Butterflies need help – it’ll be our pleasure
PAUL McGUINNESS, EDITOR
The results of the 2021 UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme are in and it’s something of a mixed bag For some species – the brown hairstreak and silver-studded blue, for example – it’s good news, with their numbers at a 26-year high. For others – the green-veined white, or the large skipper – the opposite is true, with both species reporting alarmingly low numbers.
Overall, the butterfly count may be down, but, unlike many conservation issues, there’s something very easy that we can all do about it. And I, for one, love the solution: gardening.
Of course, it’s hardly breaking news that certain plants are particularly popular with butterflies, but what plants are best to attract different species? And how do I avoid my kale crop being devoured by caterpillars? Kate Bradbury has all the answers in ‘Dig for butterflies‘. Time for a spot of backyard conservation!
Go spring foraging!
May is an excellent month for finding edible plants. Hawthorn comes into bloom now, as does elder – look for its frothy, cream flowers. Wild garlic leaves may be too old to use but the flowers are still about. Head to discoverwildlife.com/ foraging for information on responsible foraging and tasty recipe ideas.
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wildlifeletters@immediate.co.uk