Hull: A Butterfly City

A new project will see at least 3,000 trees planted in the city to encourage a rise in numbers of the striking brimstone butterfly and help halt biodiversity loss.

The push is being led by Hull West and Hessle MP Emma Hardy after a dramatic decline in numbers of the brightly coloured insects across Europe over the past few decades.

Alongside the HEYwoods initiative, 2,000 alder buckthorn and purging buckthorn trees will be planted across Hull this winter, mainly by schools as part of the wider tree-planting initiative in the city.

And Hull City Council’s Leader, Councillor Stephen Brady, has pledged the cost of 1,000 buckthorn whips, which will be distributed by community groups.

Cllr Brady said: “We are thrilled to be supporting the butterfly city project. For us, the project is about connecting people in Hull with nature, showing people how easy it is for us all to take positive action to improve our local environment for both ourselves and nature.”

The brimstone butterfly, which is a Hull Biodiversity Action Plan species, is distinctive leaf-shaped yellow butterfly seen most often in early spring. The male is sulphur yellow in colour while the female is a pale lemon.

Why not take a look at the PATT Foundation’s Butterfly City website and see where Hull’s Buckthorne Distribution’s are. https://pattfoundation.org/butterfly-city/