Butterflies are beautiful visitors to our gardens and parks. They bring such joy when we see them flutter past us. There are 60 speices of butterflies in the UK and all these butterflies are in decline. Butterflies are a vital part of the ecosystem, as they provide a wide range of environmental benefits, including pollination and natural pest control. The more butterflies that are seen in your local environment the ecosystem is healthy. There are ways we can help support our butterflies. First of all, think about your area. What plants do you have in the garden do they attract butterflies. The plants should be colourful, diverse, and rich in nectar. Plants like lavender, foxgloves, honeysuckle, etc. Butterflies also have a preferred colour palette of purple and blue. Also, plant plants that will flower all year round.
Fruit trees are also a huge benefit for butterflies. When the fruit is ripe and has fallen don’t pick all the fruit. Fallen fruit is a brilliant source of food for butterflies.
Butterfly larval also needs to be taken into account when planning the garden. Larval love wild plants and wild areas for example a patch of nettles. We will never make the perfect wild conditions but having one patch unkept will allow the best chance for butterfly larval.
Top tips to help butterflies
Plant butterfly-friendly flowers
Keep part of your garden unkept
Try to stop pesticide
Cut down the weeding
Count and track what butterflies come into the garden
I have attached the link to the big butterfly count this is something that helps track what butterflies are visiting your garden. This allows conservation groups to keep a record of the population flux.
https://bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org/
https://nen.press/2021/07/16/big-butterfly-count-where-have-all-the-butterflies-gone/
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