When the Weymouth Relief Road was built, the opportunity was taken to create a superb butterfly habitat along the embankments, by leaving the slopes free of imported topsoil and instead, seeding with limestone-loving plants, many of which are used by the caterpillars of butterflies and moths. This also saved a lot of money, and Phil Sterling and the Council are to be congratulated for their efforts.

The site is being monitored, and has already attracted Small Blue, Common Blue, Brown Argus and Wall Brown – a phenomenal success in its first season.

We have two more walks to show off the site – Sunday 22 July and Saturday 18 August. The walk is an enjoyable one, which parallels the road along an easy footpath at first, and then returns via the old road, which is now unrecognisable.