In the winter of 2005/06, thanks to the support of Barclay’s Bank, 800 Kidney Vetch plugs were planted on both sides of the northern end of the Southam Bypass. The aim was to create habitat suitable for the Small Blue butterfly to colonise.

The mortality rate for planting plugs is always very high due to grazing damage by rabbits and other animals. In addition, unlike plants in the garden, there is a lack of after care and as a consequence many plug shrivel and die.

It was, therefore, extremely promising when 37 Kidney Vetch were found flowering on the southern side and 2 on the northern side in May 2007. This year the Bypass was checked again and a minimum of 192 Kidney Vetches were found flowering on the Southern side and at least 8 plants on the northern side. Even more impressive is that many of these plants were from seeds produced by the original plants and many of these plants are also very large. It is now thought that there are sufficient plants to sustain a Small Blue colony.

In the very near future it is planned to search this area for both adult Small Blue butterflies, larvae and ova.