What is PL@NTNET?
Pl@ntNet allows you to identify thousands of species of plants thanks to your pictures. The images you send are automatically compared to the thousands of images we have in our botanical databases. A list of plants is then proposed. The last word is yours! Currently, Pl@ntNet has 22 projects: 16 geographical projects, 3 thematic projects on ornamental and cultivated plants, and 3 microprojects.
If you wanna know everything about how to use the app: https://plantnet.org/en/how-why/
Frequently Asked Questions provides answers:-
1. What is the project "World Flora"? - "The Plant List (TPL) was a working list of all known plant species produced by the botanical community in response to Target 1 of the 2002-2010 Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC). TPL has been static since 2013, but was used as the starting point for the Taxonomic Backbone of the World Flora Online (WFO), and updated information can be found at www.worldfloraonline.org."
2. Can I use Pl@ntNet on my computer? - "Yes! the Web version of Pl@ntNet is available at the following address: identify.plantnet.org. "

BLUE WILD FLOWER GALLERY
PAGE MENU
 

FLOWER COLOUR Comparison Page,
space,
Site Map page in its flower colour
NOTE Gallery with Continuation Pages from Page 2
...Blue - its page links in next 4 columns.
Use of Plant with Flowers

...Brown Botanical Names

...Cream Common Names, Coastal and Dunes, Sandy Shores and Dunes

...Green Broad-leaved Woods

...Mauve Grassland - Acid, Neutral, Chalk

...Multi-Cols Heaths and Moors

...Orange Hedgerows and Verges

...Pink A-G Lakes, Canals and Rivers

...Pink H-Z Marshes, Fens, Bogs

...Purple Old Buildings and Walls

...Red Pinewoods

...White A-D Saltmarshes. Shingle Beaches, Rocks and Cliff Tops

...White E-P Other

...White Q-Z Number of Petals


...Yellow A-G Pollinator

...Yellow H-Z Poisonous Parts

...Shrub/Tree River Banks and Other Freshwater Margins

BLUE WILD FLOWER GALLERY
PAGE MENU
 

Lists of:-

Edible Plant Parts.

Flower Legend.

Food for
Butterfly/Moth.

Flowering plants of Chalk and Limestone Page 1
Page 2

Flowering plants of Acid Soil
Page 1

SEED COLOUR
Seed 1
Seed 2

BLUE WILD FLOWER GALLERY
PAGE MENU
 

Habitat Lists:-

Coastal and Dunes.

Broad-leaved
Woods.

Grassland - Acid, Neutral, Chalk.

Heaths and Moors.

Hedgerows and Verges.

Lakes, Canals and Rivers.

Marshes, Fens,
Bogs.

Old Buildings and Walls.

Pinewoods.

River Banks and
other Freshwater Margins.

Saltmarshes.

Sandy Shores and Dunes.

Shingle Beaches, Rocks and
Cliff Tops.

Other.
 

BLUE WILD FLOWER GALLERY
PAGE MENU
 

Number of Petals List:-
Without Petals. Other plants
without flowers.
1 Petal or
Composite of
many 1 Petal Flowers as Disc
or Ray Floret .
2 Petals.
3 Petals.
4 Petals.
5 Petals.
6 Petals.
Over 6 Petals.

BLUE WILD FLOWER GALLERY
PAGE MENU
 

Lists of:-

Pollinator.

Poisonous Parts.

Scented Flower, Foliage, Root.

Story of their Common Names.

Use of Plant with Flowers

Use for Non-Flowering Plants

BROWN WILD FLOWER GALLERY
PAGE MENU
Site Map of pages with content (o)
and
The way the Botanical name is built up is based on Latin grammar rules.
Each plant family name (eg. 'Cordyline') is a noun and has a gender (i.e. is male or female).
Species within each family are adjectives ('australis', 'indivisa', etc.).
The descriptive clues in botanical names are rewarding if you translate or understand the terms themselves. Like
. macrantha having large flowers

Introduction
 

B & T World Seeds Paguignan, 34210 Aigues Vives, France can supply seeds world-wide from over 35,000 different plants.

John Chambers Wildflower Seed supplies native British produced wildflower seed from its John Chambers Wildflowers Brochure and its Green-tech Specifier Wildflowers Seeds with delivery to England, Scotland and Wales.

American Meadows Quick Guide to Wildflowers contains complete planting instructions, how much seed you need, and wildflower searches by color, height, moisture and light requirements with delivery of live plants, bulbs and seeds to USA only, but only its seeds to Canada.

"SEASONS AND MONTHS

SPRING
Early: March
Mid: April
Late: May

SUMMER
Early: June
Mid: July
Late: August

AUTUMN
Early: September
Mid: October
Late: November

WINTER
Early: December
Mid: January
Late: February

" from The Wildlife Garden Month-by-Month by Jackie Bennett. Published by David & Charles in 1993 (ISBN 0 7153 0033 4).

WILD FLOWER GALLERY
PAGE MENU
Site Map of pages with content (o)

Introduction

Poisonous Plants

INDEX LINK TO WILDFLOWER PLANT DESCRIPTION PAGE
a-h
i-p
q-z


FLOWER COLOUR
(o)Blue
(o)Brown
(o)Cream
(o)Green
(o)Mauve
(o)Multi-Coloured
Orange
(o)Pink 1
(o)Pink 2
(o)Purple
(o)Red
(o)White1
(o)White2
(o)White3
(o)Yelow1
(o)Yelow2
(o)Shrub or Small Tree

SEED COLOUR
(o)Seed 1
(o)Seed 2

BED PICTURES
(o)Bed

HABITAT TABLES
Flowers in
Acid Soil
Flowers in
Chalk Soil
Flowers in
Marine Soil
Flowers in
Neutral Soil
Ferns
Grasses
Rushes
Sedges
 

See Explanation of Structure of this Website with User Guidelines to aid your use of this website.

WILD FLOWER FAMILY
PAGE MENU 1

(o)Adder's Tongue
Amaranth
(o)Arrow-Grass
(o)Arum
(o)Balsam
Bamboo
(o)Barberry
(o)Bedstraw
(o)Beech
(o)Bellflower
(o)Bindweed
(o)Birch
(o)Birds-Nest
(o)Birthwort
(o)Bogbean
(o)Bog Myrtle
(o)Borage
(o)Box
(o)Broomrape
(o)Buckthorn
(o)Buddleia
(o)Bur-reed
(o)Buttercup
(o)Butterwort
(o)Cornel (Dogwood)
(o)Crowberry
(o)Crucifer (Cabbage/Mustard) 1
(o)Crucifer (Cabbage/Mustard) 2
Cypress
(o)Daffodil
(o)Daisy
(o)Daisy Cudweeds
(o)Daisy Chamomiles
(o)Daisy Thistle
(o)Daisy Catsears (o)Daisy Hawkweeds
(o)Daisy Hawksbeards
(o)Daphne
(o)Diapensia
(o)Dock Bistorts
(o)Dock Sorrels

