The summer of 2013 has been a wonderful one for butterflies.
Our glorious weather during July, August and September has meant that many
species that had not been seen for some time have made a colourful comeback.
An online survey saw that 46,000 people had logged more than
830,000 butterflies from Scotland to the Scilly Isles. The survey recorded four
times as many butterflies this year than 2012, which had been the worst for
forty years.
But it is not only sunshine that butterflies need. Along
with all other pollinating insects, loss of habitat is the crucial factor in
the dwindling numbers of butterflies. In the past, wild flower meadows on farm
land provided the habitat required for many species to thrive but the advent of
industrial farming saw the ploughing up of these meadows and the excessive use
of pesticides aided the sharp decline in pollinators.
Farmers are now re-instating these long lost meadows in an
attempt to bring back species that we so desperately need to pollinate our
crops. Yields from these crops have shown considerable improvement where
pollinating insects abound and other wildlife has returned.
There are many ways in which gardeners can help encourage
butterflies that include growing the type of plants that offer them food and
breeding grounds but these same gardeners may not be happy with the abundance
of both the large and small cabbage white butterflies that appeared this year.
Skeletal cabbage plants are not required!
Victoria Nicholls. Transition Deal.
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