A NATIVE holly tree has been planted in the butterfly meadow area of Shipley station in memory of a wildlife campaigner.
Susan Stead, from Eldwick, died in January this year aged 81, having had a lifelong passion for the environment, wildlife and, in particular, butterflies.
She was a member of Bradford Urban Wildlife Group (BUWG) for more than 30 years and was still playing a key role in the group at the time of her death.
Members of the wildlife organisation gathered for the tree-planting ceremony and to unveil a plaque dedicated to their former colleague and friend.
An inscription on the plaque reads: ‘This beautiful butterfly meadow is here thanks to Susan, who loved and cared for it.’
Susan was a leading figure in establishing a butterfly meadow at Shipley station, where the common blue butterfly - whose numbers have been in decline across Yorkshire in recent decades - can be spotted.
Shipley Station Butterfly Meadow was opened in 1993 by naturalist David Bellamy. The small site, which sits between platforms two, five and the car park, is jointly managed by BUWG and the national environmental organisation Butterfly Conservation.
Protected by fencing and maintained by annual mowing in the autumn, the meadow supports the larval food plants of many characteristic grassland butterflies and moths.
The meadow featured on the BBC TV series Great British Railway Journeys, broadcast this summer. Susan met presenter Michael Portillo for filming in 2022 and discussed the species of butterflies and moths found there.
Susan also campaigned for Trench Meadow - below Shipley Glen and home to several varieties of orchid - to be designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), protecting it from future development.
Paul Redmond, chair of BUWG, said: “As we watch this tree slowly grow it will be a reminder of what Susan did and of what we must continue to do to raise the awareness of the importance of the urban environment, and to campaign to protect and improve the flora and fauna of our district.”
The wildlife group hopes the native holly tree’s flowers in summer will attract the brightly-coloured holly blue butterfly to the site.
BUWG aims to promote and protect wildlife in the Bradford district. It runs a monthly programme of talks throughout winter and in the summer offers walks and activities such as a fungus foray, pond dipping, bat walks and trips to monitor sites where orchids grow.
For more information about BUWG activities or to join, visit buwg.co.uk
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