The Lancashire Wildlife Trust (LWT) has started a drive to reintroduce three rare species once common on the region’s peat bogs: the large heath butterfly, bog bush cricket, and white-faced darter dragonfly.
These insects depend on lowland peatlands, 96% of which have been lost due to human activity. LWT has been restoring habitats by rebuilding water systems and replanting specialist vegetation, and is now appealing for £20,000 to complete the project.
The trust highlighted the ecological roles of the species: the large heath butterfly pollinates plants, the bog bush cricket aids decomposition and provides food for birds, and the white-faced darter dragonfly preys on smaller insects to maintain balance.
Senior nature recovery officer Dr Matt McMullen said the species would struggle to recover naturally, noting their limited mobility and specialized habitat needs. The project aims to give them a helping hand and restore the wider ecosystem.