WILD FLOWER FAMILY
PAGE MENU 2

(o)Clubmoss
(o)Duckweed
(o)Eel-Grass
(o)Elm
(o)Filmy Fern
(o)Horsetail
(o)Polypody
Quillwort
(o)Royal Fern
(o)Figwort - Mulleins
(o)Figwort - Speedwells
(o)Flax
(o)Flowering-Rush
(o)Frog-bit
(o)Fumitory
(o)Gentian
(o)Geranium
(o)Glassworts
(o)Gooseberry
(o)Goosefoot
(o)Grass 1
(o)Grass 2
(o)Grass 3
(o)Grass Soft Bromes 1
(o)Grass Soft Bromes 2
(o)Grass Soft Bromes 3 (o)Hazel
(o)Heath
(o)Hemp
(o)Herb-Paris
(o)Holly
(o)Honeysuckle
(o)Horned-Pondweed
(o)Hornwort
(o)Iris
(o)Ivy
(o)Jacobs Ladder
(o)Lily
(o)Lily Garlic
(o)Lime
(o)Lobelia
(o)Loosestrife
(o)Mallow
(o)Maple
(o)Mares-tail
(o)Marsh Pennywort
(o)Melon (Gourd/Cucumber)
 

WILD FLOWER FAMILY
PAGE MENU 3

(o)Mesem-bryanthemum
(o)Mignonette
(o)Milkwort
(o)Mistletoe
(o)Moschatel
Naiad
(o)Nettle
(o)Nightshade
(o)Oleaster
(o)Olive
(o)Orchid 1
(o)Orchid 2
(o)Orchid 3
(o)Orchid 4
(o)Parnassus-Grass
(o)Peaflower
(o)Peaflower Clover 1
(o)Peaflower Clover 2
(o)Peaflower Clover 3
(o)Peaflower Vetches/Peas
Peony
(o)Periwinkle
Pillwort
Pine
(o)Pink 1
(o)Pink 2
Pipewort
(o)Pitcher-Plant
(o)Plantain
(o)Pondweed
(o)Poppy
(o)Primrose
(o)Purslane
Rannock Rush
(o)Reedmace
(o)Rockrose
(o)Rose 1
(o)Rose 2
(o)Rose 3
(o)Rose 4
(o)Rush
(o)Rush Woodrushes
(o)Saint Johns Wort
Saltmarsh Grasses
(o)Sandalwood
(o)Saxifrage
 

WILD FLOWER FAMILY
PAGE MENU 4

Seaheath
(o)Sea Lavender
(o)Sedge Rush-like
(o)Sedges Carex 1
(o)Sedges Carex 2
(o)Sedges Carex 3
(o)Sedges Carex 4
(o)Spindle-Tree
(o)Spurge
(o)Stonecrop
(o)Sundew
(o)Tamarisk
Tassel Pondweed
(o)Teasel
(o)Thyme 1
(o)Thyme 2
(o)Umbellifer 1
(o)Umbellifer 2
(o)Valerian
(o)Verbena
(o)Violet
(o)Water Fern
(o)Waterlily
(o)Water Milfoil
(o)Water Plantain
(o)Water Starwort
Waterwort
(o)Willow
(o)Willow-Herb
(o)Wintergreen
(o)Wood-Sorrel
(o)Yam
(o)Yew

Site design and content copyright ©January 2016.
New Common Names and
Botanical Names added February 2021. Chris Garnons-Williams.

DISCLAIMER: Links to external sites are provided as a courtesy to visitors. Ivydene Horticultural Services are not responsible for the content and/or quality of external web sites linked from this site.

The wild flowers in this book (Wild Flowers of Britain by Sarah Garland). Published in 1978 by ARTUS Publishing Company Limited for Marks and Spencer Ltd) have been grouped under chapter headings according to where they grow. Each plant is seen against its natural background and the influences that shape it: the weather, rich and poor soils, animals and man:-

• The history of British Flowers
• Chalk and limestone flowers
• Arable and wasteground flowers
• Flowers of the woods and hedgerows
• Grassland and roadside flowers
• Freshwater flowers
• Fen and marshland flowers
• Heath, moor and bogland flowers
• Mountain flowers
• Flowers of the sea coast

John Chambers' Wild Flower Seeds - "John Chambers Wildflower Seed has a 35 year history of supplying native British produced wildflower seed and mixes to landscape and garden lovers across the UK. John Chambers is one of the leading authorities on native wildflower seed, distributing a comprehensive range of products that protect, enhance and improve the landscape environment. See Case Studies."
and
plant from British Wild Flower Plants - "We are the largest grower of British native plants in the UK and have been in operation since 1986, including Biodiversity Enhancement, Green Roofs and Reed Beds."

WILDFLOWER INDEX

See Wildflower Common Name Index link Table ON A PAGE for more wildflower of the UK common names - from Adder's Tongue to the Goosefoot Family - together with their names in languages from America, Finland, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.
See Wildflower Botanical Name Index link table ON A PAGE for wildflower of the United Kingdom (Great Britain) botanical names, from Adder's Tongue to the Goosefoot Family.
Neither of the above 2 pages will be further updated, due to 1. Running out of space on each of the pages and 2. being replaced by the Botanical Names and Common Names Galleries from July 2020:-
Botanical Names with Common Name, Wild Flower Family, Flower Colour and Form Index of each of all the Wildflowers of the UK in 1965 are in PAGES IN THE GALLERY Brown Wildflower Gallery with page links in the top row.
Common Names with Botanical Name, Wild Flower Family, Flower Colour and Form Index of each of all the Wildflowers of the UK in 1965 are PAGES IN THE GALLERY in Cream Wildflower Gallery with page links in the top row.
Plant description, culture, propagation and photos/illustrations will be provided for every wildflower plant (from February 2021) in these 2 galleries.

After clicking on the WILD FLOWER Common Name INDEX link to Wildflower Family Page; locate that Common name on that Wildflower Family Page, then
Click on Underlined Text in:-
Common Name to view that Plant Description Page
Botanical Name to link to Plant or Seed Supplier
Flowering Months to view photos
Habitat to view further Natural Habitat details and Botanical Society of the British Isles Distribution Map
 

Ivydene Horticultural Services .

Wild Flowers as They Grow- Photographed by H. Essenhigh Corke, text by G. Clark Nuttall. Published by Cassell and Company, Ltd in 7 separate books between 1911 and 1914 contains information about UK Native Wildflowers with 1 per chapter. I have summarised some of these chapters and put those into this website, but most will simply have a reference to which book it is in for you to read it yourself.

Common Name
Click on Underlined Text in:-
Common Name to view that Plant Description Page
Underlined Common Name in black is linked to its description in its Common Name row only.

Flower Photo
to show Number of Flower Petals and either Simple or Elaborated Flower Shape --->

Botanical Name
Click on Underlined Text in:-
Botanical Name to link to Plant or Seed Supplier
 

Flowering Months
Click on Underlined Text in:-
Flowering Months to view photos
 

Flowers Photo
to show Natural Arrangements of how the flowers are arranged
--->

Sections from edition 2 of the Plant Crib, with some updated sections from the planned edition 3, are kindly made available by Plant Crib co-editor Dr Tim Rich of Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland:-
"Plant Crib on Juncus by the BSBI is:-
A useful account of identification of the British and Irish species, including many useful illustrations, is given by
T. A. Cope (1990) A guide to British rushes and woodrushes. In: A guide to some difficult plants. Pp 68-89. Wild Flower Society, London."

