Good News – Saved from extinction

The reintroduction of a species of butterfly that went extinct in England nearly 50 years ago has been declared a success.

The chequered skipper was always scarce, but died out in 1976 with changes to woodland management being blamed

.Fineshade Wood, which is part of the 200-sq-mile (520-sq-km) Rockingham Forest, was chosen to host the reintroduction due to its sunny habitat being favourable.

In total, 128 butterflies – 101 females and 27 males – were imported and five years of research has proven that the insects were breeding successfully.

Butterfly Conservation said more than 350 individual chequered skippers have been counted and numbers had increased year on year.