Help declining butterflies by making a few simple changes

The United Kingdom Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS), which began in 1976, is one of the longest running insect monitoring schemes in the world. The scheme asks volunteers to count butterflies across the country and now monitors more than 3,000 sites. Unfortunately, data collected from 2024, shows that it is the 5th worst year since records began. It’s not unusual for butterfly numbers to fluctuate annually and this is due to several contributing factors. Last year’s low numbers are partly the result of a wet spring and relatively cool summer. However, the UKBMS data shows that 31 of the 59 resident UK species are now in long-term decline. You can read the full read report on our declining butterflies and how Butterfly Conservation would like you to help here: Half of UK butterfly species in long-term decline, monitoring reveals.

Wildlife Gardening for butterflies

I’m sure we are all in agreement that this is heartbreaking news to read. And we all need to do our bit to help them recover. Our gardens cover a greater area of land than all the UK’s national nature reserves. But as you know, no matter the size, shape or location, any greenspace can become a wildlife garden. If you don’t have a garden but have access to a balcony or roof you can use simple window boxes or planters to help.

When planning your wildlife garden for butterflies, it’s incredibly important to remember all stages of their life cycle. Planting for eggs and caterpillars is often forgotten about. But some butterflies are very particular about what they lay on. The Small Blue for example are very fussy butterflies. Their caterpillar’s only foodplant is Kidney Vetch. They live only in the flower heads where they feed on developing anthers and seeds. By planting this incredibly important plant in your green space, you could be making a huge difference.

Tips for helping butterflies and moths

1. Plan for all life stages, Butterfly Conservation have a list of Nectar Plants and Foodplants.

2. Remember to stick to native plant species and local provenance. Curam Fyvie and The Habitat People are an amazing resource if you aren’t confident in collecting and growing your own seed.

3. Leave stems and flowerheads uncut over winter. Leave tidying up leaf litter as long as possible. Only 2% of British butterflies spend the winter in their adult winged form. The rest take shelter inside stems, dead seed heads and within leaf litter as eggs, caterpillars or chrysalises.

4. Let it grow! #NoMowMay has become incredibly popular in the last few years. But why not Let It Bloom June too? By simply leaving your lawn or small patch to grow you’ll be providing food, shelter and breeding habitat for butterflies.

5. Be peat-free! Peat bogs are home to many special animals and plants. Avoid peat-based compost and help to preserve these precious habitats.

6. Avoid chemicals! As well as butterflies, moths and bees by using pesticides you could be attacking ladybirds, ground beetles and spiders. Who are great predators and help your garden.

Helpful resources

• Moon Meadows – Discover how to create a moon meadow to help our struggling moths
• Wild Spaces – Help our struggling butterflies by creating a wild space
• Food plants for butterfly caterpillars – Caterpillars need to eat, try planting species that butterflies will lay their eggs on
• Food plants for moth caterpillars – Try planting species that moths will lay their eggs on
• Gardening for Butterflies leaflet – Learn how to garden for butterflies
• Wild about lawns – Bring your lawn to life
• Greener Gardening – Perfecting peat-free

Make a promise to help declining butterflies

Butterfly Conservation is asking people across the UK to make a promise to butterflies and moths. Make your promise to butterflies and moths.

What are your tips for helping butterflies and moths?

We love hearing about what you are doing for wildlife in your garden. You can let us know by emailing us at nesbip@hutton.ac.uk, following us on Facebook or joining our ever growing community of wildlife gardeners.

Below image credits

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary – Helen Rowe, Small Blue – Andrew Cooper, Male Orange-tip – Helen Rowe