Letting parts of your garden grow wild with long grass can increase butterfly numbers by up to 93% and attract a wider range of species, according to new research from leading wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation. The study, published in the journal Science of the Total Environment, provides the first scientific evidence that having long grass in your garden increases butterfly abundance and diversity. Creating such wild spaces may help to reverse the decline of these beautiful insects. Undertaken by Butterfly Conservation scientists Dr Lisbeth Hordley and Dr Richard Fox, the research analysed butterfly sightings from more than 600 gardens across the UK, collected by members of the public over 6 years through the charity’s Garden Butterfly Survey. The results show that gardens with long grass had a significantly higher number of butterflies recorded, with a greater variety of species, than those without. Importantly, the biggest benefits of these wild spaces were found in urban areas and intensively farmed landscapes. In highly arable areas, gardens with long grass saw up to 93% more butterflies, and those in urban areas showed an increase of 18%. While the research specifically studied gardens, the benefits to butterflies of long grass and wild spaces are likely to extend beyond the garden gate. Public green spaces such as parks, school grounds, allotments, and road verges, could also provide vital spaces for wildlife, and enable more people to see more butterflies if allowed to go a little wild. Dr Richard Fox, Head of Science at Butterfly Conservation and co-author of the study, has said:
“Nature is in crisis; 80% of butterflies have declined since the 1970s, so we need to take action now to protect them. We wanted to be able to give tried and tested gardening advice that will benefit butterflies as we know lots of people want to help. This study proves, for the first time, that allowing a patch of grass to grow long will attract more butterflies into your garden. “The simple act of creating wild spaces by allowing a patch of grass to grow long, or a border edge to go wild is free and easy to do, and can significantly boost butterfly numbers, especially in urban and agricultural settings where they are most under pressure. The benefits of each individual wild space are small, but if thousands of people get involved the boost to butterflies could be huge”.
Butterfly Conservation is calling for everyone to create their own Wild Space, no matter how big or small, to help butterflies survive and thrive. Through its Wild Spaces programme, the charity aims to transform 100,000 areas across the UK to help support butterfly populations. Wild Spaces can be created by anyone, anywhere – from gardens to shared community spaces, balconies, terraces, or patios. No matter the size or location, every Wild Space can contribute to the recovery of butterfly populations and support biodiversity. To create your own Wild Space visit www.wild-spaces.co.uk.
Areas which could be left certainly ought to be.
In Bembridge a previous Vicar ensured that St Luke’s graveyard was only cut at the end of Summer season.
The wild flowers were a joy to behold and a valuable food source and breeding ground for all manner of Butterflies and insect life which supports other creatures in the food chain.
Now all is strimmed to a green mulch, destroying natural habitats, eggs, caterpillars and chrysalis thus limiting the numbers of the next generation to the few more caring folk to provide a small space for.
Crazy when we had acres of unsprayed ancient grassland already established.
Island Roads are not helping, as soon as the wild flowers start blooming on the grass verge near me the guys with the strimmers slice them down. There are no issues with traffic sight lines so this little patch could be left to nature.
Yes I noticed that the long verge as you approach the traffic lights by the Anglers/ Downs cross roads from Sandown towards Ryde had had all the beautiful Celandines cut off, which were a beautiful sight to see, especially after so much rain and gloom and mud everywhere.
I am sure insects and the creatures which feed on all these, often, unnoticed but valuable flowers will miss it even more.
Odd when we go abroad we marvel at uncut verges yet here they are just messy, as cut infrequently and when left are filled with dog dirt bags, tins and fag packets.
So those verges which are a lovely and not hampering traffic view should be left .
Why don’t the council plant wild flowers along all embankments, roundabouts and grassy areas which aren’t designated park lands? I.e. follow in the footsteps of the Danish
It’s Island Roads who are responsible for the verges. Nowt the council can do about that.
How about, stop developing green fields, wild land etc??
I happily devote land to wildlife, but my small area is nothing compared to one house-worth of development.
Typical that those in power put the problems back onto the ordinary person. Whilst profiteering from the destruction of our once green and pleasant land.
What do you live in then?
Agree leaving the older less frequented graveyards, with a proviso that any graves still attended by family are cut if required. But as stated the vast majority are neglected and the wild flowers and plants that grow there, in untreated by chemicals are a valuable commodity for ALL wildlife.
Leaving or planting verges often just leave long unkempt grass littered with human debris and dog excreta. Sadly the grass outgrows any wild flower or planted flowers very quickly. Also planted flowers bloom for a short period then look messy when dead, but wild flowers in graveyards etc, cover a broad range and thus bloom from now until Autumn looking lovely.
So certain verges would certainly look great left, but dependant on location
Great idea.
We have enough properties on the island that need renovating
much better than keep building rabbit hutch size properties.
My garden is one giant wild space. Any excuse not to get the mower out.