The astonishing variety of butterflies and moths in Telford and Wrekin are featured in a new guide encouraging residents to discover nature on the doorstep.

The full-size guide has been funded by Telford & Wrekin Council and compiled with the help of West Midlands Butterfly Conservation and the Butterfly Conservation Society, which reports that more than half of UK butterfly species are now in long-term decline.

From the critically endangered Dingy Skipper to the shimmering Green Hairstreak and the Marbled White, Telford and Wrekin is a haven for an extraordinary array of butterflies. This is in part due to its mining heritage with former industrial areas having poorer soils where wildflowers can flourish, as well as the protection of urban green space and network of green corridors. Of Britain’s 59 species of butterfly, 32 can be found in the borough.

Many colourful species of day-flying moths are also featured in the guide, including the six-spot burnet moth and scarlet tiger.

To encourage butterflies and other pollinators, designated meadows across the borough will be left to grow from May until the end of the season as they provide ideal habitats for species to thrive.

The leaflet provides information about how to identify the different species and when and where to see them. It folds neatly for convenience – ideal for spotting species on the go or during a fun, family wildlife hunt – but also opens out into a full-size colour chart.

Copies are available in Telford Town Park Visitor Centre and some community centres. They are also available for schools and volunteer groups on a first-come first-served basis by emailing parks.greenspaces@telford.gov.uk