Butterfly project aims to halt population decline

A Canterbury academic is teaming up with primary schools for a butterfly project

An academic has teamed up with schools across Kent to try and boost butterfly numbers in the county by creating sanctuaries near classrooms.

Tom Delahunt is working with pupils from schools around Kent to create butterfly sanctuaries and release the insects into the wild later this year.

The Canterbury Christ Church University lecturer says the project comes ahead of his new book, The Butterfly Farmer, which aims to help explain change to children.

Mr Delahunt, who is dyslexic and has ADHD, said: "I came from a generation where you didn't necessarily thrive in those classroom spaces."

He says he wants to use the scheme to help articulate the core messages of his book in a different way.

The UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme reported earlier this month that more than half of species in the country are suffering from long-term decline.

"Bug gardens" being used in schools to help with butterfly conservation

The project is currently being run in conjunction with five primary schools – Challock, Blean, St Stephens Infant School, Whitstable Junior School and Lady Joanna Thornhill Primary School.

The schools are among the first to set up butterfly sanctuaries in their grounds, with Mr Delahunt looking to fund wildflowers for the sites.

He said he wanted to gradually expand the project to include new schools.

Mr Delahunt, whose background is in trauma nursing, said the project came after the success of his first book, The Wandering Lamb, which talks about difference and acceptance.

He said: "I have never felt as healed by a process."

"It's an opportunity for me to go back and find children like me."