Butterflies at FarmED
Jun 01, 2026
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Expert naturalist and passionate eco-communicator, Nick Patel, is leading a Butterfly Farm Walk at FarmED in July, which has been carefully timed to coincide with a busy time for butterflies on the farm.
‘The timing is crucial because towards June, there’s what’s called the butterfly gap,’ Nick explains. ‘This is a period that falls between when certain species of butterfly are emerging and others have finished. But in July, we should expect plenty of our earlier summer species to be out, and the mid to late summer species will also be emerging.’
The butterflies that Nick describes as ‘classic summer species’, like Peacocks, Red Admirals, and some of the Tortoiseshells, will be on the wing as well as lots of the white species - Large Whites, Small Whites, Green Veined Whites. There will also be plenty of the grassland species around at this time, such as Meadow Browns and Ringlets.
‘We might also be lucky enough to see Small Heaths, Small Copper, Brown Argus and hopefully a couple of the blues as well which feed on the birds foot trefoil plants growing at FarmED. It may even be possible to spot some of the more unusual summer species like Purple Hair streaks. Then of course there are the migrant species like the Painted Ladies flying through.’
Day-flying moths attracted by the rich meadow habitat at FarmED might also put in an appearance, including species like Burnet Moths, Silver-y and Mint Moth.
Nick has led a butterfly walk at FarmED before, a few years ago, but says he believes this one will be even better. ‘The habitat at Honeydale Farm is getting more and more diverse so the numbers of butterfly species should follow the same trajectory,’ says Nick. ‘I’m excited to see what’s there now. The marginal area around FarmED, rich in vetches and plants from the pea family, and the wildflower strips in particular are great,’ says Nick. ‘They’re filled with really good pollinator plants but most importantly, there's a lot of good food plants too, including some smaller plants which people might not notice but are really good food plants for the caterpillars. There's some really nice bits of scrub creeping in, and the brambly, thorny areas are really good for insects and amazing for feeding adult butterflies. The woodland shelter belt and agroforestry are interesting and it will be good to keep an eye on them over the next few years because the more woodland areas you have, the more woodland butterflies you attract. We could see a whole host of new species like the Silver Wash Fritillary or maybe White Admirals.’
The recent hot weather is a concern for butterfly conservation because the larvae need good vegetation to feed on and if it’s too hot and dry, the food plants will not be there for the caterpillars but, ‘we're coming off the back of a good year last year, so we should be expecting some good numbers,’ Nick comments.
Butterflies are a good barometer of how an ecosystem is faring. ‘If butterflies are doing well, it's a really good sign. It gives you a good idea that the birds are going to be doing well and everything in the food chain.’
Nick believes that butterflies have universal appeal because they’re so colourful and beautiful. ‘One of my big passions is promoting the less beautiful side of nature because that’s just as important but people love butterflies and they help people gain an interest in wildlife and form a connection to nature. I think a lot of people connect to butterflies because they make them feel nostalgic, conjuring memories of childhood gardens. Also, there are not many species of butterflies seen in the UK, so ticking off as many as possible can be very satisfying.’
Even if the weather is not perfect for butterfly spotting, Nick will be sharing lots of information about food plants and what people can do to encourage butterflies to visit their garden or farm so there will be plenty to take home from his guided Butterfly Farm Walk.
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