Britain’s butterflies made the BBC news this morning…

These reports draw on data from the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS), one of the largest and longest‑running citizen science programmes in the world. Since its launch in 1976, the scheme has collected more than 44 million butterfly records through 782,000 surveys carried out by volunteers across the UK.

Of the 59 native butterfly species monitored, long‑term trends show that 33 species have declined, 25 have increased, and one mountain species cannot be assessed due to insufficient data.

Experts attribute many of the declines to habitat loss, pollution and climate change, with the greatest impacts seen among rarer and more specialised species. In contrast, butterflies that can thrive in a wide range of habitats — including farmland, parks and gardens — are generally faring better and, in some cases, increasing in number.

You can read more about it here.

One species that will be flying soon is the Orange Tip Butterfly.  Only males have the bright orange wing tips. Females lay eggs on specific caterpillar food plants, mainly on Cuckooflower and Garlic Mustard, and this species is thriving, up by 42% since 1976.  Both species are flowering at the moment.  Garlic Mustard grows in shady spots in woodlands and hedgerows whilst Cuckooflower prefers damp meadows.

Header photo credit: Illuvis, Pixabay

The RSPB’s latest advice on what and when to feed garden birds:

Feed seasonally. Feed safely.

Some species of garden bird, such as Greenfinches, are experiencing serious declines because of a disease called trichomonosis. This is a highly contagious disease and can spread where birds gather in large numbers such as at bird feeders.  Numbers of Greenfinches, for example, have dropped by over 65% in the last three decades. 

We can all help stop the spread of disease among garden birds by making two simple changes in how we feed birds.

Feed seasonally

During summer and autumn, there’s a higher risk of disease spreading. But it’s also when there are more natural foods available to birds, such as seeds and insects.  From 1 May to 31 October, stop filling your bird feeders with seeds or peanuts.  You can continue to offer garden birds small amounts of mealworms, fatballs or suet.  From 1 November to 30 April you can feed your birds a full range of bird foods, including seeds and peanuts.

Feed safely

• Clean your bird feeders and water baths at least once a week. 
• Place your bird feeders in a different spot every week. 
• Avoid putting feeders under places where birds roost, such as under trees. 
• Don’t use bird feeders with flat surfaces, such as bird tables, window feeders and feeders with trays. 
• Feed in moderation. 
• Keep food as dry as possible.
• Change water in bird baths daily. 
• Help birds find their own food. 

Find out more from the RSPB website

Ragwort and wildlife

Common ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris) is a native plant of the British Isles and plays an important role in supporting wildlife. According to the National Trust, ragwort is one of the most frequently visited flowers by butterflies, including Red Admiral and Peacock butterflies.

It provides food for around 178 species of insects, with 27 species relying on ragwort alone. Its bright yellow flowers also attract approximately 40 species of night-flying moths. These insects, in turn, support wider ecosystems by providing food for birds, bats, mice, voles and predatory insects. Ragwort flowers for longer than many other wild plants, offering a sustained source of nectar and pollen later into the season. It is also the sole food plant of the striking black-and-yellow caterpillars of the Cinnabar Moth.

Ragwort and Livestock Safety

Despite its ecological value, common ragwort is classified as a specified weed under the Weeds Act 1959. The plant contains toxins that can cause serious illness or death if eaten by horses and other grazing animals, particularly when ragwort is present in hay or silage.

To address this risk, Defra has produced a Code of Practice on How to Prevent the Spread of Ragwort. The Code promotes good land management to significantly reduce the likelihood of livestock poisoning. It is intended for all landowners and occupiers and provides practical guidance on:

• Identifying common ragwort
• Assessing risk and setting priorities for control
• Choosing appropriate and effective control methods
• Environmental considerations
• Health and safety responsibilities

Importantly, the Code does not seek to eradicate ragwort altogether. Instead, it supports a strategic and proportionate approach, controlling ragwort only where it poses a genuine threat to the health and welfare of animals, while recognising its value to wildlife.

Header image credit: Cultureel Gelderland, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

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Resources & Guides for Ragwort

This new strategic assessment from Defra explores how global biodiversity loss and the collapse of critical ecosystems could affect the UK’s resilience, security and prosperity.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nature-security-assessment-on-global-biodiversity-loss-ecosystem-collapse-and-national-security.

This assessment is an analysis of how global biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse could affect UK national security.

It shows how environmental degradation can disrupt food, water, health and supply chains, and trigger wider geopolitical instability. It identifies 6 ecosystems of strategic importance for the UK and explores how their decline could drive cascading global impacts.

This assessment, which was developed by analysts and experts across HM Government, supports long-term resilience planning. Publishing the assessment highlights opportunities for innovation, green finance and global partnerships that can drive growth while safeguarding the ecosystems that underpin our collective security and prosperity.

The River Hope team are organising events around Stratford-on-Avon District and South Warwickshire between 6 – 15 March, 2026, to see water differently – as a living presence that connects people, place and Nature.

The programme was launched on 1 December, 2025 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon: see presentation outlining the overarching vision (Remember | Reflect | Restore).

They are co-creating an opportunity for people across South Warwickshire to come together for learning, creative exploration and imagining, reflection, planning and action to mark the International Day of Action for Rivers on Saturday 14 March, 2026.

Expect: workshops, discussion panels, book talks, film screenings, exhibitions, ceremonies and hands-on activities that bring together residents, creatives, environmentalists, schools, local organisations, community groups and elected representatives.