Butterfly Gardens to spotlight National Butterfly count
Two butterfly-themed show gardens at RHS events this summer will help promote the 2026 Big Butterfly Count and encourage more pollinator-friendly gardening across the UK.
Emma Atkinson and Amanda Thomas are collaborating with Butterfly Conservation on gardens for RHS Badminton Flower Show 2026 and RHS Sandringham Flower Show 2026 in July.
Emma Atkinson’s RHS Badminton garden will feature up to 300 pollinator-friendly plants including Echinaceas, Salvias, Oregano, alder buckthorn and crab apple, all selected to attract butterflies and beneficial insects.
At the centre of the design will be a seating area encouraging visitors to pause and observe butterflies, supporting awareness of the Big Butterfly Count, which runs from 17 July to 9 August.
Amanda Thomas, founder of Eye Gardens, will showcase a Butterfly Sanctuary Garden at RHS Sandringham featuring nectar-rich planting, native hedging, a wildlife pond and sustainable rainwater management.
Thomas said the design aims to demonstrate that contemporary gardens can remain stylish while still supporting biodiversity and pollinator populations.
Following the shows, both gardens will continue to have a legacy role, with Atkinson’s installation relocating to Silverhand Estate and Thomas’s garden moving permanently to King’s House public gardens in Thetford.
Butterfly Conservation said the gardens will help inspire visitors to create more wildlife-friendly outdoor spaces while supporting national butterfly monitoring efforts.
The Big Butterfly Count encourages people across the UK to spend 15 minutes recording butterfly sightings to help scientists monitor species health and biodiversity trends.
Butterfly Conservation is the UK charity dedicated to saving butterflies, moths and our environment. Our research provides advice on how to conserve and restore habitats. We run projects to protect more than 100 threatened species and we are involved in conserving hundreds of sites and reserves. www.butterfly-conservation.org @savebutterflies
The Big Butterfly Count is a UK-wide survey, run by Butterfly Conservation, 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. It’s so easy to do and is a fantastic activity for people from 3 to 103 years. All you have to do is spend 15 minutes in an outdoor space during sunny conditions and count the types and amount of butterflies you see. To find out more go to www.bigbutterflycount.org.