Take the lead from famous faces this month, and create or celebrate a patch of countryside near you
A garden haven
Iain H Leach
The sight of brightly coloured butterflies cartwheeling in summer sunshine, is a sight that never fails to lift the spirits. But numbers of these delicate, winged pollinators – for example, the Small Tortoiseshell and Garden Tiger moth – are on the decline. And this year’s late seasons won’t have helped.
“The cold start to spring may affect how some butterflies fare this year, as they could experience a delayed emergence, meaning they’ll have less time to feed and breed,” says celebrity gardener Alan Titchmarsh.
Which is why Titchmarsh, who is also vice president for conservation charity Butterfly Conservation, is calling on the public to plant up a 1m square patch with pollinator-friendly plants to help support populations nationwide.
“There are so many different flowers, like Catmint, Cosmos or Calendula, that are great nectar sources and will attract butterflies, including my favourite – the Red Admiral – this summer,” he says.
And, although “Plots for Pollinators” does suggest cultivating a one metre square area, if you’re space-poor, you can still do your bit. “You could create a vertical garden on a bit of unused wall or fence and this would make a huge difference for pollinators,” Titchmarsh says. Even containers and window boxes, planted with pollinator-friendly flowers, can provide forage and refuge for butterflies, bees and moths.
For more information and gardening tips, visit butterfly-conservation.org/PlantPlots
Love life. All life
When it comes to exploring the local countryside, the right kit can make all the difference.
Presenter and naturalist Chris Packham is aiming to make the great outdoors cool for kids with a new range of clothing, designed with the specific aim of making nature more accessible.
“Young people have become disconnected from nature, principally because they don’t get to meet it first hand, see, hear or smell it,” says the Springwatch favourite. “In the minds of many parents the ‘great outdoors’ has become a dirty and dangerous place for children to be. It’s a very vicious circle which is endangering the development of the ‘great British naturalists’ of tomorrow.”
The range of fleeces and jackets for children feature removable linings printed with wildlife footprint ID guides, a miniature magnifying glass and a set of fold-out field guides.
Available exclusively at Cotswold Outdoor; cotswoldoutdoor.com
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