Butterflies important for a healthy garden

Visitors to a forthcoming gardening show in Wales will receive tips on their green-fingered activities can be assisted by butterflies, it has been revealed.

Television wildlife presenter Iolo Williams is to tell attendants at the Gardening Show in Llangollen about the role that the insect can play in helping budding Charlie Dimmocks and Alan Titchmarshes spot changes in the seasons, while out in their greenhouses and other parts of their gardens.

Williams said: "Butterflies and moths are amazing animals and should be conserved – but theyre also very good environmental indicators."

He pointed out that a lack of butterflies and moths can reveal that their food plants are "disappearing" and that this should "ring the alarm bells".

Meanwhile, Jan Miller, a volunteer organiser of butterfly conservation in North Wales, advised that primroses and wallflowers should be grown during the spring to help attract butterflies.

In addition, hemp agrimonies, ice plants and cornflowers were advised as butterfly-attracting option that can be planted later on in the year.

Those wishing to take in the spectacular insects up close may also wish to visit the Tropical Butterfly House, Wildlife & Falconry Centre in Sheffield.