Latest news with #BigButterflyCount
Daily Record
20-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Gardening experts recommend the top 5 plants that repel rats naturally
Rats can be a real pain - they chew through everything, from plants to electrical wires, and can spread potentially fatal diseases. Here's how to keep them at bay There's nothing more unsettling than spotting a rat in your garden – these unwelcome rodents gnaw through your plants and spread disease. Thankfully, there's a simple method to keep them at bay. Rats are notorious pests, known for devouring everything from vegetables and meat scraps to rubbish. They can also transmit unpleasant diseases, such as leptospirosis, which can lead to potentially fatal complications like Weil's Disease. Luckily, gardening gurus suggest planting certain flora known to repel these pests, reports the Mirror. It may seem odd, but rats detest the aroma of specific flowers and shrubs, even though they might be pleasing to our noses. To help with any infestaitons, Pure Pests has identified the top five plants for keeping rats at bay. 1. Lavender While many of us cherish lavender for its delicate floral scent, it's a sensory nightmare for rats due to the plant's high concentration of essential oils. An added bonus is that it attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies to your garden. This is particularly crucial given the decline in butterfly numbers in the UK, as reported by Butterfly Conservation's Big Butterfly Count. 2. Mint Humans are so fond of mint that we use it to freshen our breath. Rats, on the other hand, despise the potent freshness of mint so much that they actively avoid it. This is because mint contains menthol and other compounds which they find unpleasant. Even better, the scent of the plant is quite strong, so it creates a wide smell-barrier which repels rats. 3. Marigold These vibrant yellow flowers are known to have a heavy, musky smell, somewhat similar to overripe animals. While humans enjoy it, rats find their overpowering odour unpleasant. An added bonus is that they also find the Marigold's bright colours off putting too. Rats prefer dimmer lighting and find bright lights and colours uncomfortable. 4. Catnip This is a tip for cat-lovers. Catnip serves the dual purpose of attracting more felines to your yard, while also keeping nasty buck-toothed rodents at bay. Catnip has a sharp, minty smell and contains the oil nepetalactone, which triggers a euphoric response in cats' brains. However, it does the opposite for rats, who are completely repelled by it. 5. Camphor plant Camphor plants (not to be confused with the camphor tree) are gentle, leafy plants with dark fruits. Fortunately, their innocent appearance belies a rat-thwarting machine. They have a sharp earthy scent that is often compared to Vick's Vaporub. It is also a deterrent to rats, who despise the plant. Research shows it can even be an effective rodenticide as it causes symptoms like irritability and blurred vision in rats.
Daily Mirror
18-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Gardeners urged to plant 5 flowers to deter rats 'find them repulsive'
If rats are overrunning your garden then experts suggest growing these five plants in your garden which will send any nasty rodents sprinting in the opposite direction There's nothing worse than discovering a rat in your garden – these nasty rodents chew through your plants and spread disease. Luckily, there's an easy way to deter them. Rats are pernicious pests and are known to eat everything from vegetables, meat scraps to rubbish. They can also spread nasty illnesses, like leptospirosis, which can cause potentially life-threatening complications like Weil's Disease. Fortunately, gardening experts recommend growing specific plants known to ward off vermin. It might sound weird, but rats hate the scent of certain flowers and bushes, even though they might smell lovely to us. Pure Pests say these are the five best rat-banishing plants to grow, as reported by Yahoo News. Lavender Most of us adore lavender for its gentle floral smell. However, for rats, it creates a sensory nightmare, due to the plant's high concentration of essential oils. It has the added benefit of attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies to your garden. This is especially important, given that butterfly numbers have dropped in the UK, according to Butterfly Conservation's Big Butterfly Count. Mint Humans love mint so much that we use it as a breath freshener. Well, not rats. Vermin hate the stringent freshness of mint so much that they go out of their way to avoid it. This is because mint contains menthol and other compounds which they find unpleasant. Even better, the scent of the plant is quite strong, so it creates a wide smell-barrier which repels rats. Marigold These cheerful yellow flowers are known to have a heavy, musky smell, somewhat similar to overripe animals. While humans enjoy it, rats find their overpowering odour unpleasant. An added bonus is that they also find the Marigold's bright colours off putting too. Rats prefer dimmer lighting and find bright lights and colours uncomfortable. Catnip This is a tip for cat-lovers. Catnip serves the dual purpose of attracting more felines to your yard, while also keeping nasty buck-toothed rodents at bay. Catnip has a sharp, minty smell and contains the oil nepetalactone, which triggers a euphoric response in cats' brains. However, it does the opposite for rats, who are completely repelled by it. Camphor plant Camphor plants (not to be confused with the camphor tree) are gentle, leafy plants with dark fruits. Fortunately, their innocent appearance belies a rat-thwarting machine. They have a sharp earthy scent that is often compared to Vick's Vaporub. It is also a deterrent to rats, who despise the plant. Research shows it can even be an effective rodenticide as it causes symptoms like irritability and blurred vision in rats.