Height x Spread in inches (cms)
(1 inch = 2.5 cms,
12 inches = 1 foot = 30 cms,
24 inches = 2 feet,
3 feet = 1 yard,
40 inches = 100 cms
The above conversions from inches to centimetres are not accurate, but make it easier for me)

WildFlower Family Page
Click on Underlined Text in:-
Wildflower Family Page to view remainder of other Wildflowers in this Family within Great Britain, Ireland and the Channel Islands.

Foliage Photo
to show the shape of each leaf and the arrangement of the leaves on the foliage stem

Flower Colour
Click on Underlined Text in:-
Flower Colour to view other wildflowers with the same flower colour.

Habitat
Click on Underlined Text in:-
Habitat to view further Natural Habitat details and Botanical Society of the British Isles Distribution Map.

Native in:-
1. Western Europe = Portugal, Spain, France, Ireland, Great Britain, Belgium and Holland.
2. Northern Europe = Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland.
3. Central Europe = Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, Czechoslovakia and Hungary.
4. Mediterranean Europe = Spain, France, Italy, Yugoslavia, Albania, Greece and Turkey.
5. South-East Europe = Yugoslavia, Albania, Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania, and
6. Soviet Union completes the Regions of Europe; plus the distribution of this flora in the USA and Canada.

Form Photo
to show the overall form of the plant --->

Form from
The Concise British Flora in Colour by W. Keble Martin, MA, FLS.
Designed and produced by George Rainbird Limited and Second Impression (with revisions) June 1965.

Form for Wildflowers:-

Mat-forming
Prostrate
Mound-forming
Spreading
Clump-forming
Stemless
Upright
Climbing
Arching

These Forms are used for Bulbs with Herbaceous and Evergreen Perennials.

Shape for Evergreen Shrubs:-

Columnar
Oval
Rounded
Flattened Spherical
Narrow Conical
Broad Conical
Egg-shaped
Broad Ovoid
Narrow Vase-shape
Fan-shaped
Broad Fan-shape
Narrow Weeping
Broad Weeping
Single-stem Palm
Multi-stem Palm

These Forms and Shapes are also used for Deciduous and Evergreen Shrubs and Trees.
Wildflowers from Shrub/Tree page will be inserted into these Shapes for Evergreen Shrubs pages.

Fennel
(Sweet Fennel,
Aniseed-weed,
Bitter Fennel)

Flower

Foeniculum vulgare
(Foeniculum officinale,
Foeniculum foeniculum)

July onwards

Flowers

Most of these photos were taken by Ron or Christine Foord.

Soil - Sea cliffs and a casual in waste places inland on the coasts of England and Wales from Denbigh and Norfolk southwards.
Plant Type - Stout erect perennial with solid stem developing a small hollow when old.
Foliage - Dark green leaves much divided.
Flower Colour in Month(s). Seed - Yellow in July-October followed by narrow egg-shaped, ribbed fruits.
Comment - Whole plant has a strong and characteristic smell. Leaves used for culinary purposes.

48 x 36
(120 x 90)

Umbellifer 1 Family

Foliage

ONLINE ENCYCLOPAEDIA 
THE UMBELLIFERAE
(CARROT/PARSLEY)
FAMILY OF THE BRITISH ISLES
Edition - Interactive Launched 01:08:2002
43 species described. By Mr James Miles Burton.
A comprehensive online guide to the botany, biology, nomenclature, ecology,
chemistry, pharmacology, edibility folklore of British Umbelliferae. Umbelliferae Of The British Isles, 2nd edition, 2000. 1st edition 1998.
Also, Interactive Guide to Artemisia, Wild in the British Isles.

Gallery of Photos/Illustrations, Common Name and Synonym of
Foeniculum vulgare with
its distribution in USA and Canada from
Flora of USA and Canada.

A perennial herb found in marshes, on sea-walls, in gravel-pits, on roadsides and waste ground and on rubbish tips. It has a deep tap-root, allowing it to survive in droughted habitats and making it very persistent. It reproduces freely from seed. Lowland.

Native in Mediterranean Europe, Portugal, Great Britain and Bulgaria: introduced elsewhere in Europe.
The aromatic leaves have been use for flavouring since classical times. The fruits have a characteristic aniseed flavour and are used in baking and for flavouring cordials and liquers.

Form

See other photos of
Foeniculum vulgare
from freenatureimages.eu of the Saxifraga Foundation.

Seedheads from Isle of Wight. Photo from BritishFlora

Foliage from Isle of Wight. Photo from BritishFlora

Form from Isle of Wight. Photo from BritishFlora

Flowers

Seed Capsule

Seed Capsules

Garden Strawberry
(Strawberry)

Fragaria x ananassa
(Fragaria chiloensis x virginiana)

May-July

Rose 2 Family

A perennial stoloniferous herb, widely naturalised on railway banks and in waste places, and a casual on rubbish tips. It usually grows as a naturalised plant on deeper soils than F. vesca. This is the most common variety of strawberry cultivated worldwide.

A garden hybrid widely cultivated for its fruit and often occurring as a casual in Europe.

See other photos of
Fragaria x ananassa
from freenatureimages.eu of the Saxifraga Foundation.

Gallery of Photos/Illustrations, Common Name and Synonym of
Fragaria x ananassa with
its distribution in USA and Canada from
Flora of USA and Canada.

Hautbois Strawberry

Fragaria moschata
(Fragaria elatior)

Native in much of Central Europe and South-Eastern Europe; naturalized elsewhere.

See other photos of
Fragaria moschata
from freenatureimages.eu of the Saxifraga Foundation.

Wild Strawberry
(Woodland Strawberry,
Alpine Strawberry,
European Strawberry)

is Edible,
Used within lifecycle of
Butterfly Grizzled Skipper,

Flower

Flower with Buds

Fragaria vesca
(Fragaria viridis)

April onwards

Flowers

Most of these photos were taken by Ron or Christine Foord.

Wild plants which have both short stems and tiny flowers can be gathered into a little posy, heads all at one level, and then treated as though they were a single, short-stemmed and quite colourful large bloom. This posy can often be accentuated by arranging a collar of some foliage, either harmonizing or contrasting, around the outer edge. Ivy can be used but collars of such leaves as the ferny Herb Robert and other geraniums, both wild and barren strawberries, wood potentilla, wood-sorrel and the largest leaves of the prettily lobed ground ivy.

See further flower arrangement details from page on Flower Arrangements from Wild Flowers.

Rose 4 Family

Old Flower leading to Juvenile Fruit

Ripe Fruit

Gallery of Photos/Illustrations, Common Name and Synonym of
Fragaria vesca with
its distribution in USA and Canada from
Flora of USA and Canada.

A perennial stoloniferous herb of dry, sometimes stony, soils in woodland and scrub, on hedge banks, railway banks and roadsides and on basic rock outcrops and screes in upland areas. It also colonises open ground in quarries and chalk-pits, and grows on walls. It reproduces by seed, and spreads by rooting stolons.

