A PATCH of ancient woodland in Allenton could become home to hundreds of rare butterflies after plans to plant dozens of elm trees on the site were unveiled.

Wildlife volunteers are hoping to nurture about 20 of the trees in the Elm Wood local nature reserve, in Moor Lane, as part of a project to rejuvenate the land.

It is hoped that, in turn, the trees will encourage a rare species of butterfly, the White-letter Hairstreak, to populate the site, as the creatures breed on elm trees.

The planting work is being organised by Derby City Council environmental team WildDerby.

Beverley Rhodes, from the group, hopes to get the trees planted in the spring.

She said: "We are working with Derbyshire WIldilife Trust on this and they have got funding from several groups in the city.

"We're looking at attracting volunteers to help with the project. As well as planting the trees, we're drawing up a full plan to clean up the site, to remove litter and maintain the area."

Elm Wood is more than 400 years old and one of only two woodland areas in the city classed as ancient, the other being Chaddesden Wood, in Oakwood.

The 1.86-hectare site was designated a local nature reserve by Natural England in 2009 and is considered significant for its age and the number of species of wildlife to which it is home.

Jez Musano, from the city council's parks department, and Kelvin Lawrence, from Derby's voluntary Tree Wardens Network, joined Mrs Rhodes to view the woodland yesterday.

The Tree Wardens are volunteers who help preserve trees throughout the city. They will help with the work on Elm Wood.

Mr Lawrence said: "It could really become quite a haven for wildlife, which would be a great thing to have in the city centre."