EYES ARE on the skies after a rare butterfly was spotted at the site of a holiday home development at Crossways.

The rare Silver-studded Blue butterfly, native to the British Isles, has been found inhabiting the Warmell Quarry, which is currently being redeveloped by Habitat First Group to create the 1,000 home development Silverlake.

The discovery was made on the outer heath site within the grounds of the development.

The unique butterfly lives amongst the orchids and special mix of vegetation at the outer heath.

The Silver-studded Blue as a species had suffered mass decline in recent years due to the delicate balance of biospheres it needs to survive.

The developer say it will be protected at Silverlake as it embarks on projects to conserve the species’ numbers and enhance the area to benefit the butterflies’ survival.

Described as a species of principle importance under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006, the Silver-studded Blue butterfly is a unique insect flying no more than 20m per day and found mainly in colonies near coastal areas and heathland.

With distinctive markings, the male adult Silver-studded Blue has silvery blue wings whilst the females are brown with striking metallic markings on the hindwing.

Dr Phoebe Carter, Habitat First Group’s ecologist, is delighted with the find.

She said: “We are thrilled to discover the Silver-studded Blue at Silverlake following one of our many species surveys.

"The butterfly is a spectacular sight to behold which is why it is so important for us to ensure the outer heath remains protected so future generations can enjoy the beautiful butterfly species."

Habitat First Group says it is dedicated to protecting and encouraging wildlife and carries out regular species surveys to identify key areas of ecological importance in a bid to keep disturbance of local wildlife to a minimum during the course of construction.

The redevelopment of Warmwell Quarry will see up to 1,000 environmentally friendly holiday chalets and lodges built on the site as well as a country club and spa but hundreds of species of wildlife will be protected on the 560-acre site.

As well as protecting wildlife, Habitat First Group says it is also committed to preserving the history on the site, which was previously a World War Two airfield.

A spokesman said: "A number of important relics remain and will be preserved as an integral part of the development."

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