Butterfly Conservation

Butterfly conservation – Butterflies suffered in last year’s cold and wet weather, having their worst year since 1976.

The relentless weather meant that summer species of butterfly struggled to find food, shelter and mates. The UK butterfly monitoring scheme discovered that only four of 56 species studied saw an increase in population size. Moreover, the UK’s rarest butterflies suffered the most, with one species, The Black Hairstreak, falling in numbers by 98% .

However, more widespread species of butterfly also suffered, with the numbers of Common Blue falling by 60% and Cabbage Whites falling by half.

The Head of Monitoring at Butterfly Conservation who carries out the monitoring with the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology said that the weather has stopped recent conservation efforts. He also stated that any recovery would be more difficult than ever, given the fact that almost three-quarters of UK species are at a historically low ebb.

Furthermore, the charity said that species already suffering now face a real threat of becoming extinct. Out of all 56 species, 52 saw populations decline compared with 2011. Thirteen species experienced their worst year on record.

In contrast, Meadowmat is an excellent resource for pollinating insects. So, laying just a small area in your garden will provide an excellent source of pollen for visiting insects. It will also provide vital food and shelter. Not only that, Meadowmat looks beautiful too, with 34 species of wild flowers and native grasses.

Do your part for UK butterflies today by allocating a small section of your garden and letting it go wild.