EXPERTS have discovered a butterfly ''hotspot'' in a Cheshire woodland.

Now work is afoot to make it even more attractive to the winged wonders - and human visitors.

The site, at Delamere, is being developed by the Forestry Commission and Mersey Forest organisation as a community amenity.

When Butterfly Conservation official Brian Bull carried out surveys of the Old Pale community woodland site over the summer, he discovered several species including some whose numbers have been in worrying decline.

Now, following the study, the Forestry Commission is to adapt its tree-planting and landscaping at Old Pale to encourage different butterfly species to colonise the former farmland - further increasing the woodland's appeal to visitors.

Species survey

Mr Bull said: ''Old Pale has the potential to be one of the best natural habitats for butterflies in the county. Over three days we recorded 15 different species and we would expect to see more over the course of a full season's survey.

''They included large numbers of small tortoiseshell, gatekeeper and meadow brown. It indicates that breeding conditions are very favourable.

''We also spotted the small copper and wall brown species, which is very encouraging because these are known to have declined in Cheshire.''

The 137-hectare former farmland site was bought by the Forestry Commission last December.

Forestry Commission project leader Tim Oliver said: ''The initial work will be followed by annual surveys to monitor the butterfly populations as the woodland develops.''