Gardeners issued warning over mowing lawns in May as beautiful creature at risk

Daily Mirror

02-05-2025

This majestic garden creature is dropping in numbers, according to conservation experts, but keeping your grass long and conserving certain plants could help it thrive once more
While trimming your lawn can be a great way to keep it neat, experts warn you may be endangering butterflies. These majestic creatures have sharply dropped in population in the UK – and lawn mowing is partly to blame.
According to the results of Butterfly Conservation's Big Butterfly Count, 2024 was one of the worst years on record for butterflies - the fifth-worst year since records began. Conservation specialists now say that over half of butterfly species are in long-term decline. And worryingly, mowing your lawn too frequently could be a major factor.
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This is because butterflies prefer a mixture of grass lengths to provide adequate food and shelter. They also like when weeds such as dandelions are left to flower.
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Robin Griffiths, who is part of the Wiltshire branch of Butterfly Conservation, told the BBC: "When you mow your lawn, don't mow it all. To mow the lawn completely and regularly through the summer does very little for insects."
He urged gardeners to exercise restraint when it comes to their grass over the summer season. Butterflies typically emerge from the chrysalis in spring and summer, with summer being a time of peak activity for the insects.
Not all species have been equally impacted, either. Robin highlighted that the tortoiseshell butterfly – known for its orange speckled wings – has been one of the worst affected.
He continued: "The most desperate of the lot is the small tortoise shell which many people know and love as a garden butterfly. Since the 70s it's declined by 86%."
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Although, human activity is just one element involved in the decline of the tortoiseshell. Climate change and pesticide use has also played a major role, according to conservation groups.
Maurice Avent, the vice president at the Butterfly Conservation, explained to the BBC how farming was impacting the creatures. Largely, it's down to how farming practices have changed in modern times.
Before, he continued, hay fields were composed of many different species of flowers and grass living together. Whereas now, a single crop is being used to make hay.
Allowing your garden to grow more freely can create a far more diverse environment, which is ideal for butterflies. It can also allow other creatures to thrive.
Starlings have also experienced a decline in numbers over recent years, according to the 2025 RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch. Part of the blame comes down to reduced food and shelter due to disruptive farming practices.