ONE of the country’s most endangered butterflies has made a newly created wildlife corridor within Swinley Forest its home.

The grayling butterfly, Hipparchia Semele, has been spotted within the heathland restoration corridor created by South East Water after a five-kilometre strategic water main was laid through the forest in 2015.

As part of the £6.5 million project, the water company formed the wide corridor to create heathland that enables species, such as the grayling butterfly, to thrive.

The butterfly is found in coastal areas and some heathlands and is a master of disguise, camouflaging itself against a background of heathland, earth or stones.

Patrick Austin, South East Water’s Environmental Performance Officer, said: “Since the pipeline was installed three years ago, the heathland has had time to establish.

“This has increased the survival success of this threatened butterfly.

“We are hugely encouraged by what we spotted on a recent walkover and will continue to monitor the heathland’s regeneration and the wildlife it is supporting.”

Emma Goddard, Head of Environment at South East Water said: “Protecting our environment as well as conserving and increasing biodiversity in the areas where we operate is one of our top priorities.

“I’m delighted by the discovery of this rare butterfly within this corridor which proves our environmental practices are working at Swinley Forest.”