Wealden Times | WT174 | August 2016 | Wedding supplement inside

Credit: FreeImages.com/Ikwolfson, Mary Ellen Rynes
more reason to leave an untamed area.
Wild hedgerow plants like cuckoo flowers and garlic
mustard are food for Orange Tips and Green Veined Whites.
Honesty, red valerian and sweet rocket help too. Nettles are
essential for the Peacock, such a beautiful migrant butterfly,
and though it is an invasive plant they can, like mint, be
contained even in a small garden.
Otherwise choose nectar plants such as easily grown
annuals, nasturtiums and marigold, which tend to self seed
so that you will always have a few around. Earlier in the year,
wallflowers are ideal for early butterflies and later on try
sedums (ice plants) avoiding the dark leaved cultivars which
don’t seem to attract butterflies in the same way. Herbs like
thymes, marjoram and germanders are hugely attractive nectar
sources and easily grown. Other nectar plants would include:
holly, ivy (let it flower), hops and buckthorn. Flora Locale is
a good resource for information about plants to encourage
bio-diversity.
Butterfly Conservation - butterfly-conservation.org
Kent Wildlife Trust (for information about their Meadows
Project and Butterfly Identification Days) kentwildlifetrust.org.uk
Big Butterfly Count. bigbutterflycount.org
Flora Locale floralocale.org
Sue Whigham can be contacted on 07810 457948 for
gardening advice and help in the sourcing and supply of
interesting garden plants.
4th July - 26th August 2016 | 8.30am - 4.30pm
Venue:
Claremont School St Leonards-on-Sea,
East Sussex TN37 7PW
From exploring the 100 acres of grounds, playing sports, swimming
in our large outdoor pool, building dens and
discovering nature, to taking part in performing arts
workshops and creative sessions, there is fun for everyone!
Led by qualified teachers, forest school practitioners, lifeguards
and sports leaders.
enquiries@claremontschool.co.uk | www.claremontschool.co.uk | 01424 751555
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