Native in all Europe.
The edible fruits are used for jams, beverages, etc; the roots and leaves are astringent and are used as an infusion.

Read about with this photo of Wild Strawberry (Fragaria vesca) in Wild Flowers as They Grow- Photographed by H. Essenhigh Corke, text by G. Clark Nuttall. Published by Cassell and Company, Ltd, in 1912.

See other photos of
Fragaria vesca
from freenatureimages.eu of the Saxifraga Foundation.

Flower with Stem

Foliage

Fruit

Juvenile Fruit

Form

Berry-bearing Alder
(Alder Buckthorn,
Black Dogwood,
Glossy Buckthorn)

Frangula alnus
(Rhamnus frangula)

Green in May-June. Fruit maturing from Green to Red and then Violet-Black on ripening.
Pollinated by various insects, especially bees.

Below 2 small photos were taken by Ron or Christine Foord.

Unripe Berries

192 x 120
(480 x 300)

Buckthorn Family

Deciduous Shrub or small tree with branches ascending at an acute angle to the main stem, with Shiny Green turning clear Yellow and Red in Autumn foliage. Part Shade on Moist soil.
Soil - Scrub on fen peat and around the margins of raised bogs and valley bogs, on moist heaths and commons, in limestone scrub and as undergrowth in open woods; usually on damp and peaty soils.

Foliage

This deciduous shrub or small tree grows on a wide range of soils, but avoids drought-prone and permanently waterlogged sites. It is found in scrub on fen peat, on the edges of raised mires, on heaths and in valley mires, in scrub, hedgerows and in woodland. It regenerates strongly after cutting, burning or grazing.

Native in all Europe, except in Iceland.

See other photos of
Frangula alnus
from freenatureimages.eu of the Saxifraga Foundation.

Gallery of Photos/Illustrations, Common Name and Synonym of
Frangula alnus with
its distribution in USA and Canada from
Flora of USA and Canada.

Sea Heath

Frankenia laevis

July-August

Seaheath Family

Pink H-Z

A mat-forming perennial herb of saltmarshes and saltmarsh-sand dune transitions, especially where firm sand or silt overlies coarser grained material; also rarely on shingle beaches and chalk sea-cliffs.

Native in Portugal, Spain, France, Great Britain and Italy.

See other photos of
Frankenia laevis
from freenatureimages.eu of the Saxifraga Foundation.

Ash
(European Ash,
Black Ash)

Used within lifecycle of Butterfly Brown Hairstreak,

Flower

Fraxinus excelsior

April-May, before the leaves

Flowers

Above 4 small photos were taken by Ron or Christine Foord.

Olive Family

Foliage

Form

A deciduous tree of woodland, scrub and hedgerows, especially on moist, basic soils, but also frequent on rock scars and cliffs, stabilised scree and the grikes of limestone pavement. It can tolerate periodically waterlogged soils, being found around springs and in Alnus and Salix carr. In managed woodland it may be grown as a timber tree or coppice. It is a rapid coloniser of waste ground, disused quarries and railway banks.

Native in all Europe, except in Portugal and Iceland.
A valuable timber tree used for many purposes owing to its lightness and elastic strength. It is used for carriage-making, ladders, handles, sports equipment, walking sticks, etc. The bark is used for tanning; it is also used medicinally. The leaves and fruits are poisonous to livestock.

See other photos of
Fraxinus excelsior
from freenatureimages.eu of the Saxifraga Foundation.

Gallery of Photos/Illustrations, Common Name and Synonym of
Fraxinus excelsior with
its distribution in USA and Canada from
Flora of USA and Canada.

Fritillary
(Snake's-head,
Snake's head Fritillary,
Chequered Lily,
Chequeured-lily)

Flower

Fritillaria meleagris

April-May

Flowers

Above 4 small photos were taken by Ron or Christine Foord.

12 x
(30 x )

Lily Family

Foliage

Gallery of Photos/Illustrations, Common Name and Synonym of
Fritillaria meleagris with
its distribution in USA and Canada from
Flora of USA and Canada.

Purple

A bulbous perennial herb of damp, sometimes winter-flooded, neutral grasslands, usually those managed for hay with aftermath grazing. It is frequently planted in other grassland habitats and sometimes becomes naturalised. Lowland.

Native to most of Europe including Great Britain, except Portugal, Ireland, Iceland, Albania, Turkey, Bulgaria and Greece

Form

See other photos of
Fritillaria meleagris
from freenatureimages.eu of the Saxifraga Foundation

Fritillary Fritillaria meleagris from Wild Flowers as They Grow- Photographed by H. Essenhigh Corke, text by G. Clark Nuttall. Published by Cassell and Company, Ltd in 7 separate books between 1911 and 1914:-

A tiny bulb - it has been compared to a good-size black currant - 2 or 3 leaves, and rarely more than a single bell-shaped flower comprise the Fritillary.
At the outset of spring the bulb consists of 2 fleshy scales wiith, perhaps, a case formed of 2 decaying scales. Later there arise within 2 very minute scales. As the days pass the outer fleshy scales give up their store to build the flower, and become empty, worthless and shrivelled; but meanwhile the leaves are pouring down nutriment into the tiny inner scales so that they grow and swell and form the bulb for the ensuing season. Sometimes, however, the bulb gives rise to a bud, and this forms a new bulb alongside, which again may divide, and thus the plant is propagated.
The leaves are very long and narrow and alternate on the stem, and are little to be remarked upon as they grow among the grass.
When the flower-stalk emerges it has its bud bent right over and lying head downwards close beside it. As the bud enlarges and moves a little spece away, it is remarkably like a snake's head. Still drooping, it opens and shows its petals coloured with colour in a very singular way; red, black, purple, the colour is produced in such quaint squares and blotches " that every leafe seemeth to be the feather of a ginny hen whereof it tooke its name" - "Guinea Hen Flower". The botanical specific name Meleagris is also from a Greek term applied to a guinea hen. The generic name, Fritillaria, is from the Latin fritillus, a dice-box, because, say some, the chequered appearance is like a dice-board. From the plant's point of view the colouring is probably protective, and it is wonderful how it seems to efface the flowers when they are growing among stones. It is pollinated by bees during the 5 days when the flower remains open.

"Grows in damp meadows of southern Britain.

Grown in gardens as a pretty addition to a spring-flowering meadow, grassy area or border.

Plant bulbs as soon as possible after purchase. Handle carefully as they are prone to bruising. Place them 4-6 (10-15) deep and 6 (15) apart in sun or light shade within borders, meadows, or grassy areas in moist, fertile soil

A useful addition to the spring meadow providing nectar for early butterflies and insects." from The Wildlife Garden Month-by-Month by Jackie Bennett. Published by David & Charles in 1993 (ISBN 0 7153 0033 4).

Tall Ramping-Fumitory

Fumaria bastardii
(Fumaria confusa)

April-October

Fumitory Family

Pink H-Z

A scrambling annual of arable and horticultural land and, more rarely, hedge banks, usually growing on freely-draining, acidic soils. Probably mainly spring-germinating, it is typically found in spring-sown crops.

Native and widespread in Europe

Gallery of Photos/Illustrations, Common Name and Synonym of
Fumaria bastardii with
its distribution in USA and Canada from
Flora of USA and Canada.

