The 2015 Big Butterfly Count end this Sunday 9 August and so far the peacock butterfly is the big winner at WWT Arundel Wetland Centre. These large butterflies are familiar visitors in most gardens feeding on buddleia shrubs. At Arundel Wetland Centre they favour wild creeping thistle and hemp agrimony. Peacock butterflies are strong flyers and like to roam so can be seen throughout the countryside and in woodlands as well.
Arundel Wetland Centre Warden Paul Stevens said: “75% of the butterflies we have be seeing at Arundel Wetland Centre are peacock butterflies. There are also good numbers of small tortoiseshell and red admiral around and lots of gatekeeper hutterflies along the hedgerows.”
Butterfly Conservation UK is asking people to spend 15 minutes outside sitting in a quiet spot and count the types and numbers of butterflies. You can download a butterfly chart or a smart phone app from www.butterfly-conservation.org. Send in your butterfly count results to Butterfly Conservation UK to help with British butterfly conservation. There are around 54 species of butterflies in the UK in summer.
WWT Arundel Wetland Centre is open between 9:30-17:30 seven days a week on Mill Road in Arundel. The centre has eight comfortable hides, easy buggy and wheelchair friendly pathways, fully stocked cafe and gift shops and disabled and parent & baby facilities. Visit wwt.org.uk/arundel for more information.