Is your garden a-flutter with butterflies? Have you taken part in the Big Butterfly Count 2019 yet? Read on to find out what it’s all about, why it’s important to count butterflies, and how you can take part and help…
The Big Butterfly Count 2019
Started in 2010, the Big Butterfly Count takes place every year over summer. This year it runs from 19th July to 11th August. In association with Butterfly Conservation and B&Q; the Big Butterfly Count is a nationwide survey to monitor and help assess the health of the environment around us.
Why Count Butterflies?
Butterflies react quickly to any changes in their environment, so that makes them excellent biodiversity indicators. A decline in butterflies is an early warning for other wildlife. Counting butterflies helps to identify trends and understand the effect of climate change on flora and fauna.
Types Of Butterflies To Look Out For
You can download the handy butterfly chart or get the Big Butterfly Count app for free, to record the butterflies you spot. Read the list below to see which butterflies feature on the Big Butterfly Count chart, along with a couple of moths too.
Look out for the following butterflies:
- Large White
- Small White
- Green-veined White
- Brimstone
- Marbled White
- Small Copper
- Gatekeeper
- Meadow Brown
- Ringlet
- Speckled Wood
- Comma
- Painted Lady
- Small Tortoiseshell
- Red Admiral
- Peacock
- Common Blue
- Holly Blue
Look out for the following moths:
How To Count Butterflies
The Big Butterfly Count website recommends that you spend 15 minutes in one spot looking for and recording butterflies or moths in that area. Good places to start are your garden, local park or woodland; making sure that wherever you’re going is safe for you to be there. You’ll probably be surprised at how many butterflies and other creatures you actually spot. Before you know it, your time will be up and then it’s time to submit your sightings!
Best Flowers & Plants To Attract Butterflies
You can do your bit for the butterfly population by welcoming them into your garden to feed on nectar in a warm, sheltered area. Here are some ideas when it comes to flowers and plants for butterflies:
- Buddleja
- Red Valerian
- Verbena
- Sedum
- Hebe
- Wild Marjoram
- Common Knapweed
- Hemp-Agrimony
- Field Scabious
- Erysimum ‘Bowles’s Mauve’
We suggest having a read of this article on the RSPB website too, which gives you a step by step guide on which flowers and shrubs to plant for spring, summer and autumn too.
We hope this blog has inspired you to think about the plants and flowers in your garden. If you feel like you need some help with planting schemes for butterflies, or anything else relating to garden design, garden landscaping or garden maintenance; get in touch.
We’d love to help, and we’d love it if you shared your photos with us on social media; whether that’s Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.