Daily Mirror
11-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Gardeners urged to make urgent change to lawnmower to keep grass green
If you want to keep your garden looking as green and lush as possible then a gardening expert advises making this one simple change to your lawn mower settings If your garden is starting to look lacklustre after the recent spew of hot weather, the problem may lie in your lawn mower settings. A garden expert has recommended one small change that can help your grass stay a deep green. With summer fast approaching, more of us are getting out into our gardens. In fact, the beginning of May was the hottest on record, with millions of Brits basking in temperatures more commonly experienced in the Med. The one downside is that the sunny weather can mean that your lawn needs a little extra TLC to stay a vibrant green. It may sound surprising, but one of the biggest factors in your grass health lies in how you mow your lawn. This can affect everything from its colour to how long it lasts. According to Ceri Thomas, a garden expert from Which? magazine, mowing your lawn too often can ruin its colour. Instead, it's best to let your grass stems grow longer. Ceri explains: 'Longer grass stays greener and lets flowering plants like daisies bloom, which helps pollinators. I'd just recommend putting your mower on the highest setting.' The reason why longer grass stays greener is that it absorbs more water, making it more drought resistant. Their longer roots also help them avoid turning brown. Putting your mower on a higher setting will raise the grass blades, meaning that you're taking less grass off each trim. This keeps your lawn looking neat without shortening it too much. Most lawn mowers will have a knob or lever on the side that allows you to adjust the height of the blades. Other lawn mowers will have spacers that you can add and remove to change the height. Keeping your grass longer also lets free-growing flowers like daisies flourish. Not only do these add a whimsical charm to your garden, they also attract pollinating insects which benefit the environment. Plus, butterflies also flourish in less manicured gardens. This is especially important now, given that butterfly numbers in the UK are reportedly declining. According to the Butterfly Conservation's Big Butterfly Count, last year was one of the worst years on record for butterflies. In fact, it was the fifth-worst year since records began. Perhaps counterintuitively, keeping your grass longer can also help reduce weeds. This is because the stems create natural shade, blocking light from unwanted plants.
Daily Mirror
02-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Gardeners issued warning over mowing lawns in May as beautiful creature at risk
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. 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. 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%." 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.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Britons urged to stop mowing lawns to boost butterfly numbers 'in long-term decline'
Conservation experts are urging homeowners not to mow their lawns over the coming months to help boost butterfly numbers, with more than half of UK species now in long-term decline. Last year was one of the worst on record for butterflies, with 51 of the UK's 59 butterfly species showing a decline in numbers compared with figures for 2023. The fall is being driven by human activity, the use of pesticides and climate change, experts have said. The UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme, run by a coalition of conservation organisations, said renowned butterfly species including the small tortoiseshell, the chalk hill blue and small copper suffered their worst year ever. It was also the second-worst year, since monitoring started in 1976, for popular butterflies living in gardens, parks and the countryside such as the common blue, gatekeeper and large whites. Richard Fox, from Butterfly Conservation, said: "I am devastated by the decline of our beloved British butterflies, and I'm sorry to say it has been brought about by human actions. "We have destroyed wildlife habitats, polluted the environment, used pesticides on an industrial scale and we are changing the climate. "That means that when we have poor weather, these already-depleted butterfly populations are highly vulnerable and can't bounce back like they once did - and with climate change, that unusual weather is becoming more and more usual." 'Significant' declines in some species Data revealed 31 species have shown a long-term decline. Experts said this included 22 species showing significant declines, including widespread butterflies such as the small tortoiseshell, whose numbers have plummeted by 86% since 1976. The green-veined white has seen a 28% decline, while the grizzled skipper, small pearl-bordered fritillary and chalk hill blue had their worst year on record. Conservationists said those species required specific habitat to survive, which had been destroyed over the past century. Dr Marc Botham, butterfly ecologist at the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, said the results were "deeply concerning", particularly as "they can tell us about the health of the wider environment". Read more from Sky News:' What can be done to help butterflies? The results come after Butterfly Conservation declared a UK-wide following the worst-ever results of its Big Butterfly Count last year. Dr Fox said the "best thing we can do" was to create "more habitat". He said research showed letting part of a garden grow wild with long grass increases butterflies. "That is why we are calling on people and councils across the UK to pledge to not cut their grass this year from April to September, this simple act can make a real, immediate difference to butterflies, moths and other wildlife," he added.
