ANGER over the spraying of the Treloar butterfly meadow continues this week as the extent of the devastation caused by the herbicide becomes apparent.

While the owner of the land, the government-run Homes and Communities Agency has given an assurance that the herbicide used was targeted at ragwort and will not affect any insects or orchids, Save Alton’s Butterfly Meadow campaigners now have proof of dying orchids and dead bumble bees.

Lead campaigner Ginny Boxall said she has discovered “a number of very sick and wilting orchids in the meadow” and has evidence of declining numbers of bumble bees.

Just over two weeks ago, prior to the spraying of the land by a tenant farmer, Ginny’s daughter, who is conducting a survey, which will form part of her university dissertation on the effects of herbicides on bumble bee populations, recorded 26 bumble bees in 10 minutes across six grid sections of the meadow.

This week only two bumble bees were found using the same grid sections and in the same period of time.

Ginny said: “Contrary to the Homes and Communities Agency’s assurances, it is with great sadness that I have discovered a number of sick and wilting orchids in the meadow. So, so mad about this. You truly can’t trust a word they utter!”