Butterfly catchers

Patches of wildflowers and grasses is the ideal breeding ground for butterflies. It is important to make sure you have a good mix of plants that will allow caterpillars to thrive but also enough nectar flowers for the butterflies to feast on during their short life cycle.

Caterpillars of many butterfly species will eat common native grasses where they are left to grow tall. So create a wild area in a nice sunny spot and allow grasses and wildflowers already there to grow up. You can also supplement this area with wildflower seeds.

In shorter grass, plant flowers like Common Bird's-foot Trefoil to attract the Common Blue butterfly, or plant stands of stinging nettles for Small Tortoiseshells and Peacocks. Top tip if you plant nettles in buried containers it will stop them growing out of control.

For more information visit: http://www.butterfly-conservation.org or take part in their identifiction quizzes http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/text/60/play_and_learn.html

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