Science News: Long grass and flowering ivy in gardens benefit butterflies - Butterfly Conservation
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Richard Fox dives in to Butterfly Conservation's recent research into the benefit of long grass for butterflies.
With significant long-term declines in UK butterfly abundance, the desire to help by improving private gardens for butterflies and other wildlife has grown rapidly. While there is an abundance of advice from organisations and individuals, few wildlife-friendly gardening practices have been tested scientifically. A recent study by Butterfly Conservation scientists, Dr Lisbeth Hordley and Dr Richard Fox, set out to provide robust evidence to underpin two commonly recommended practices, allowing grass to grow long and having flowering Ivy in the garden.
Previous research has found that particular garden features, such as the presence of trees and ponds, can increase insect biodiversity. For example, butterfly abundance and species richness positively correlate with a garden quality index derived from 17 different wildlife-friendly features in UK gardens. More specifically, several studies have shown that flowering plants influence garden visits by butterflies and other pollinators. It has also been demonstrated that garden size and the surrounding landscape can be important influences on the insect communities found in gardens.
Posted On: 18/02/2025
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