White Ramping-fumitory
(Ramping Fumitory,
White Ramping Fumitory,
Climbing Fumitory,
White Fumitory)

Flower with stem

Fumaria capreolata
(Fumaria pallidiflora)

May-September

Flowers

Above 4 small photos were taken by Ron or Christine Foord.

36 inches long
(90)

Fumitory Family

Foliage

Robust climbing annual grows on dry Cultivated ground, waste ground and hedgebanks, scattered over the British Isles, normally near the west coast in full sun. It has Light green leaf segments with oblong or cuneiform (wedge-shaped with the thin end at the base) lobes. It has Creamy white, wings and tips blackish-red, sometimes becoming pink after pollination flowers in May-September followed by 2mm fruit on distinct flesh neck.

Cream

A scrambling annual of open scrub, hedge banks and cliffs, and only occasionally found in arable land and gardens. Unlike most other species of Fumaria, it can be a winter-annual.

Form

Native in much of Europe (except in Northern Europe): introduced into Denmark, Norway, Austria and Hungary.

See other photos of
Fumaria capreolata
from freenatureimages.eu of the Saxifraga Foundation.

Gallery of Photos/Illustrations, Common Name and Synonym of
Fumaria capreolata with
its distribution in USA and Canada from
Flora of USA and Canada.

Martin's Ramping-Fumitory
(Few-flower Fumitory)

Flower

Fumaria martinii
(Fumaria reuteri, Fumaria paradoxa)

June-September

Flowers

Above 4 small photos were taken by Ron or Christine Foord.

Fumitory Family

Foliage

Pink H-Z

This is a scrambling annual of freely-draining acidic soils, which has most recently been recorded in spring- and summer-sown crops on allotments, in gardens and in potato fields; also on the eroded soil of hedge banks.

Fruit

Native in cultivated ground in West Cornwall and Guernsey.
Native in Western France and Spain - uncommon in both.

See other photos of
Fumaria reuteri
from freenatureimages.eu of the Saxifraga Foundation.

Gallery of Photos/Illustrations, Common Name and Synonym of
Fumaria reuteri with
its distribution in USA and Canada from
Flora of USA and Canada.

Dense-Flowered Fumitory

Fumaria micrantha
(Fumaria densiflora)

June-September

4-24 x
(10-60 x )

Fumitory Family

Pink A-G

Fields (in arable fields on dry soils in Eastern England and East Scotland; rare or absent in the West of England).

Native and widespread in Europe.

.

Common Ramping-Fumitory
(Wall Fumitory,
Scrambling Fumitory)

Fumaria muralis: Flower head. By Sten Porse, via Wikimedia Commons

Fumaria muralis
(Fumaria neglecta)

A very variable species divisible into the 3 following sspp. of which the first 2 are themselves variable:-

• Fumaria muralis ssp. muralis
• Fumaria muralis boraei
• Fumaria muralis ssp. neglecta

May-October

Fumitory Family

Pink A-G

This is the most common of the large-flowered Fumaria species. It was mapped as `all records` in the 1962 Atlas, and greatly under-recorded. It may have become less common in arable habitats in recent years. Three subspecies have been described in our area, but these are taxonomically very close, and indeed the species itself can be difficult to separate from F. bastardii and F. reuteri.

Native and widespread in Europe.

See other photos of
Fumaria muralis
from freenatureimages.eu of the Saxifraga Foundation.

Western Ramping-Fumitory
(Western Fumitory)

Fumaria occidentalis

June

Fumitory Family

An annual growing in arable and horticultural fields, gardens and allotments, in waste places, and on sunny Cornish hedges. In West Cornwall and on the Isles of Scilly the populations fluctuate from year to year. It does occur in East Cornwall, but mostly in the extreme west, and even here seemingly as a casual. It can appear as a short-lived pioneering species wherever soil is disturbed, and rarely occurs in abundance.

Native in arable land and waste places in Cornwall in Great Britain.

See other photos of
Fumaria occidentalis
from freenatureimages.eu of the Saxifraga Foundation.

Gallery of Photos/Illustrations, Common Name and Synonym of
Fumaria occidentalis with
its distribution in USA and Canada from
Flora of USA and Canada

Common Fumitory
(Drug Fumitory,
Fumitory,
Earth Smoke)

Flower

Fumaria officinalis
(Fumaria cirrhata, Fumaria diffusa,
Fumaria disjuncta, Fumaria pulchella)

May onwards

Flowers

Above 4 small photos were taken by Ron or Christine Foord.

36 long x
(90 long x )

Fumitory Family

Foliage

Gallery of Photos/Illustrations, Common Name and Synonym of
Fumaria officinalis with
its distribution in USA and Canada from
Flora of USA and Canada

A scrambling annual of arable fields, allotments, gardens and other disturbed land, most commonly found on calcareous soils. Most germination occurs in the spring, and the seed bank is long-lived.

Form

Native in all Europe.

Flower Buds
Closed in August

Juvenile Seeds
on 11 August

Flowers in August

Native plant, which if seen in quantity at a distance the greyish foliage has the faint smoky appearance that gives the plant its name. Pollinated by bees or probably more frequently selfed, self-fertile.

Robust, suberect, diffuse or climbing herb growing as weed on moist cultivated ground on the lighter soils (Sand and Chalk), waste places and hedgebanks throughout the British Isles in Full Sun. It has Light green leaf segments with flat laceolate or linear-oblong lobes; with Pink with tips flowers and wings blackish-red in May-October followed by globular seed pods which are 1-seeded.

See other photos of
Fumaria officinalis
from freenatureimages.eu of the Saxifraga Foundation.

Read about Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis) in Wild Flowers as They Grow- Photographed by H. Essenhigh Corke, text by G. Clark Nuttall. Published by Cassell and Company, Ltd, Fourth Series, in 1912.

Small Fumitory
(Fine-leaved Fumitory,
Indian Fumitory,
Small-Flowered Fumitory)

Fumaria parviflora

June-September

Fumitory Family

This scrambling annual is almost exclusively found in arable fields on chalky soils, though may occasionally be found on other areas of disturbed ground near arable populations. It is usually associated with other uncommon arable species and, like the other small-flowered Fumaria species, is generally found in spring-sown crops.

Native and widespread in Europe, except in the north.

See other photos of
Fumaria parviflora
from freenatureimages.eu of the Saxifraga Foundation.

Gallery of Photos/Illustrations, Common Name and Synonym of
Fumaria parviflora with
its distribution in USA and Canada from
Flora of USA and Canada

Purple Ramping-Fumitory

Fumaria purpurea

June

Fumitory Family

This is a scrambling annual of hedge banks, earth-core walls, arable land and gardens on acidic, freely-draining soils, usually most abundant in disturbed places, or in habitats opened up by summer drought. Most occurrences are in spring-sown crops, although in the Isles of Scilly it is found in bulb-fields. Lowland. Species Action Plan for this plant.

Native on cultivated and waste ground, and hedgebanks, scattered over the British Isles. Of interest as an almost certainly endemic lant, entirely confined to artificial habitats.

