SCHOOLCHILDREN are helping ensure that a rare butterfly has plenty of food.
Youngsters from Cassop School yesterday helped plant Rockroses at Trimdon Grange Nature Reserve.
The plant is the only food of the Durham Argus butterfly's caterpillars and more than 1,200 will be planted at a total of five sites.
The planting is an initiative by Durham County Council, Durham Wildlife Trust and English Nature which aims to boost existing populations of the creature and encourage new ones.
The work is being carried out as part of the Five Villages Project which aims to improve the countryside around Coxhoe, Bowburn, Kelloe, Quarrington Hill and Cassop, which has suffered after decades of quarrying and mining.
Sue Mullinger, Five Villages project officer, said: "The cuttings were taken last year and we will be planting them at five sites where, hopefully, they will make a significant contribution to the Durham Argus population.
"Rockrose is a very important plant for the butterfly and the areas we have chosen already support populations or have the potential to.''
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