UK | Urban Butterfly Garden

UK

Wild Strawberry (Fragaria vessca) Flowers and Berries

The Wild or Woodland Strawberry is similar, in appearance to the well known garden strawberry although still edible it is overall much smaller. In the UK they can often be found growing in many dry grassy places, from Woodland rides, Meadows and Gardens to Road side verges, often sending out long runners and colonising any available ground.

The leaves of the strawberry plant are made up of three oval leaflets, the small flowers have 5 white petals and a rich yellow centre and appear April to July.

Wild strawberry fruit or berries, may be found from June through to October, although small size they are stronger tasting and are often used commercially in jams and medicines.

Wild Strawberry Plant with Red Berries

Wild Strawberry Plant showing leaves and yellow and white flowers

Wild Strawberry Plant in Flower

Quick Info

Type: Perennial Herb
Also Known As: Woodland Strawberry
Where: Commonly found through-out Britain
Habitat: Often found on well drained – Meadows, Road side verges, woodland Clearings, Gardens and tracks.
When does it flower? April to July.
Fruiting: June through to October.
Height around: 20-30cm.
Larval Food Plant: Grizzled Skipper Butterfly (Pyrgus malvae)

Visit Thompson & Morgan to get Woodland Strawberry seeds

Welcome to Urban Butterfly Garden

Urban Gardens could play an important role in Butterfly Conservation

Gardens can play an important role in increasing the population and spread of some of our native and migrant butterfly species.

We are encouraged to use far less chemicals in the garden, and switch to more organic methods, like composting, and the use of natural fertilizers for our plants and vegetables, these changes can help to create a safer environment for us and our wildlife.

Orange-tip Butterflies may be seen in gardens from early Spring

These planted areas create what is known as a Green Corridor, allowing the movement of butterflies and other insects and wildlife through urban environments.

There are wildlife friendly plants and seed kits available to create a butterfly garden, and give things a great start.

Peacock Butterflies seen in Gardens Spring and Mid Summer

How…

Setting aside an area of the garden how ever big or small, for a selection of easy maintenance Flowers, or Shrubs, like Buddleia, Wild Marjoram (oregano), some Meadow Grasses maybe a few Nettles, will encourage butterflies and moths as well as other beneficial insects like Ladybirds and Hoverflies into the garden.

Common Blue Butterfly (Polyommatus icarus)

Painted Lady Butterfly (Vanessa cardui)

A migrant butterfly and regular visitor, the Painted Lady may be found almost anywhere in the UK, arriving each year in varying numbers from a migration that begins in North Africa and continues throughout Europe.

The first Painted Lady butterflies may arrive in the country as early as March, and as the population increases into the summer they will often breed.

The female butterfly lays her eggs mainly on thistle leaves, usually just one per leaf, the success of the new brood relies very much upon dry warm weather in the early stages.

Painted Lady Butterfly (Vanessa cardui)

Information

Family Group: Nymphalidae – Browns
Subfamily: Nymphalinae.
Status: Migrant.
Habitat: from Gardens to Mountain tops
Caterpillar food plant: Thistles, Common Nettles, Mallows
Adult Nectar plant: Thistles, Knapweed, Ragwort Buddleia.
Wingspan around: 60mm
Photograph: Painted Lady Butterfly feeding on white buddleia davidii- August 09
(record numbers where reported in the south and east of England in summer 2009)

Painted Lady Butterfly (Vanessa cardui) on Knapweed

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) on Knapweed

The number of Painted Lady butterflies reach their peak in August and then fall away over the next couple of months.

Being a wide range migrant, the Painted Lady can be found almost world wide, and has many food sources ranging from Thistles, Knapweed, Vipers Bugloss and various cultivated garden Plants and shrubs like buddleia.

Upper wings are tawny orange with black markings and white spots on the tips. Under wings mottled brown and white with small-eye spots.

Painted lady butterfly strikingly patterned under-wings

Silver-washed Fritillary Butterfly (Argynnis paphia)

A bright orange butterfly, found mainly in open woodland across the south and south west of the UK, in areas where it’s primary larval food Plant the Common Dog-Violet (viola riviniana) grows, although recent observations suggest colonies are moving Northwards.

Seen from mid June-August, the male silver-washed fritillaries are often first to appear, around a week before the females, adult butterflies spend some time in the tree tops sunning and feeding on honeydew from aphids, although during spells of warm weather they will often descend to warm sunny areas to nectar on Bramble flowers, Knapweed, wild marjoram quickly moving from flower to flower.

