What could be more delightful, on a warm summer's day than a garden full of butterflies? Our own native butterfly population is on the decline, with some species already extinct and the fear is that many more will follow. Help to combat this by packing your containers and borders with nectar-rich flowers and plants, not only will you attract wildlife, but you will be providing an absolute riot of colour in the garden for you to enjoy too.

Creating a butterfly garden is easy and fun.

Here's how:

1) Sow a variety of annuals and perennials like poppies, scabious, zinnias and marigolds, plant butterfly attracting shrubs like, lilac, buddleia and lavender.

2) Butterflies are cold blooded and need sunlight to warm their bodies, so choose a sunny site where they can be left undisturbed.

3) Adult butterflies feed on nectar and are most attracted to red, yellow, orange, pink and purple very fragrant flowers.

4) Caterpillars require a plentiful supply of food as well, which differs from that of the adult butterflies, good choices would be stinging nettles, nasturtiums and grasses, maybe we could even learn to live with the devouring larvae of the cabbage white.

5) An organic garden is always best in order to attract wildlife, never use chemical sprays in a butterfly garden.

6) Arm yourself with a butterfly book and enjoy identifying them in your garden, and who knows you could even spot one of our rare butterflies 'the beautiful swallowtail'.

Sara Zahdeh