black ant population had managed to cling on in the fragments of remaining heathland. It was extremely interesting to learn how the heathland had been restored and the constant challenges faced in maintaining the infertile soil for the heathers. Prees Heath is maintained principally for the Silver-studded and it was great to see good numbers though we were present just after peak emergence.
Male topside showing distinctive "lead blue" colouration
Female topside
Prees Heath. A less Heathery bit but showing the restored WW2 building.
Silver studs
