Most of us are delighted to see butterflies flitting from flower to flower, drinking nectar and pollinating them. They lay their eggs on certain plants to ensure newly hatched caterpillars will have food to grow before turning into chrysalides to then emerge as butterflies.
The use of herbicides and pesticides has caused much damage to their habitats and reduced their population. Manicured lawns do not contribute to biodiversity. If we want to help bees, birds, butterflies and other insects we can do so by allowing part or all of our gardens to re-wild with native trees and plants and making certain we have butterfly friendly plants and flowers.
Some years ago I was asked to design a pamphlet depicting the butterflies of the Empordan Wetlands Nature Reserve in Catalonia. I have since created greetings cards of butterflies and plants of Ireland. The cards are blank inside and have the names of the butterflies and plants on the back of them.
The use of herbicides and pesticides has caused much damage to their habitats and reduced their population. Manicured lawns do not contribute to biodiversity. If we want to help bees, birds, butterflies and other insects we can do so by allowing part or all of our gardens to re-wild with native trees and plants and making certain we have butterfly friendly plants and flowers.
Some years ago I was asked to design a pamphlet depicting the butterflies of the Empordan Wetlands Nature Reserve in Catalonia. I have since created greetings cards of butterflies and plants of Ireland. The cards are blank inside and have the names of the butterflies and plants on the back of them.