Few-Flowered Fumitory
(Earthsmoke,
Few-Flower Fumitory)

Fumaria vaillantii ss Fischer et al. EfÖLS 2008 ISBN 978-3-85474-187-9. By Stefan.lefnaer, via Wikimedia Commons

Fumaria vaillantii
(Fumaria camerarii, Fumaria chavinii, Fumaria tenuiflora,
Fumaria officinalis)

June-September

6-20 x
(15-50 x )

Fumitory Family

Pink A-G

This scrambling annual is almost exclusively found in arable fields on chalky soils, and is usually associated with other uncommon arable species. Like the other small-flowered Fumaria species, F. vaillantii is most frequently found in spring-sown crops.

Native and widespread in Europe.

See other photos of
Fumaria vaillantii
from freenatureimages.eu of the Saxifraga Foundation.

Gallery of Photos/Illustrations, Common Name and Synonym of
Fumaria vaillantii with
its distribution in USA and Canada from
Flora of USA and Canada

Yellow Star-of-Bethlehem

Gagea lutea

March-May

Lily Family

A bulbous perennial herb of moist, base-rich, shady habitats including woods, hedgerows, limestone pavements, pastures, riverbanks and stream banks; sometimes washed down on alluvium in riverine woodland subject to seasonal flooding. Mainly lowland, but to 340 m near Ribblehead (Mid-W. Yorks.).

Native to most of Europe including Great Britain, except for Portugal, Ireland and Iceland.

See other photos of
Gagea lutea
from freenatureimages.eu of the Saxifraga Foundation.

Snowdrop
(Common Snowdrop)

Flower

The above small photo was taken by Christine Foord.

Gallery of Photos/Illustrations, Common Name and Synonym of
Galanthus nivalis with
its distribution in USA and Canada from
Flora of USA and Canada

Galanthus nivalis

February-March

Flowers

The above small photo was taken by BritishFlora

A complete plant consists of 1 single flower, 2 leaves, a brown bulb, and some rootlets. Each year it throws off tiny bulbs which grow during the year to the size of the parent. If we attempt to dig up a piece of ground where snowdrops freely grow, we discover that the earth is so thickly set with bulbs that the spade can hardly get between them, for there are as many bulbs as flowers, and half as many bulbs as leaves.
--->

Daffodil Family

Foliage

The above small photo was taken by Christine Foord

When the flower fades, then the 2 narrow leaves begin to grow. Hitherto they have been small, but now they double their length. This enables them to double their capacity for the manufacture of food stuffs. And they have plenty of work to do, for by the end of September the rudiments of the leaves and flowers for the following spring have been formed, and finally when they wither, a large store of starch will have been transferred from their tissues to the bulb for future use as food.
--->

A bulbous perennial herb of moist woodlands and other shaded places. It is especially frequent in parks, large gardens and churchyards, but also occurs on road verges, by watercourses and in damp grassland. Spread is mainly by division of the bulbs, as seed production is poor.

Form

The above small photo was taken by BritishFlora

Although in autumn the whole plant is apparently quite ready for development early in the following spring, yet experience shows that no amount of forcing will make it fully develop its flower in every detail, even though the leaves and a blossom may be produced at once. But when the bulb has had some 4 month's rest, then flowers and leaves grow up quite naturally at a temperature almost at freezing point.
--->

Galanthus nivalis - snowdrops in RHS garden at Wisley. Photo taken by Chris Garnons-Williams on 14 March 2013.

Native in most of Europe, except in Northern Europe, Portugal and Ireland.
The bulbs are somewhat poisonous.

See other photos of
Galanthus nivalis
from freenatureimages.eu of the Saxifraga Foundation.

Snowdrop Galanthus nivalis from Wild Flowers as They Grow- Photographed by H. Essenhigh Corke, text by G. Clark Nuttall. Published by Cassell and Company, Ltd in 7 separate books between 1911 and 1914:-
A beautiful legend tells how, after the Fall of Man, the snow was falling, covering the earth with a white pall. Eve was weeping bitterly, for in the barrenness outside the Garden all was desolate, no flowers grew, and hope seemed dead. Then an angel came to comfort her, and caught a flake of the driving snow, breathed on it, and bade it bloom as an earnest that hope still lived and sumer and flowers would come again. So the Snowdrop was born and is, to this day, the emblem of consolation and hope.
Sometimes, but not always, for the weather may be too severe, a hive bee comes on a sunshiny noon and fertilises the flower. Finally, when she returns to the hive, she carries back honey for storage and pollen for bee-bread, and, incidentally has acted as intermmediary between many flowers. But, the weather may be wholly against visitors, and if so, after waiting during a lengthened period of flowering, the stamens become relaxed and, therefore, so widely open that the least vibration shakes the flowery pollen out of them like a yellow rain around the viscid ovary column, and hence a flower will fertilise itself in place of fertilisation from another. Thus we understand why Snowdrops wither so much more quickly in fine weather than in bad, for in the sunshine the bees come out and do the necessary fertilising quickly, and then there is no reason for the flower continuing to blossom. In bad weather there are no bees, and the flower holds on bravely as long as possible.

Yellow Archangel

Flower

Galeobdolon luteum
(Lamium galeobdolon, Lamiastrum galeobdolon subsp. galeobdolon)

May-June

Flowers

Above 4 small photos were taken by Ron or Christine Foord.

Thyme 2 Family

Foliage

A stoloniferous herbaceous perennial herb of deciduous woods, woodland edges and hedgerows. Lowland.

Native in all Europe, except in Portugal and Iceland.

Form

See other photos of
Lamium galeobdolon
from freenatureimages.eu of the Saxifraga Foundation.

Gallery of Photos/Illustrations, Common Name and Synonym of
Lamium galeobdolon with
its distribution in USA and Canada from
Flora of USA and Canada.

UKButterflies Larval Foodplants website page lists the larval foodplants used by British butterflies. The name of each foodplant links to a Google search. An indication of whether the foodplant is a primary or secondary food source is also given.

Please note that the Butterfly you see for only a short time has grown up on plants as an egg, caterpillar and chrysalis for up to 11 months, before becoming a butterfly. If the plants that they live on during that time are removed, or sprayed with herbicide, then you will not see the butterfly.
 

Plants used by the Butterflies follow the Plants used by the Egg, Caterpillar and Chrysalis as stated in
A Butterfly Book for the Pocket by Edmund Sandars.
Published by Oxford University Press London: Humphrey Milford in 1939.

and

The Butterflies of Britain & Ireland New Revised Edition by Jeremy Thomas & Richard Lewington.
Published by Bloomsbury Natural Hstory in 2016. ISBN 978 0 95649 026 1.
 

Plant Name

Butterfly Name

Egg/ Caterpillar/ Chrysalis/ Butterfly

Plant Usage

Plant Usage Months

Alder Buckthorn

Brimstone

Egg,

Caterpillar
Chrysalis

1 egg under leaf.

Eats leaves.
---

10 days in May-June
28 days.
12 days.

Aspen

Large Tortoiseshell

Egg,

Caterpillar
Chrysalis

Eggs laid in batches encircling the branch of the food plant.
Feeds on leaves.
Hangs suspended from stem.

