Embracing butterflies & moths in your allotment

At Butterfly Conservation, we’re pretty wild about butterflies and moths. These creatures are not only brilliant in their own right, they’re also fundamental to a thriving ecosystem, they support people’s mental health – a recent Butterfly Conservation study revealed that counting butterflies can reduce anxiety by up to 10%, and, without their pollinating power, we wouldn’t have the flowers and plants that we enjoy, or the food that we eat. 

Sadly, however, butterflies and moths are in crisis. 80% of butterflies have declined since the 1970s and moth numbers have fallen by a third in that same time! That’s why we’re encouraging people across the UK to get outside and create Wild Spaces – places in which butterflies, moths and people can thrive. From balconies and patios to gardens and allotments, any space big or small can make a huge difference. So here are our top tips for embracing your wild side in your allotment to attract those vital butterflies and moths

Feed pollinators and people

Most adult butterflies and moths need nectar to feed on, so planting nectar-rich species in and amongst your fruit and veg can help attract them in. Not only does this help with pollination of your crops, it can also draw in predators of the common allotment critters you don’t want to enjoy your produce. Try planting things like Lavender, Scabious, Ox-eye Daisies and Knapweed for a pretty, butterfly-friendly display.

Want to maximise your edible output? There are lots of plants enjoyed by both people and pollinators. Nasturtiums are loved by butterflies and bees and are a tasty addition to a salad. Herbs like Thyme, Rosemary, Chives, Borage and Marjoram are all rich in nectar, making them great for attracting butterflies, and mint is a favourite of the Mint Moth’s caterpillars!

Worried about Cabbage Whites? Cabbage White is the colloquial name given to the species of white butterflies which lay their eggs on plants in the brassica family, including many of the cultivated types like cabbage, broccoli and kale. The adults don’t do any harm, but the caterpillars once hatched feed on the brassicas, which may mean there are fewer for you. However, you can try growing these plants under netting to prevent the butterflies from laying their eggs on them and consider growing extras which you pop in pots or a separate bed for the butterflies to enjoy.

Say no to pesticides

Pesticides are bad news for butterflies, moths and bees. Although you may only intend to treat the fruit, veg and other crops you want to protect, pesticides can leach into the surrounding environment and be taken up by the plants butterflies and moths are looking to nectar on. Pesticides also don’t discriminate between the insects you’re targeting and those you’re trying to attract, with even small amounts of pesticides like neonicotinoids being toxic to bees and butterflies. This can have a knock-on effect for the whole food web, impacting other wildlife like bats, birds and mammals. So, instead of reaching for pesticides, encourage diversity in your allotment, provide plants for pollinators and other insects, and try companion planting – this can help create a healthy ecosystem where pests are kept in check by their natural predators.

Although there may not always be the space to create a full wildflower meadow and your allotment neighbour might not appreciate too many “weeds”, if you can, let the margins of the allotment go a bit wild. Patches of nettles provide food for the caterpillars of common butterflies like Red Admirals, Peacocks and Commas, a messy hedge can help hairstreaks and Brimstones, and log and leaf piles can give butterflies much-needed places to shelter, whether to roost at night, during bad weather conditions, to pupate, or to avoid predators.

Make it peat free

Peatlands are a precious habitat for butterflies and moths. They are brilliant carbon stores, holding around 3.2 billion tonnes of carbon in the UK alone. They act as natural flood defences, improve water quality by acting as a filter, and support a unique array of animals and plants that can’t be found anywhere else, including the Large Heath – a rare butterfly which has declined by 58% in the UK since the 1970s. However, commercial extraction of peat for compost and other gardening products is incredibly damaging. It takes 1,000 years to produce just one metre of peat, but commercial extraction can remove hundreds of years of growth in just a few months, damaging the remaining peatland left behind in the process. To support butterflies and moths, choose peat-free products for your allotment. For more tips on going peat-free, visit Going Peat-Free In Your Wild Space - Wild Spaces (wild-spaces.co.uk)

Are you embracing butterflies and moths in your allotment? Let Butterfly Conservation know by registering your allotment as a
Wild Space. Join thousands of people across the UK creating a network of spaces in which butterflies, moths and people can thrive, plus discover more expert tips for embracing pollinators and other wildlife in your allotment and other outdoor spaces. Visit Let's Create Wild Spaces - Wild Spaces (wild-spaces.co.uk)