Scottish Borderlands New Hotbed Of Butterfly Activity As British Species Move North

[hatrack]

THE Scottish Borders are becoming a hotbed of butterflies as a number of species head north because of climate change, according to a report out today.

The increase in the number of butterflies in Scotland is in marked contrast to the rest of the UK, where populations of some varieties have continued to decline over the past decade.

The report, The State of the UK’s Butterflies 2011, by wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, reveals that the total number of common and widespread butterflies in England fell by a quarter in ten years while in Scotland numbers increased by 11 per cent over the same period.

Experts say the differences are due not only to the changing climate, but to Scotland’s relatively unspoilt landscape.

EDIT

http://www.scotsman.com/news/environment/butterfly_boom_for_borders_as_english_species_flutter_north_1_1992079