Hatches after 18-22 days in April.
30 days in May
9 days in June.

Black Medic

Common Blue

Egg,

Caterpillar


Chrysalis

Groups of eggs on upper side of leaf.
Eats buds and flowers.


Base of food plant.

-
-
Spend winter at the base of the food plant. They resume feeding in March.
2 weeks

Common Birdsfoot Trefoil

Chalk-Hill Blue

Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis

1 egg at base of plant.
Eats leaves.
---

Late August-April
April-June
1 Month

Common Birdsfoot Trefoil

Common Blue

Egg,

Caterpillar


Chrysalis

Groups of eggs on upper side of leaf.
Eats buds and flowers.


Base of food plant.

-
-
Spend winter at the base of the food plant. They resume feeding in March.
2 weeks

Common Birdsfoot Trefoil

Wood White

Egg,

Caterpillar
Chrysalis

1 egg laid on underside of leaflets or bracts.
Eats leaves.
---

7 days in June.

32 days in June-July.
July-May.

Bitter Vetch

Wood White

Egg,

Caterpillar
Chrysalis

1 egg laid on underside of leaflets or bracts.
Eats leaves.
---

7 days in June.

32 days in June-July.
July-May.

Borage

Queen of Spain Fritillary

Egg,

Caterpillar


Chrysalis

1 egg laid under the leaf or on top of the flower.
Eats leaves, then before pupating it eats the bloom and leaves of the pansies.
---

7 days in August.

23 days in August-September.

3 weeks in September

Bramble

Holly Blue

Egg,

Caterpillar
Chrysalis

 

1 egg on underside of a flower bud on its stalk.
Eats flower bud.
---

 

7 days.

28-42 days.
18 days. Early September to Late April for second generation.

Buckthorn

Holly Blue

Egg,


Caterpillar
Chrysalis

 

1 egg on underside of a flower bud on its stalk.
Eats flower bud.
---


 

7 days.


28-42 days.
18 days. Early September to Late April for second generation.

Buckthorn -
Alder Buckthorn and Common Buckthorn

Brimstone

Egg,

Caterpillar
Chrysalis

1 egg under leaf.

Eats leaves.
---

10 days in May-June.

28 days.
12 days.

Burdocks

Painted Lady

Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis

1 egg on leaf.
Eats leaves.
---

2 weeks
7-11days
7-11 days

Cabbages - ELarge White eats all cruciferous plants, such as cabbages, mustard, turnips, radishes, cresses, nasturtiums, wild mignonette and dyer's weed

Large White
 

Egg,

Caterpillar
Chrysalis

40-100 eggs on both surfaces of leaf.

Eats leaves.
---
 

May-June and August-Early September. 4.5-17 days.
30-32 days
14 days for May-June eggs, or overwinter till April

Cabbages

Small White

Egg,

Caterpillar
Chrysalis

1 egg on underside of leaf.

Eats leaves.
---
 

May-June and August. 7 days.
28 days
21 days for May-June eggs, or overwinter till March

Cabbages:-
Charlock,
Cuckoo Flower (Lady's Smock),
Hedge-Mustard,
Garlic-Mustard,
Yellow Rocket (Common Winter-Cress),
Watercress

Green-veined White

Egg,

Caterpillar
Chrysalis


 

1 egg on underside of leaf.

Eats leaves.
---


 

July or August; hatches in 3 days.
16 days.
14 days in July or for caterpillars of August, they overwinter till May.

Cabbages:-
Charlock,
Creeping Yellow-cress,
Cuckoo Flower (Lady's Smock),
Dame's Violet,
Hedge-Mustard,
Horseradish,
Garlic-Mustard,
Lady's Smock,
Large Bittercress,
Rock-cress (Common Winter-Cress),
Yellow Rocket (Common Winter-Cress),
Watercress,
Wild Turnip

Orange Tip

Egg,

Caterpillar

Chrysalis

1 egg laid in the tight buds and flowers.
Eats leaves, buds, flowers and especially the seed pods.
---

May-June 7 days.

June-July 24 days.

August-May

Cherry with
Wild Cherry,
Morello Cherry and
Bird Cherry

Large Tortoiseshell

Egg,

Caterpillar
Chrysalis

Eggs laid in batches encircling the branch of the food plant.
Feeds on leaves.
Hangs suspended from stem.

Hatches after 18-22 days in April.
30 days in May.
9 days in June.

Clovers 1, 2, 3

Common Blue

Egg,

Caterpillar


Chrysalis

Groups of eggs on upper side of leaf.
Eats buds and flowers.


Base of food plant.

-
-
Spend winter at the base of the food plant. They resume feeding in March.
2 weeks.

Clovers 1, 2, 3

Pale Clouded Yellow

Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis

1 egg on leaf.
Eats leaves.

 

10 days in May-June.
July-August.
17 days in August-September.

Clovers 1, 2, 3

Clouded Yellow

Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis

1 egg on leaf.
Eats leaves.
 

6 days in May-June.
30 days.
18 days in July-August.

Cocksfoot is a grass

Large Skipper

Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis

1 egg under leaf.
Eats leaves.
---

11 Months
3 weeks from May

Cow-wheat

(Common CowWheat, Field CowWheat)

Heath Fritillary

Egg,

Caterpillar



Chrysalis

Eggs laid in batches on the under side of the leaves.
Feeds on leaves until end of August. Hibernates on dead leaves until March. Eats young leaves until June.
---

Hatches after 16 days in June.
June-April



25 days in June.

Currants
(Red Currant,
Black Currant and Gooseberry)

Comma

Egg,

Caterpillar
Chrysalis

Groups of eggs on upper side of leaf.
Eats leaves.
---

Devilsbit Scabious

Marsh Fritillary

Egg,

Caterpillar



Chrysalis

Eggs laid in batches on the under side of the leaves.
Feeds on leaves until late August. Hibernates on dead leaves until March. Eats leaves until May.
---

Hatches after 20 days in July.
July-May.



15 days in May.

Dog Violet with
Common Dog Violet,
Heath Dog Violet and
Wood Dog Violet

Silver-washed Fritillary

Egg,
Caterpillar



Chrysalis

1 egg on oak or pine tree trunk
Hibernates in a crevice in the bark of the tree trunk.
Moves out of tree to eat Dog Violet leaves.
On rock or twig.

15 days in July.
August-March.

March-May.

Late June-July

Dog Violet with
Common Dog Violet,
Heath Dog Violet and
Wood Dog Violet

Pearl-bordered Fritillary

Egg,

Caterpillar



Chrysalis

1 egg on leaf or stem.

Feeds on leaves until July. Hibernates on dead leaves until March. Eats young leaves until May.
---

Hatches after 15 days in May-June.
July-May.



9 days in June.

Dog Violet with
Common Dog Violet,
Heath Dog Violet and
Wood Dog Violet

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary

Egg,

Caterpillar



Chrysalis

1 egg on leaf or stem.

Feeds on leaves until July. Hibernates in dead leaves until March. Eats young leaves until April.
---

Hatches after 10 days in May-June.
June-April



April-June.

Dogwood

Holly Blue

Egg,

Caterpillar
Chrysalis

 

1 egg on underside of a flower bud on its stalk.
Eats flower bud.
---

 

7 days.

