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Trees woods and wildlife
Butterflies
Woodland butterflies are some of the most thrilling and colourful woodland animals. But with a 55% decrease between 1999 and 2015, protecting and increasing their woodland habitats is more important than ever.
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Blog
How to attract butterflies to your garden
Learn how to encourage butterflies into your garden with butterfly-friendly plants, butterfly feeders and more.
Danielle Wesley • 13 Mar 2020
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Journal
Wood Wise – woodland management for sun-loving butterflies
The autumn 2013 issue of Wood Wise examines how the careful management of open space in woodland can benefit declining butterflies such as fritillaries.
PDF (1.55 MB)
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Trees woods and wildlife
Silver-washed fritillary
These flashy butterflies are strong fliers with a flair for the dramatic. Spot the silver-washed fritillary charging through the air along woodland rides in search of a mate, or the caterpillars munching on their favourite flowers: violets.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Common dog violet
A charming sanctuary for butterflies, common in UK woodland. Look to the woodland floor for a flush of purple and you might see fritillary butterflies feeding and laying their eggs.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Comma
Tough, charming, rough around the edges. The comma is one of the few butterflies that is becoming more widespread, likely due to global warming.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Peacock
Big. Bold. Beautiful. This stunning showstopper is instantly recognisable, with its captivating azure ‘eyes’ and orange-brown wings. Widespread and common throughout the UK, it is one of our most-loved butterflies.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Primrose
Primroses are a cheerful sign of spring. They are one of the first woodland blooms and an important nectar source for butterflies. Look out for their friendly yellow in woodland clearings.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Sweet violet
Romantic and showy, sweet violet grows on woodland edges, its flowers providing nectar for butterflies in early spring.
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Trees woods and wildlife
Orange-tip
Subtle, delicate and well-disguised – that is until the male flashes a splash of bright orange. Orange-tips are a butterfly of grassland and woodland edges.