Simon's Blog - Butterflies

If you took part in the Big Butterfly Count last year you'll no doubt remember that sightings of some common species of butterfly were at their lowest number since records began.

Butterfly Conservation, who monitor moths and butterflies, say numbers have dwindled over the past 20 years and it's in our towns and cities in particular, where there's been a dramatic fall.

Well spring might have only just begun but we've already had updates of some butterfly sightings coming in to my meridianweather@itv.com inbox.

Mind you, William Wood had to look closely at this patch of crocuses in Clanfield to spot one.

Denny Cantell took this picture on a warm Saturday afternoon a couple of weeks ago in his garden in Hedge End, where he said the butterfly had been flying around all day .

Rosemary and Keith Edwards had two painted lady butterflies in their front garden in Senacre in Maidstone on Monday 13th Feb at noon.

They did send in three pictures though...so presumably two of them are of the same one!

And Carol Richardson in Ashford has had a couple visiting all through the winter.

She says "We have had tortoise shell butterflies appear upstairs in our house for the last few years in December and January, haven't a clue where they keep coming from".

And Ken Broad in Ferndown said "I found this little fellow waking up in my garage this morning.I would love to know what it would be called (not Kevin!!)".

Definitely not Kevin...looks more like a Darren to me!

Oh alright then, it’s a Peacock butterfly.

Now if you're interested in trying to attract butterflies into your garden, the best plant to go for is...

....Buddleia as modelled by Jackie Beazer in Wareham.

I'm no Alan Titchmarsh but I'm told it's is very easy to grow in almost any soil and is first favourite with 18 species of butterfly.

And if you are planning a bit of gardening, here's a list of another 99 plants that butterflies love.