Futures Forum: Looking for emerging butterflies at the start of spring

Today is the first day of spring - so hopefully now with the snows rapidly melting, the butterflies who made their brief appearance last week can emerge once more.

Here's a handy guide to spring butterflies:
Spring Butterflies Are Here! - Birds and Blooms

And here's a celebration of 50 years of British Butterfly Conservation from its president David Attenborough:
Butterfly Conservation - Saving butterflies and moths for 50 years

Welcome to March's ‘all aflutter’.

According to the calendar, spring has sprung. It certainly hasn't felt like it at Butterfly Conservation (BC) HQ in Dorset and weather reports suggest most of the UK has also seen in the new season with snow and icy winds. But cold weather is not going to stop our efforts to halt butterfly declines.

If you haven't seen a butterfly yet this year it's worth keeping your eyes peeled. Around 15 butterfly species had put in an appearance by the end of March in 2017. Perhaps the switch to daylight saving time on the 25th of the month will start to wake things up!

Celebrating 50 Golden Years

Celebrate our 50th anniversary and discover how we tackle species declines. We will introduce you to the special places where butterflies and moths take refuge and you can have a go at some hands-on activities. Learn the ancient art of coppicing, bash some scrub or plant some primroses and if the weather is kind you might even spot some butterflies.

When the idea of setting up BC was first conceived, in a London apartment in 1968, it's unlikely our founders imagined a UK-wide organisation with the level of support afforded to us today.

We are so grateful to the hundreds of thousands of people who have helped us save butterflies and moths in the last half a century. Together, we can continue to protect wildlife and the world we share.

Dig It: Green Gardening Tips

It's been a bit too chilly to get much done in the garden this month, so the Secret Gardener has been busy planning projects for later on in the year.

Whatever horticultural ambitions you've got for your plot there are some simple things you should do to make sure your gardening efforts are helping, not harming, the environment.

Did you know shop-bought compost often contains peat? Check the bag and choose a peat-free variety otherwise you could be contributing to the destruction of wildlife habitats. Read this month's blog for more essential gardening tips for the wildlife-friendly and eco-conscious gardener.