Let’s give nature a helping hand
Pledge an area of your garden for butterflies and moths and put it on the map, says LOUISE MIDGLEY
THIS year’s Wild About Gardens campaign, run jointly by The Wildlife Trusts and Royal Horticultural Society, is urging gardeners to dedicate a small area of their garden to growing plants that support the yearly life cycle of butterflies and moths.
The campaign was initially set up in 2009 to celebrate wildlife gardening and encourage people to turn the UK’S 24 million gardens into a network of nature reserves providing the right environment for wildlife to live, feed and breed.
Butterflies and moths are important pollinators and along with caterpillars provide essential food for birds and bats.
However, numbers of these ethereal, flying creatures have rapidly declined over the past few decades due to habitat loss, with several once-common species such as the small tortoiseshell dropping in number by 80 per cent in some areas.
“We all love watching moths and butterflies as they flutter by and brighten up our gardens” says Ellie Brodie, senior policy manager of The Wildlife Trusts.
“We know UK wildlife is in decline and needs our help – that’s why we’re asking gardeners to work together and create a wave of long grass, wildflowers, colour and perfume – a nature recovery network for these gorgeous creatures.”
Gardeners can help throw these declining insects a lifeline, especially in urban areas, by growing a wide range of seasonal plants and wildflowers. A patch of stinging nettles, common ivy and low-growing bird’s foot trefoil are top larval foods for some species.
The Wildlife Trusts and RHS have published a free booklet with advice and tips designed to make outdoor spaces more attractive to butterflies, moths and caterpillars.visit wtru.st/butterfly
The Wild About Gardens campaign is keen to find out about every new wild area being created to support butterflies and moths and is asking gardeners to visit wildaboutgardens.org.uk to record the area they are transforming on their “Pledge a Patch Map”.