White-letter Hairstreak. Photo: Caroline Stringer

Caroline visited Alners Gorse at the end of June and photographed this pristine White-letter Hairstreak.

Caroline was lucky that day,finding this butterfly on brambles as the White-letter Hairstreak is one of our more-elusive butterflies and flits high in the treetops, often appearing as a dark speck against the sky.It gets its name from the letter “W” that is formed from a series of white lines found on the underside of the hindwings.

The adults emerge toward the end of June, building up to a peak in mid-July. There is one brood each year.