Butterflies are a beautiful and an important part of the UK’s wildlife. The Painted Lady is a long-distance migrant, which can cause the most spectacular butterfly migrations observed in Britain and Ireland. Each year, it spreads northwards from the desert fringes of North Africa, the Middle East, and central Asia, recolonising mainland Europe and reaching Britain and Ireland. In some years it is an abundant butterfly, frequenting gardens and other flowery places in late summer.

The reason we have created our series of British butterflies, is to highlight their huge decline over the last four decades. The UK has 59 species of butterflies – 57 resident species and two regular migrants – the Painted Lady and Clouded Yellow. Five species of butterfly have become extinct in the last 150 years, including the Large Tortoiseshell. Over half of all British butterflies have been placed on the latest UK Red Extinction List of species. Furthermore, the latest red list assessment of butterflies published in May 2022 revealed 26% more butterflies are threatened with extinction.

Please follow the link below to find out more about the red list assessment, provided by the butterfly conservation org.

https://butterfly-conservation.org/news-and-blog/half-of-british-butterfly-species-on-new-red-list

A further link to provide information and facts on the Painted Lady Butterfly

https://butterfly-conservation.org/butterflies/painted-lady

We create these butterflies, once an order has been placed, so when we send out our metalwork it will be in the steel form (silver) ready to start rusting. The steel will start oxidising once out in your garden, creating a beautiful and natural rusty patina - it’s actually nice to watch!

Butterfly wing span approx 17cm

Total Height 90-100cm

Please note all sizes are approximate

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