The Grayling butterfly is a master of disguise although conspicuous in flight they are so perfectly camouflaged against the bare earth and stones they can disappear upon landing.
Come butterfly spotting when the grayling butterflies are in flight
Come butterfly spotting when the grayling butterflies are in flight. This is a very well-camouflaged insect so you will need to look carefully. Populations have declined and now the bog is one of the best places in the county to see them
The grayling butterfly is primarily a coastal species and is widespread along the western coast of Britain. The species can, however, be found inland and here in Shropshire localised populations can be found around The Bog and Stiperstones area.
Very little remains of The Bog village which formerly played such an active role in the lead mining industrial history here. There are useful interpretation boards to give information to visitors about the mining history of the Bog. Nature has now started to reclaim the area. The old mining reservoir is now an excellent site for newts and dragonflies. The spoil heaps are very useful habitat for a range of invertebrates. A project instigated by the Stiperstones and Corndon Landscape Partnership Scheme aims to remove scrub to maintain open habitat for invertebrates. This is one of the most important sites in Shropshire for the grayling butterly. These insects bask on the spoil heaps and are very hard to spot with their cryptic markings.
For more information on grayling butterflies visit the Butterfly Conservation webpage.
