'This year has been very good': readers' UK butterfly sightings

Readers share their favourite sightings over the summer, after news that numbers have risen since last yearUK butterfly numbers bounce back after last year's all-time lowWe try to encourage as many pollinators as possible to visit our allotment. As well as growing lots of fruit and veg we have planted many different flowers. Across the summer we saw some unusual moths, such as the ghost moth, and then from August onwards the butterflies started to appear. We mostly spotted red admiral, peacock and small tortoiseshell butterflies. They particularly liked the cosmos and the corn marigolds. They also liked the ragwort, which later had cinnabar moth caterpillars. On sunny days they were constant companions to our gardening. Although we have seen large white butterflies, too, we don't seem to have had any problems with caterpillars eating our veg. This may be beginner's luck. Jess and Ian, Scottish Borders Continue reading...