Garden Visitors: Butterflies

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I have started seeing butterflies in and around the garden over the past few weeks.. not many, just the odd one here and there. Hopefully they will be plentiful soon 🦋

I love the pretty colours and the graceful way they flutter around the garden, so peaceful.

So far I have seen some Orange Tips and Tortoise Shells. Its funny as I never really see any caterpillars about, so I wonder where they all hide ? 

Have you spotted any butterflies yet? If so which kind? 

Here's the most common species of Butterflies in UK gardens....





Find out how to make your garden Butterfly friendly ….

https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions/how-attract-butterflies-your-garden


Facts about Butterflies....
  • They are flying insects with large, scaly wings
  • They have 6 legs, 3 body parts, antennae, compound eyes and an exoskeleton
  • Their 3 body parts are - head, thorax, abdomen
  • Their body is covered in tiny sensory hairs
  • They can only sip liquid food using their long flexible tongue
  • Most butterflies live on nectar from flowers, while some sip liquid from rotting fruits
  • Butterflies belong to the order 'Lepidoptera' - Lepidos is Greek for 'scales' and ptera means 'wings'
  • They are the only insect with scaled wings
  • Butterflies can be found all over the world in hot and cold temperatures





Ideas to explore Butterflies with the children …
  • Read 'The Hungry Caterpillar' book by Eric Carle
  • Explore books about the life cycle of a butterfly
  • Go on a nature walk through nearby woodlands or fields and see if you can spot butterflies - do a butterfly count
  • Cut out butterfly shapes in paper and use loose parts to create patterns on the wings - exploring symmetry
  • Explore the anatomy of a butterfly
  • Talk about the colours and patterns of butterflies
  • Paint a butterfly - Take a sheet of paper add some paint and fold in half, pressing down to mirror the pattern on the opposite side


  • Practice loop the loop and wavy lines mark making to show the flight of a butterfly
  • Plant some butterfly friendly flowers and shrubs such as buddleia or lavender
  • Raise some caterpillars to nurture into butterflies - this is great for children to actually see, first hand, the life cycle  - and of course the wonderful moment of setting the butterflies free!🦋
  • Create an invitation table or a tinker tray to explore butterflies - you could include resources such as loose parts, images, flowers, pretty colours, shapes, books etc..
  • Use sponges tied or pinched at the centre to create wings of a butterfly, dabbed into paint and onto paper
  • Create a fan with a sheet of paper, folded this way and that. Tie around the centre with a pipe cleaner and fan out each side - looks like a butterfly !
  • Explore the sound 'B' - how many things can you find that start with the sound B?
  • Talk about other things that fly
  • Look at flowers and the way in which butterflies collect nectar from them
  • Sing songs about butterflies - you could change traditional rhymes or songs to include butterflies in them






Hopefully I have given you some ideas here, but I'm sure the children will lead the way ! 
Enjoy ! 🦋











www.dawnmarieillustration.co.uk



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