Wildlife

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)

Common Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica)

Common and widespread throughout Northern Europe and, East as far as Asia preferring the wetter climate of the Northern hemisphere, to that of the dryer Southern hemisphere.

The Nettle is a rapid growing herbaceous perennial that can often be seen growing in abundance in nitrogen rich soils, often found around old abandoned buildings, ditches, riverbanks, hedgerows and garden compost heaps and many urban areas around human habitation.

Small Stinging Hairs, called Trichomes on Nettle leaves and stems

Nettles in the Garden

The Stinging Nettle is considered by many gardeners as an more of an annoying weed, although it should be considered a place when creating a Wildlife friendly or Butterfly garden as they are seen by conservation groups like the RSPB, particularly good for attracting many beneficial insects.

Nettles are the preferred egg laying plant for Ladybirds and the sole food plant for caterpillars of well known garden butterflies like the Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae), Peacock, Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), and Comma (Polygonia c-album), as well some species of moth. These are just few of the insects that can befit from a nettle patch.

Nettles are not only beneficial for insects, for humans they have a high medicinal value, they are rich in iron, calcium and magnesium and can be used to treat many ailments. The fibres from the stem have be used to make linen and ropes.

Stinging Nettle in Flower

Stinging Nettles can be seen flowering from May – September. The unusual looking flowers will later produce the seed, for a new generation of plants. These will not flower in the first year.

Close up of Stinging Nettle Flowers

Small Stinging Nettle Plants growing through Garden leaves

Young Stinging nettle shoots

Oor Fuur Ahhh !!!

On the stem and leaves are the small stinging hairs, called Trichomes which if touched or brushed against, break off in the skin giving a stinging itchy skin rash, in nature these small stinging hairs are protection from grazing animals.

Nettle stings may be eased or cured, by rubbing the effected area with the leaves of the Dock (Rumex spp), a long leafed wild plant often found close by, or in areas where patches of nettles grow. Other effective plants are the leaves of Rosemary, Mint or Sage used in the same way as the Dock leaves.

Small patch of Stinging Nettles growing near garden compost bin

Nettle Propagation

Stinging Nettles can spread quite rapidly from seed, which can begin to germinate almost immediately on contact with moist soil. After the main plant has died back through the winter months, the new seedlings emerge around march. A large nettle patch can have a complex root system consisting of yellow coloured rhizomes and stolons which send up new shoots.

Nettles can also be propagated easily from cuttings 6 to 8 inches long sat in a jar of water. After taking the cuttings (use newest green growth) remove larger lower leaves and place around 3-4 inches of the stem into water as soon as possible. The nettle cuttings may wilt but they recover quite quickly. Change the water every few days. After a couple of weeks new white roots will begin to appear. When roots look strong enough move on into pots

Common Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea)

about

A tall perennial or biennial plant with flat-topped clusters of small bright yellow flowers on long straight leafy stems.

Common Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) provides a nectar for many species of bees, flies, moths and butterflies, some species are totally dependant upon it as a food source, making it a vital part of our natural native flora.

Cinnabar Moth Caterpillars on Ragwort Plant.

Common Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea)

Plant Information

Name: Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea)
Where: Very Common through-out Britain
Habitat: Grassy meadows, Road side verges, Embankments, Waste ground, and many other open areas.
When does it flower?: June to November.
Height up to: 1 m.
Larval Food Plant: Cinnabar moth (dependent)
Butterfly Nectar Plant for: Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Peacock, Red Admiral, Ringlet, Green-veined White, Small White, Marble-white, Large White, Small Skipper, Large Skipper, Comma, Holly Blue, Small Copper.
Photographed: top 7th August, left 20th July (Macro).

Purple loosestrife – Plants for a Wildlife or Water Garden

Introduction

Herbaceous perennial with tall purple or magenta coloured flowers growing up to 60-120cm high, Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) is common and found throughout most of the British Isles it may be found in the wild growing naturally in damp areas, along riverbanks, fens and damp meadows.

With strong woody roots, Purple loosestrife is a remarkably tough plant, the leaves are opposite pairs borne on strong upright stems which support the spike of the pretty 6 petalled flowers.

The tall flowers are great for attracting long tongued insects like bees and butterflies making it ideal plant for a wildlife garden.

Planting

Purple loosestrife can be grown in any type of soil, plant in October or March and April, in dryer soils, dig in plenty of organic compost as the soil needs to be kept moist all year round.

Purple loosestrife in wild flower garden

Purple loosestrife tall purple-magenta flowers

Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) in flower garden

Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) flowers June – September

Care

Pruning can be done in Autumn or Spring, cutting down the plant to just a few centimetres high. Pruning in Autumn will prevent the spread of unwanted seed. In Spring divide plants if necessary and apply a thick mulch.

Cultivated varieties

Apart from the native flowering species there are also a good number of cultivated varieties which include, L. salicaria: ‘Robert’ (pink), ‘Firecandle’ (rose red) and the ‘Beacon’ (Crimson), these varieties are smaller and may be more practical for smaller gardens.

Plant Information

Type: Herbaceous perennial
Plant Family: Lythraceae
Also Known As: Purple willow herb
Where: Common and Widespread through-out Britain except in the North
Natural Habitat: found in places like – Riverbanks, fens and damp meadows.
When does it flower? June – August.
Height around: 60-120cm

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)

Gorse (ulex europaeus)

about

A spiny evergreen shrub, Gorse with its show of strikingly bright yellow flowers, begins to bloom late February, through until late May and sometimes longer, making it stand out in the early months of spring.

Gorse Ulex. spp are widespread throughout Britain and Ireland, usually growing in acid soils on heathland, it can often found on woodland tracks in conifer or fir tree forests, being able to tolerate the dry poor quality soil conditions.

Due to its tolerance of poor quality soils, and spectacular blooms Gorse (ulex europaeus) is often planted and used as hedging in sandy coastal areas to create barriers or windbreaks.

Gorse(ulex spp.) close up

Common Gorse (Ulex europaeus)

Plant Information

Name: Common Gorse (Ulex europaeus)
Family: fabaceae (pea family)
Height: up to 2 meters
flowering: February to May
Similar varieties: Western Gorse (Ulex gallii), Dwarf Gorse (ulex minor).
Larval food plant: Holly Blue butterfly (Celastrina argiolus), Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus).
Photographed: 27th March 2010