In a world where human activity has significantly impacted the environment, sometimes the best thing to do is just do nothing.
A recent study by Butterfly Conservation has revealed that there’s one simple tip we can do in our gardens to significantly boost butterfly numbers and help wildlife – not cut the grass.
Yes, leaving areas of grass to grow long in our gardens can have a remarkable effect on butterfly populations, improving their numbers by up to 93%.
The study
The six-year study, published in the journal Science of the Total Environment, analysed butterfly sightings from over 600 gardens across the UK.
The data, collected by members of the public through the charity’s Garden Butterfly Survey, provided the first scientific evidence that having long grass in gardens increases both the abundance and diversity of butterflies.
The research found that the benefits of these wild spaces were most significant in urban areas and intensively farmed landscapes. Gardens with long grass in farmland areas saw up to 93% more butterflies, whilst those in urban settings showed an 18% increase.
The Benefits
The study highlights the importance of wildlife-friendly gardening practices in supporting not only butterfly populations but also a wide range of other species.
By allowing areas of grass to grow long and incorporating flowers such as flowering ivy, gardeners can create vital habitats for butterflies, bees and other important insects.
As well as benefiting pollinators, rewilding gardens can have positive knock-on effects for other important wildlife. Long grass and wildflower areas provide habitats for insects, which in turn serve as a food source for birds and small mammals. By creating these diverse ecosystems, gardeners can support a wide range of species and contribute to the overall health of their local environment.
With gardens making up more than 728,000 hectares in Great Britain, the potential impact of individual actions is substantial. If each garden had a small wild space, it would create a vast network of habitats for butterflies, bees, and countless other species to thrive.
I give some easy ways to rewild your garden here. It’s also worth taking a look at the Wild Spaces website.
Power of Rewilding
The findings of this study underscore the power of rewilding in positively impacting nature and the environment.
Rewilding, which involves letting nature take its course and reducing human intervention, can lead to increased biodiversity, restored ecosystems and even help combat climate change. A key advocate who I’ve written about before are Rewilding Britain.
By embracing rewilding in our gardens, we can create havens for wildlife, including butterflies, bees, birds and countless other species. Simple actions, such as allowing grass to grow long, planting trees, creating compost heaps and providing water sources, can transform our green spaces into thriving ecosystems that support a wide range of life.
So, take a step back where you can and let nature flourish. It may take a little hands-off ‘managing’ but the benefits will be worth it.
