Yes, there definitely seem to have been more butterflies around at certain times and in certain places. But also surprisingly few at other times and places. I was out walking in Kent yesterday in an area with lots of wildflowers and didn't see a single butterfly which was a bit of a disappointment. I hope your children continue to see lots more this summer.
I hadn’t heard of people walking these transects before. What a great data set that must produce! I love your description of the calming effect the slower paced walk has. We saw a good variety of species out on the Stodmarsh reserve in Thanet this weekend. I look forward to hearing more about your writing course!
Yes, it's great to have so much data from all the decades of transects but sad that it shows such a decline in the numbers of butterflies. I'm looking forward to writing about my time on Ynys Enlli for my next post. It was a wonderful experience.
Thank you. Yes, I reckon the bramble scallops provide much the same benefits because they create areas which allow butterflies to choose shade or sunshine.
I was drawn to this piece, as we have been adding Brimstone food sources to the planting of our 12acre field that we're planting as (hopefully) a little sanctuary for wildlife. We see only a few early Brimstones each year, they are my joyous harbingers of spring, so we're hoping to nurture more in the future.
We have lots of nettles on the edges of our field and it's wonderful to spot a patch that's writhing with ravenous caterpillars.
But, this year I've seen a marked reduction in numbers of butterflies and other insects, despite our efforts. A sobering time.
Welcome to 'Stories of Coexistence', Andrea, I hope you find lots of interest here. It sounds like you are creating a wonderful wildlife sanctuary in your field. I've seen a few Brimstones in different places this year but I agree there definitely seem to be fewer butterflies and other insects around this year. Lots of people have been commenting on that and it is very worrying. The only place I've seen lots of butterflies is where there are areas of long grass.
Yes, we have pretty much 12 acres of long grass, and since it ceased to be cut for hay in 2020 when we bought it, the wildlife that has come in has been astounding. And we are teeming with meadow browns and suchlike. And the voles have brought in the owls. I saw my first burying beetles this year and that was a real highlight for a nature nerd like me 🤓
My kids have commented on how they're seeing more butterflies in the garden this year so far (we're in Bucks). We're hopeful that continues.
Yes, there definitely seem to have been more butterflies around at certain times and in certain places. But also surprisingly few at other times and places. I was out walking in Kent yesterday in an area with lots of wildflowers and didn't see a single butterfly which was a bit of a disappointment. I hope your children continue to see lots more this summer.
I hadn’t heard of people walking these transects before. What a great data set that must produce! I love your description of the calming effect the slower paced walk has. We saw a good variety of species out on the Stodmarsh reserve in Thanet this weekend. I look forward to hearing more about your writing course!
Yes, it's great to have so much data from all the decades of transects but sad that it shows such a decline in the numbers of butterflies. I'm looking forward to writing about my time on Ynys Enlli for my next post. It was a wonderful experience.
Great post Ruth. Our scalloping brambles are a bit like those banks created in Cambridge.
Thank you. Yes, I reckon the bramble scallops provide much the same benefits because they create areas which allow butterflies to choose shade or sunshine.
Enjoyed reading about your experiences of surveying butterflies! This is exactly what I'll be posting about later this week!
Thank you! I look forward to reading your piece. It’ll be interesting to compare our experiences.
New subscriber saying "Hi" here 😊
I was drawn to this piece, as we have been adding Brimstone food sources to the planting of our 12acre field that we're planting as (hopefully) a little sanctuary for wildlife. We see only a few early Brimstones each year, they are my joyous harbingers of spring, so we're hoping to nurture more in the future.
We have lots of nettles on the edges of our field and it's wonderful to spot a patch that's writhing with ravenous caterpillars.
But, this year I've seen a marked reduction in numbers of butterflies and other insects, despite our efforts. A sobering time.
Welcome to 'Stories of Coexistence', Andrea, I hope you find lots of interest here. It sounds like you are creating a wonderful wildlife sanctuary in your field. I've seen a few Brimstones in different places this year but I agree there definitely seem to be fewer butterflies and other insects around this year. Lots of people have been commenting on that and it is very worrying. The only place I've seen lots of butterflies is where there are areas of long grass.
Thanks for the welcome, Ruth.
Yes, we have pretty much 12 acres of long grass, and since it ceased to be cut for hay in 2020 when we bought it, the wildlife that has come in has been astounding. And we are teeming with meadow browns and suchlike. And the voles have brought in the owls. I saw my first burying beetles this year and that was a real highlight for a nature nerd like me 🤓