This article is the starting point for my series on butterflies and caterpillars in the nature garden. Have you noticed the lack of butterflies when out walking or in your garden. I have. There are 59 species of butterflies in the UK but I have not seen many of those. Recent garden surveys and long-term monitoring, reported in the 2022 Red List of Butterflies show how much butterflies are at risk, and struggling. Of the 59 species, half are declining and at risk of extinction. Findings from The Butterfly Monitoring Scheme, also paints a gloomy picture. Fifty-one species declined between 2023 and 2024, while only six increased.
The warm weather was promising for butterflies this summer, and more were seen in the 2025 survey. But greater numbers should have been seen with the good weather, according to Dr Richard Fox a butterfly Conservation expert. Some species are struggling more than others. The Holly Blue recorded its second-lowest count since monitoring began in 2011, while the Meadow Brown had its third worst.
How we can help butterflies at risk
We can still help, though, it’s not too late. Small changes in our gardens can make a big difference. Letting the grass grow a little longer and leaving flowers that still produce nectar and pollen can help butterflies thrive. You can help endangered butterflies to survive by planting native flowers and avoiding the use of pesticides for killing weeds. These simple changes give butterflies the food and shelter they need to recover. No matter how big or small your garden is, you can create a habitat for butterflies. Even a small sanctuary with the right flowers can attract these beautiful, fluttering insects.
My inspiration for writing about butterflies
My articles on butterflies are inspired by the butterflies I have seen in my garden on Lavender and Purple-Top Vervain. As well as butterflies on purple Buddleia along a river bank. Sadly, I only saw common butterflies, like the Large White, White-veined and Meadow Brown. Where are all the species? I would like to see more. I know butterflies are not all attracted to plants in my garden or those along the river bank. My inspiration was also gained from reading about butterflies at risk, and their decline because of habitat loss and pesticide use. That was when I decided to create a garden for butterflies and caterpillars. It would have pollinator plants for butterflies and plant food for caterpillars.
Create a garden for butterflies and caterpillars
The new butterfly garden would help to protect vulnerable butterflies by providing a safe place to live and grow. It would have native plants where they may lay their eggs, food for caterpillars, and shelter for chrysalises. Butterflies could complete their whole life cycle in this garden. They could change from egg, to caterpillar, to chrysalis, to graceful adult butterfly, in a sanctuary created just for them.
Butterflies and Caterpillars in the Nature Garden – The Series
This article is part of a series exploring how gardens can support butterflies at every stage of their life cycle, through observation, tolerance and the right plants. It sits within a wider wildlife garden, where butterflies are one part of a connected ecosystem that also supports bees, birds, and the life within the soil.
If you’d like to help butterflies thrive in your garden, read my series of articles on:
Butterflies at Risk: What Inspired My Writing on Butterflies
Butterfly Friendly Plants for a Thriving Wildlife Garden
I share 10 reliable, butterfly friendly plants that butterflies love. These flowers provide nectar and resting places throughout the season. I also explain best times to plant them, when they flower, and where they grow best in the garden. Butterflies feed from spring to autumn, and these 10 plants together flower for eight months, from March to October. By planting this kind of variety, you can help butterflies feed, rest, and thrive throughout the year.
10 Plant Foods for Caterpillars & How to Spot Leaf Damage
Rather than listing plants alone, this guide focuses on how caterpillars actually feed, and how to recognise their presence by reading the leaves. I focus on feeding signatures – the telltale patterns caterpillars leave on leaves – to help you recognise and welcome butterfly life
Designing a Plan for a Butterfly and Caterpillar Garden
This garden plan shows how pollinator plants, caterpillar food plants, and connected habitats can work together to support butterflies at every stage of their life cycle, creating a garden that is both wildlife-rich and a sanctuary for nature and for you.
5 Ways to Enjoy your New Butterfly Garden
This article shares five gentle ways to enjoy a butterfly and caterpillar garden, from photography and recording sightings to rearing caterpillars and supporting conservation. By slowing down and observing, you can deepen your connection with the wildlife your garden supports.
10 UK Butterfly & Caterpillar Books to Read In or Near Your Garden
A curated selection of UK butterfly and caterpillar books to enjoy in or near the garden. From pocket guides to thoughtful natural history reading, these titles help you identify species, understand life cycles, and deepen your connection with the wildlife your garden supports.