MP's warning on butterflies

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 20th May 2008

The rapid decline in Britain's butterfly population has led to Colchester MP Bob Russell tabling a House of Commons Motion calling on the Government to promote policies to assist their survival. The charity Butterfly Conservation has reported that numbers are at their lowest for 25 years, with the small tortoiseshell showing the biggest decline of 81 per cent.

Mr Russell supports the call by Sir David Attenborough, President of Butterfly Conservation, to raise funds for the charity's "Stop Extinction Appeal".

In a second Motion he raises concerns over the serious threat to dragonflies caused by changes in farming techniques and climate change with some of Britain's 39 species facing extinction. The Government is urged to support the British Dragonfly Society's campaign to protect the creatures.

Liberal Democrat Mr Russell is regarded as one of Parliament's leading environmentalists. He has previously had a special debate on Britain's wildflower meadows, more than 95 per cent of which have been lost in the last 60 years. In Colchester he has been involved for many years in promoting tree planting and the establishment of wildflower areas, and it was during his time as Leader of the Council that "green" policies to make Colchester "Britain's greenest and cleanest" borough were introduced. Under a special Parliamentary scheme he was attached to the BTCV (British Trust for Conservation Volunteers).