Silver-washed Fritillary – Female

Family Group: Nymphalidae
Wingspan around: 60mm
Larval Foodplant: Common-dog Violet (viola riviniana)
Adults Nectar on: Aphid Honeydew, Brambles, Knapweed, Wild Marjoram, Hemp Agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum)
Photographs of Male and Female, 14th-23rd June 2011, Bedford Purlieus.
Photograph of female under-wings August 2010

Silver-washed Fritillary Butterfly, Male on Brambles flowers

Silver-washed Fritillary (Male)

Getting it’s name from the distinctive silver streaks on the underside of the wings, the Silver-washed Fritillary is the largest of all the Fritillary species found here in the UK, it is also a strong fast flyer with a wingspan around 60mm. The male is bright orange with black or dark brown stripes and spots on the upper wings, the female is similar in size and markings although slightly duller in colour.

Silver-Wash Fritillary Butterfly - Female- Underwings

Underside of the wings

Small Copper Butterfly (Lycaena phlaeas)

Lively and brightly coloured, the Small Copper Butterfly can be found throughout the UK, apart from the far north of Scotland.The Small Copper Butterfly can be seen flying from May-September, they are usually found in open grassy areas such as, Meadows, Waste ground, Heathland and Woodland Rides, where they enjoy basking in warm sunshine, often on the heads of wildflowers or a bare patch of earth.

Upper-wings are Bright Copper or orange with black spotted markings with a dark brown fringe on the fore-wings .

Under-wings are similar to upper-wings but light brown instead of dark brown.

Small Copper Butterfly (Lycaena phlaeas)

Small Copper Butterfly

Information

Family Group: Lycaenidae – Blues.
Habitat: Meadows, Waste ground, Heathland and Woodland Rides.
On the wing: May-September
Wingspan: approx 25mm.
Larvae feed on: Common Sorrel.
Photographed: 17th July 2010.
Location: Barnack Hills and Holes NNR.

Silver-Studded Blue Butterfly (Plebejus argus)

Description

The silver-studded blue is a small butterfly, similar in appearance although slightly smaller than the more regularly seen Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus).

The upper-wings of the male are purpleish/blue, with a border of black on the outer margins. The female is dark brown, with a dusting of blue scales, and orange spots around the margins of the wings.

Silver-studded blue butterflies are single brooded, emerging and on the wing in mid June, they form a close colony, most colonies contain just a few hundred adults, although in an area with plenty suitable habitat, there may be more than one colony.

Where

Localised but widespread the Silver-Studded Blue mainly found across the Southern counties of the UK, Norfolk, Suffolk, Cornwall, Devon and Wales.

Male Silver-studded blue butterfly (Plebejus argus) wings open

Male Silver-studded blue butterfly showing bright blue upper-wings

Male Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus) seen mid June on Bell Heather

Seen mid June Silver-studded Blue on Heather

Quick Info: Silver-studded Blue

Name: Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus)
Family Group: Blues – Lycaenidae.
Habitat: Found mainly in warm areas on open sandy heaths or occasionally on grassland and coastal dunes in areas where Gorse, Ling and Bell heather are often found.
When: Beginning mid June, with numbers of individuals peaking around the end of June into July although this varies depending on the subspecies and colonies location.
Size around: 28-30mm
Larval Food Plant: Gorse (Ulex europaeus) and Bell Heather (Ling) (Erica cinerea)
Adult Nectar Plant: Flowers like Bell heather, Birds-foot trefoil.
Population Status: A priority species for conservation although the overall population at this time is stable
Photographed: Kelling Heath, Norfolk

Clouded Yellow Butterfly (Colias croceus)

As a migrant butterfly, the Clouded Yellow is reliant on favourable winds for its journey from the warmer countries in Europe for its arrival in the UK during later spring months. The number of butterflies that make the journey varies widely from year to year.

With continued good weather conditions, the off-spring of these new inhabitants, may add to other new arrivals later in the season. The number of butterflies often peak late August, they may appear just about anywhere in the country, often in open countryside habitats, on meadows, hills and downs.

The Clouded Yellow is a fast flying butterfly, mostly seen on warm sunny days, flying low to the ground, standing out in flight due to its bright orange inner wings, stopping occasionally to nectar on wildflowers like scabious and Hawkweeds while searching for potential mates.

Clouded Yellow Butterfly

During times of cloud cover the clouded yellow will often rest in a sheltered spot in long grass or find a bare patch of warm soil, tilting its wings towards the sun.

