THE prolonged spell of good weather has proved a boon for butterflies with huge numbers of the brightly-coloured migrants following the southerly winds to Wiltshire hillsides and gardens.

Although the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust says that it is too early to say whether 2003 is going to be a record year for Lepidoptera, the number of migrant butterflies such as the small tortoiseshell, Painted Lady, Red Admiral and Peacock is up as they are brought in by southerly winds and produce a second generation of butterflies over here.

Trust spokesman Sue Macklin said: "The butterflies around recently are very fresh as they have just emerged from their pupae and will then hibernate in the UK as adult butterflies.

"There are very good sources of food for all species of adult butterflies, whether they are migrants or UK residents. This is also good news for other insects such as bees and moths, as the higher temperatures make plants produce much more nectar.

"This summer's weather has therefore benefited a range of native species of insects which have had a very hard time in the last two to three years, due to poor summers.

"However, it's still too early to be definitive about the situation as some of the species, which have a second brood of butterflies, are only just starting to emerge now."

Anyone can do their bit to help butterflies, bees and other insects by growing wildlife-friendly plants in their garden. For more information, contact the trust's green gardening officer, Maggie McDonald on (01380) 725670, extension 265.

Dry spell takes toll on badgers

THE Wiltshire Badger Group has appealed for help as the continuing dry weather causes suffering to the county's badger population.

The group has been receiving numerous phone calls about badgers appearing in people's gardens during the day in an effort to feed themselves and their starving cubs.

Group chairman Malcolm Clark said that the drought has hit the badger population hard. He said: "Near Market Lavington a farmer has seen lots of dehydrated, thin-looking badgers on the edge of Salisbury Plain. He took one to a vet who put it to sleep because it was so severely dehydrated."

The dry period in April and May was also a problem for the badger population. Mr Clark said: "Just at the time female badgers were feeding their young, the food and water supply dried up. It was a disaster. Many cubs died in the setts underground.

"Badgers' main food source is earthworms. They don't dig for them, they pick them up from the surface. If there is a drought, the worms go deep and the badgers can't get at them, they starve.

"Their usual water sources have also dried up and dehydration is a slow, horrible way to die."

But there is something that the ordinary householder can do. Mr Clark said: "If badgers come to your garden, please feed them. They have a particular liking for peanut butter sandwiches, but are also fond of cat or dog food or peanuts. The more you can put out, the better.

"Please also put out water for them. It is best if the food is put out last thing at night. If it goes out during the day, the birds will eat it."

Nationally, gardeners have been complaining because of the incidence of badgers digging up their lawns, in a desperate search for earthworms.

Dr Elaine King, chief executive of the National Federation of Badger Groups, said: "The cause of the problem is not a rise in badger numbers. On the contrary, the dry weather has deprived badgers of earthworms and they are being forced to dig for their dinner wherever they can find it. They are upsetting gardeners in the process."