It’s a sad fact that over the last 150 years, five species of butterfly have become extinct and that, over the last four decades, 76% of the UK’s resident and regular migrant butterflies have declined in abundance, occurrence, or both (Butterfly Conservation). 

Protecting and increasing butterflies’ habitats has never been more important, but thankfully there are ways that even the most novice of gardeners can help. Simply sprinkling some seed balls can help transform any space into a butterfly haven!

Gardens can act as important stepping-stones between nature reserves and other natural habitats if they can offer supplies of nectar and food plants, like wildflowers. Wildflower specialists Seedball, make it easy for people to grow these essential native wildflowers in gardens, balconies, and window boxes. Seedball’s Butterfly Mini Meadow pots are a perfect starting point to attract butterflies with a thought-out mixture of flowers that can sit easily on a windowsill or garden table!

The Butterfly Mix is specially developed to attract butterflies to gardens, balconies and window boxes and uses only flowers recommended by Butterfly Conservation. Each seed ball contains approximately 30 seeds from a mix of purple loosestrife, forget-me-not, musk mallow, red campion, and yarrow, plus a sprinkling of pollinator-friendly annuals chamomile, cornflower, corn marigold, and night-flowering catchfly.

The seed balls have been specially designed to make it as easy as possible to encourage wildlife into gardens. The seeds are protected in a ball of clay, with peat-free compost to aid germination and chilli powder to deter predators from eating the seeds. Simply scatter on bare soil and water! Over time with enough water and sunshine the ball will disperse and shoots will appear eventually growing into a beautiful wildflower garden.

• Simply choose a space and scatter the seed balls - it is as easy as that!
• Wildflowers need less pampering than most garden plants, they prefer poorer soil meaning there is no need to add fertiliser to the soil.
• Just give them an area, a pot, window box or a garden bed that receives at least half a day’s sunshine and regular watering.

Seedball is also encouraging people to take part in the Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count this summer.  A survey aimed at helping us assess the health of our environment simply by counting the amount and type of butterflies (and some day-flying moths) we see. Kicking off on July 15th, 2022, and running until 7th August 2022, the count highlights exactly why butterflies are so important for the wider environment and biodiversity in general.

To find out more about Seedball visit https://seedball.co.uk