Rare butterfly spotted in county for first time since 1850s

The butterfly was spotted in Northumberland for the first time in more than 170 years

A rare butterfly has been spotted in Northumberland for the first time since 1850.

The Silver-washed Fritillary sighting was recorded at the Havannah and Three Hills Nature Reserve in Hazlerigg, which is near Newcastle's border with Northumberland, in August.

The Natural History Society of Northumbria said the butterfly, which is more widespread in southern England and Wales, had not been seen in the county for more than 170 years.

Stephen Kirtley, from the charity Butterfly Conservation, said the Silver-washed Fritillary had become extinct in the North East in the 19th Century, but its numbers were growing again, particularly in County Durham and Teesside.

He hopes the species will grow its presence in south Northumberland and start spreading further north.

The Silver-washed Fritillary is orange with distinct silver streaks on its underside

After the last sighting in the North East of England back in the 1850s, the butterfly was not spotted again until 2017 when it was recorded in Wynyard Country Park, near Stockton.

Since then, the species has been seen in County Durham and there here have been about 14 sightings recorded this year so far, up from 10 in 2024.

"Perhaps at some stage in the mid-19th Century it became too cool for the butterfly to survive here," Mr Kirtley said.

"Or perhaps changes in land management and woodland management meant that the places where it used to be found in the 1850s and before were no longer suitable and it's not been found in this area.

"I strongly suspect and believe that because of climate warming, the butterfly has started to move north and is able to use habitat in our area that up until recently wasn't suitable for it."