Quick Info: Clouded Yellow Butterfly

Name: Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus)
Family Group: Pieridae
Wingspan: Around 40mm.
Habitat: Open Countryside, Meadows, Hills and Downs.
Nectar Plants: Scabious (Knautia arvensis), Dwarf Thistle (Cirsium acaulon), Hawkweeds (Hieracium spp.)
Larval food Plants: inc Lucerne (Medicago sativa), Birds-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) and Various Clovers
Location: Aston Rowant, Oxfordshire.
Photographed: 11th August 2013.
Note: Thanks to Max Maughan of EM Butterfly Conservaton.

Wild Primrose (Primula vulgaris) in Woodland and Gardens

A low growing early Spring perennial, with pale yellow flowers with orange/yellow centres, on slender hairy stems varying in size up to around 25cm long seen from February to May.

The leaves are in a rosette, arranged around the base of the flower stems.

Common and widespread throughout many areas, wild Primroses can often found growing in, open woodland or under hedgerows, and even on, Roadside verges and Embankments. They are also a popular plant in many gardens across the UK .

Early wildflowers like Primroses are a good nectar source for Butterflies, Bees and many other insects in early spring. It is also a primary larval food plant for one of the UK’s rarest Butterflies the Duke of Burgundy (Hamearis lucina).

Wild Primrose flowers and leaves

Primrose (Primula vulgaris) flowering in woodland

grow Primula vulgaris from seed

Grow Common Primrose (Primula vulgaris) from seed, they are available from Thompson & Morgan, for more information Visit Thompson & Morgan Here

Plant Information

Name: Wild Primrose (Primula vulgaris)
Species: Primula
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Also Known As: English primrose
Grow from Seed: Easy
Where: Common and Widespread through-out Britain
Habitat: Often found on – Woodland, Shaded Meadows, Embankments, Roadside verges and Gardens.
When does it flower? February to May.
Fruiting: n/a.
Height around: 25cm.
Larval Food Plant: Duke of Burgundy Butterfly
Other well known Primula Varieties: Cowslips (primula veris)

Cowslips (primula veris) a popular spring wild flower

An early Spring herbaceous perennial, with yolk yellow bell shaped short stalked flowers, on stems up to 30cm high seen from April to June. The leaves are in a Basal rosette, arranged around the base of the flower stem, long oval shaped wrinkled and hairy underneath.

Locally common, in central and southern areas of the UK, Cowslips are often found on open unimproved calcareous grassland, other places include Roadside verges, Embankments, Gardens and tracks.

Cowslips provide a welcome nectar source for Butterflies, Bees and many other insects in early spring, it is also an essential larval food plant for the Duke of Burgundy Butterfly.

Cowslip close-up of yellow flowers in spring

Cowslip (prumula veris) close-up of flowers

Cowslips (primula veris) growing in a Wild Flower Meadow

grow Cowslips from seed

Grow Cowslips (Primula veris) from seed, they are available from Thompson & Morgan, for more information Visit Thompson & Morgan Here

Plant Information

Name: Cowslip (primula veris)
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Also Known As: Herb Peter, Fairy Cups
Where: Found locally through-out Britain except far north of Scotland
Habitat: Often found on – Meadows, Roadside verges, Embankments, Gardens and tracks.
When does it flower? April to June.
Fruiting: n/a.
Height around: 30cm.
Larval Food Plant: Duke of Burgundy Butterfly (Hamearis lucina)

Essex Skipper (Thymelicus lineola)

Brief Description

A small meadow butterfly with orange and dark brown margined upper-wings and buff under-wings, native to the British isles.

On the wing in July and August the Essex skipper is sometimes found in the same habitat along side the, small skipper in meadows and other grassy places although it does prefer sunny embankments and chalky hill sides.

Being almost identical to the Small skipper, and sometimes sharing the same habitat, identification can often be difficult, one main difference is the underside of the antennae tip is black.

Essex Skipper Butterfly (Thymelicus lineola)

Quick Info

Family Group – Hesperiidae.
Where – Across Southern and Eastern England and Wales.
Habitat- Coastal areas, to inland sunny embankments, chalky hillsides meadows and grassland.
When– July – August.
Size– Wingspan 26 – 30mm.
Larval Food Plants – Cock’s-foot (Dactylis glomerata), Couch Grass (Elymus repens)
Adults nectar on – Ox-eye daisy, Birds-foot Trefoil (Lotus uliginosus), Thistles, Ragwort.
Population Status – Spreading steadily Northward reaching Parts of Central England.
Photographed – July 2011. (will be updated)

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