MEMBERS of the public are invited to take part in a community art event celebrating an almost extinct local moth.

People are encouraged to join a lantern parade starting at Malmesbury Town Hall on Friday at 5.30pm, as a nature charity aims to celebrate progress being made to increase the number of the very rare Barberry Carpet moth.

Artist Joanna Callaghan has been commissioned by Back from the Brink to run the event as a celebration for the endangered insect. .

She said: "The walk will be a wassail for this lovely little moth, rather than apples! It will be a fun and creative family event and we are so pleased that the deputy mayor of Malmesbury is able to lead the walk.” “Information is available on the Back from the Brink website and Facebook page about how to make your own lantern (if you would like to carry one) otherwise you can just come along and join in the walk.”

The Barberry Carpet moth has only ten known colonies, mostly around North Wiltshire.

The moth is under threat after it was found that Barberry plants, which the moths need to survive, were making wheat crops unusable. Consequently, the plant was removed on a grand scale in order to protect cereal yields.

Since then, new wheat crops, resistant to the Barberry, have been developed allowing for replanting efforts which is increasing the moth's numbers. For more information email Joanna Callaghan at mothlanternparade@gmail.com