Wildlife

Wild Meadow Brown Butterfly

The meadow brown is one of the UK's most common butterflies but declining in some habitats due to grassland management changes.

Key Facts

Meadow brown larvae feed on grass species in grassland
Adults feed on knapweed, bramble, and wildflowers
Intensive management removes larval foodplants and nectar sources
Populations are broadly stable but declining in agricultural areas
Garden wildflower areas support meadow brown welfare

Welfare Considerations

Meadow brown larvae in intensively managed grassland with monoculture grass swards may find inadequate foodplant diversity. Maintaining diverse grassland structure with wildflowers is the primary welfare intervention.

What You Can Do

Create wildflower meadow areas with diverse grasses
Support grassland conservation with reduced cutting
Advocate for wildflower-rich field margins in agricultural policy