PEOPLE from Gloucestershire are invited to a garden centre in the county this month (July, 2010) to learn all about butterflies. Bob Smith from the Gloucestershire Butterfly Conservation Society will be visiting Nailsworth Garden Centre on Saturday, July 31 to link with national Save Our Butterflies Week from July 24 until August 1. Kevin Brindley, Manager of the garden centre on Avening Road in Nailsworth, said: “Bob is a regular visitor to our garden centre and is very popular with customers young and old. Bob will be on hand on the Saturday with a net of live moths and butterflies that he has caught in his garden. He’ll also be sharing his vast knowledge of these fascinating creatures. “The Butterfly Conservation’s Save Our Butterflies Week represents seven days devoted to celebrating British butterflies and promoting ways to stop their decline. During the week we will be creating displays and offering free advice on plants that appeal to butterflies.” Visitors to the garden centre will be able chat to staff about attracting butterflies into their gardens. People will also be able to learn about plants that will help encourage butterflies such as Buddleia davidii, which is known as the ‘Butterfly Bush’. Kevin continued: “The organisation has kindly given us 300 guides to British butterflies created in association with The Independent newspaper to giveaway free of charge, while stocks last. “We’re delighted to be helping raise awareness for the organisation. Butterflies are very important to gardeners because they feed on flower nectar and as they do, they transfer pollen on their bodies and legs from one plant to another.” Nailsworth Garden Centre is also supporting the Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count, which is being hosted in association with Marks & Spencer. Kevin added: “The Big Butterfly Count is a nationwide survey aimed at helping assess the health of the environment. Butterflies react very quickly to change in their environment, which makes them excellent biodiversity indicators. Butterfly declines are an early warning for other wildlife. “The Count will also identify trends in species that will help plan how to protect butterflies from extinction as well as understand the effect of climate change on wildlife. “To take part, simply count butterflies for 15 minutes during a bright, preferably sunny day from July 24 until August 1. Records are welcome from anywhere such as parks, gardens, fields and forests. Your count is useful even if you do not see any butterflies.” Anyone can take part, but children aged 16 and under will need a parent or guardian to submit their record. People can visit www.bigbutterflycount.org during July and August to submit their results. Bob will be at Nailsworth Garden Centre, which is located on Avening Road in Nailsworth, on Saturday, July 31 from 1pm until 6pm. To find out more about Save Our Butterflies Week, please call the garden centre on 01453 833 989 or visit www.nailsworthgardencentre.co.uk