Eco gardeners urged to attract butterflies and hawkmoths

Eco-minded gardeners hoping to attract wildlife to their backyards should lay down a number of habits and a varied assortment of plant species.

That is the advice of environmental gardening expert Stephen Lacey, who wrote in the Telegraph that it is important to "entice" some insects while putting off others.

He suggested that bumblebees, hummingbird hawkmoths and swallowtail butterflies should be welcome additions to any outdoor space this summer.

However, wasps can cause havoc if they are not put off of buzzing around a backyard.

Mr Lacey urged gardeners to plant Buddlejas to attract butterflies, recommending the late-blooming Dartmoor variety.

He explained that this tends to come into its own at this time of the year, when painted ladies, peacocks and red admirals are in their ascendance.

"Hummingbird hawkmoths, which I see in Wales only in occasional summers, seem to like the small, shrubby Mexican salvias and blue flowers like ceratostigma," the expert added.

Earlier this week, it was revealed that the Forestry Commission is to offer financial incentives to encourage land owners in the West Midlands to create suitable habitats for endangered birds.

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