21st May 2026

We are lucky to have a breeding population of Small Blue butterflies within the 3K circle around Staple. This colony is on the KWT roadside nature reserve at Lower Rowling and the adjacent chalk quarry. The sole food plant for Small Blue caterpillars is Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria) and consequently the butterfly is only likely to be found in locations where this plant is present.

Small Blue butterfly