Butterflies aren’t just pretty to look at – they perform an invaluable function in the garden, contributing to its overall health and performance. So let’s attract as many of them as we can, suggests Benedict Vanheems
Painted lady
When it comes to helping out wildlife it’s easy to remain fixated on the birds and the bees. But there’s a suite of other garden visitors to look out for too, including flutters of butterflies and moths. Like so much of our wildlife these winged beauties have had a tough time of late. Numbers are down and some species have even been rendered extinct.
The good news is it’s easy to do our bit in turning their fortunes around. And because butterflies and moths support so many other creatures higher up the food chain, any efforts to help them will have a far-reaching impact.