THERE is a chance to catch a glimpse of the rare Marsh Fritillary butterflies at Fernworthy Reservoir near Chagford on the first day of June.

Visitors are invited to join conservation officers from the South West Lakes Trust and the Butterfly Conservation Project to take part in a survey of these rare butterflies.

The reservoir is home to a scarce and valuable habitat known as Rhos pasture and under management by South West Lakes Trust in partnership with the Butterfly Consevartion it has been secured as the breeding site of the Marsh Fritillary.

Spring is the time of year when these rare butterflies will emerge from their cocoons as adults, and will be seen in flight in an area of Rhos pasture near their host-plant, the Devil's-bit scabious.

South West Lakes Trust is dedicated to conservation at its sites throughout Devon, Cornwall and West Somerset and this provides a perfect chance for anyone to come along and find out more about some of the rarer species of wildlife in their area.

Anybody interested in the conservation projects being run at the lakes or in becoming a South West Lakes Trust conservation volunteer, helping to set up projects and monitor wildlife can find more details from the website http://www.swlakestrust.org.uk">www.swlakestrust.org.uk

Visitors can see the Marsh Fritillary butterflies on Wednesday June 1 at 10.30am.