The Ugly Truth About Butterflies

July 14, 2009 - PRLog -- British Butterflies are in trouble.  Following two wet summers in 2007 and 2008, numbers are extremely low, making this year’s Save our Butterfly week (taking place from 25th July to 2nd August) even more important.

“This is a tragedy” says Andrew Green, butterfly expert and owner of Wild Britain “Whilst visitors can see butterflies fly freely in our tropical jungle, it would be awful if Butterflies continued to disappear from people’s garden.  British species seriously in decline are the small heath, the wall brown and the small tortoiseshell”.

To encourage butterflies back into people’s gardens, Andrew suggests his five top tips:

1.  You feed the birds, so why not feed the caterpillars. Grow some cabbages for them, rather than for the kitchen!
2.  British butterflies are very seasonal. Make sure there is a continuous supply of nectar plants in flower from February to November.
3.  Go for single flowers rather than doubles. Singles tend to be more attractive to butterflies.
4.  Butterflies are solar powered.  Try to prove sunny sheltered spots for them to sunbathe. Walls, rocks or even bare earth make good suntraps.
5.  Many butterflies hibernate over winter. You can now buy butterfly shelters that protect butterflies from the worst frosts.

To help raise the profile of butterflies during Save our Butterfly Week, youngsters at Wild Britain in Bedford can join in with extra special events. In the tropical butterfly jungle, they earn their special ‘Save our Butterfly’ Spotter Badge, follow the British Butterfly trail and make their very own butterfly to take home.  For further information, visitors should visit www.wild-britain.co.uk

Editors Note
Andrew Green is an expert lepidopterist and available for live and pre-recorded interviews either in the tropical butterfly jungle at Wild Britain or at the recording studio.  
For 10 years, Andrew owned and managed Bedford Butterfly Park, prior to starting Wild Britain on the same site. Wild Britain is open from 10am to 5pm daily and is located just outside Bedford in Wilden (MK44 2PX).  Visitors should call 01234 772770 or visit www.wild-britain.co.uk

Save our Butterfly Week is organised annually by Butterfly Conservation and runs from 25th to 2nd August 2009.  

For photography or further information/interviews either live or pre-recorded), please contact Anita or Simone on 01442 870614 or email simone@agility-marketing.co.uk.

# # #

Agility Marketing are the specialists in leisure industry marketing in the UK. Want to know more? Call 01442 870614 or email info@agility-marketing.co.uk