Common blue, Amy Lewis
Beautiful butterflies
Your garden is really important!
We’ve now lost 97% of our wild flower meadows, with accompanying huge declines in butterflies and bees and animals that use meadows for food and shelter. As more of our countryside is used for food production through intensive farming, it is becoming increasingly recognised that our gardens can help to replace habitats lost from the countryside.
Small tortoiseshell butterfly enjoying Belper Coppice meadow creation, Kieron Huston
Common blue butterfly, Vicky Nall
Meadow brown, Matt Cole
Common blue, Amy Lewis
Small garden?
Don’t worry - you can grow some of these plants in a container pot or a window box – butterflies won’t mind! Just make sure there is a little sunshine so butterflies can bask in the warmth.
Grow your own mini meadow
Make your own mini meadow
Some top tips
- Butterflies love nectar-rich flowers like verbena, scabious and ice-plant
- Make it easy for butterflies with simple flowers, easy to get at the nectar
- Avoid double-flowered varieties of plants which may have no nectar
- Many cottage garden flowers are suitable
- Plant in a sheltered sunny spot and don’t forget to provide food plants for caterpillars too
Looking to help a particular type of butterfly?
Plants for butterflies
Don't forget moths!
They love night-scented stocks, honeysuckle, evening primrose and tobacco plants!
