How to boost numbers of our garden critters

Dr Dan Hoare tells Hannah Stephenson what you can do at home that will help butterflies and insects thrive

- Hannah Stephenson

NATIVE butterflies are in decline, according to a recent study of European species in the scientific journal PNAS.

Overall, numbers have fallen by 50 per cent since 1976 and seven out of 10 British species are disappearing, such as grass feeders like the small skipper, common blue, small blue, small copper, and small heath, according to the charity Butterfly Conservation (butterfly-conservation.org).

But you can help them by “rewilding” your garden and, even in the middle of winter, it’s not too early to start planning.

Dr Dan Hoare, the co-author of the research paper, explained: “Going wild in your garden is absolutely the right approach.”

He recommends six key steps to rewilding your plot to help these insects thrive again.

1 Let grass go wild

“Introduce small flower species to your lawn by letting your grass grow longer and wilder,” he said. “Put away the mower and let your lawn grow between April and July.”