28-42 days.
18 days. Early September to Late April for second generation.

Elm and Wych Elm

Large Tortoiseshell

Egg,

Caterpillar
Chrysalis

Eggs laid in batches encircling the branch of the food plant.
Feeds on leaves.
Hangs suspended from stem.

Hatches after 18-22 days in April.
30 days in May.
9 days in June.

False Brome is a grass (Wood Brome, Wood False-brome and Slender False-brome)

Large Skipper

Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis

1 egg under leaf.
Eats leaves.
---

...
11 Months
3 weeks from May

Foxglove

Marsh Fritillary

Egg,

Caterpillar



Chrysalis

Eggs laid in batches on the under side of the leaves.
Feeds on leaves until late August. Hibernates on dead leaves until March. Eats leaves until May.
---

Hatches after 20 days in July.
July-May



15 days in May.

Fyfield Pea

Wood White

Egg,

Caterpillar
Chrysalis

1 egg laid on underside of leaflets or bracts.
Eats leaves.
---

7 days in June.

32 days in June-July.
July-May.

Garden Pansy

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary

Egg,

Caterpillar


Chrysalis

1 egg on leaf or stem.
Feeds on leaves until July. Hibernates in dead leaves until March. Eats young leaves until April.
---

Hatches after 10 days in May-June.
June-April


April-June.

Gorse

Holly Blue

Egg,

Caterpillar
Chrysalis

 

1 egg on underside of a flower bud on its stalk.
Eats flower bud.
---

 

7 days.

28-42 days.
18 days. Early September to Late April for second generation.

Heartsease

Queen of Spain Fritillary

Egg,

Caterpillar


Chrysalis

1 egg laid under the leaf or on top of the flower.
Eats leaves, then before pupating it eats the bloom and leaves of the pansies.
---

7 days in August.

23 days in August-September.

3 weeks in September

Hogs's Fennel

Swallowtail

Egg,


Caterpillar


Chrysalis

1 egg on leaf. 5 or 6 eggs may be deposited by separate females on one leaf.
Eats leaves, and moves to stems of sedges or other fen plants before pupating.
---

14 days in July-August.


August-September.


September-May.

Holly

Holly Blue

Egg,

Caterpillar
Chrysalis

 

1 egg on underside of a flower bud on its stalk.
Eats flower bud.
---

 

7 days.

28-42 days.
18 days. Early September to Late April for second generation.

Honesty (Lunaria biennis)

Orange Tip

Egg,

Caterpillar

Chrysalis

1 egg laid in the tight buds and flowers.
Eats leaves, buds, flowers and especially the seed pods.
---

May-June 7 days.

June-July 24 days.

August-May

Honeysuckle

Marsh Fritillary

Egg,

Caterpillar



Chrysalis

Eggs laid in batches on the under side of the leaves.
Feeds on leaves until late August. Hibernates on dead leaves until March. Eats leaves until May.
---

Hatches after 20 days in July.
July-May.



15 days in May.

Hop

Comma

Egg,

Caterpillar
Chrysalis

Groups of eggs on upper side of leaf.
Eats leaves.
---

Horseshoe vetch

Adonis Blue




Chalk-Hill Blue


Berger's Clouded Yellow

Egg,
Caterpillar

Chrysalis

Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis

Egg,


Caterpillar

Chrysalis

1 egg under leaf.
Eats leaves.

---

1 egg at base of plant.
Eats leaves.
---

1 egg on leaf.


Eats leaves.

---

1 then
June-March or September to July
3 weeks.

Late August-April.
April-June
1 Month

8-10 days in Late May-June or Middle August-September
June-July or September to October
8-15 days

Ivy

Holly Blue

Egg,

Caterpillar
Chrysalis

 

1 egg on underside of a flower bud on its stalk.
Eats flower bud.
---

 

7 days.

28-42 days.
18 days. Early September to Late April for second generation.

Kidney Vetch

Chalk-Hill Blue

Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis
Butterfly

1 egg at base of plant.
Eats leaves.
---
Eats nectar.

Late August-April.
April-June
1 Month
20 days

Lucerne

Pale Clouded Yellow



Clouded Yellow

Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis


Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis

1 egg on leaf.
Eats leaves.



1 egg on leaf.
Eats leaves.
---

10 days in May-June.
July-August.
17 days in August-September.

6 days in May-June.
30 days.
18 days in July-August.

Mallows

Painted Lady

Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis

1 egg on leaf.
Eats leaves.
---

2 weeks
7-11days
7-11 days

Melilot

Clouded Yellow

Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis

1 egg on leaf.
Eats leaves.
 

6 days in May-June.
30 days.
18 days in July-August.

Mignonettes

Small White

Egg,

Caterpillar
Chrysalis

1 egg on underside of leaf.

Eats leaves.
---
 

May-June and August. 7 days.
28 days
21 days for May-June eggs, or overwinter till March

Milk Parsley

Swallowtail

Egg,


Caterpillar


Chrysalis

1 egg on leaf. 5 or 6 eggs may be deposited by separate females on one leaf.
Eats leaves, and moves to stems of sedges or other fen plants before pupating.
---

14 days in July-August.


August-September


September-May

Narrow-leaved Plantain (Ribwort Plantain)

Heath Fritillary

Egg,

Caterpillar



Chrysalis

Eggs laid in batches on the under side of the leaves.
Feeds on leaves until end of August. Hibernates on dead leaves until March. Eats young leaves until June.
---

Hatches after 16 days in June.
June-April.



25 days in June.

Narrow-leaved Plantain (Ribwort Plantain)

Glanville Fritillary

Egg,

Caterpillar



Chrysalis

Eggs laid in batches on the under side of the leaves.
Feeds on leaves until middle of August. Hibernates on dead leaves until March. Eats leaves until April-May.
---

Hatches after 16 days in June.
June-April.



25 days in April-May.

Nasturtium from Gardens

Small White

Egg,

Caterpillar
Chrysalis

1 egg on underside of leaf.

Eats leaves.
---
 

May-June and August. 7 days.
28 days.
21 days for May-June eggs, or overwinter till March

Oak Tree

Silver-washed Fritillary

Egg,
Caterpillar



Chrysalis

1 egg on tree trunk
Hibernates in a crevice in the bark of the tree trunk.
Moves out of tree to eat Dog Violet leaves.
On rock or twig.

15 days in July.
August-March.

March-May.

Late June-July

Mountain pansy,
Seaside Pansy,
Field Pansy and Cultivated Pansy.
 

Queen of Spain Fritillary

Egg,

Caterpillar

 

Chrysalis

1 egg laid under the leaf or on top of the flower.
Eats leaves of borage, sainfoin and heartsease, then before pupating it eats the bloom and leaves of the pansies.
---

7 days in August.

23 days in August-September
 

3 weeks in September

Pine Tree

Silver-washed Fritillary

Egg,
Caterpillar



Chrysalis

1 egg on tree trunk.
Hibernates in a crevice in the bark of the tree trunk.
Moves out of tree to eat Dog Violet leaves.
On rock or twig.

15 days in July.
August-March.

March-May.

Late June-July

Plantains

Marsh Fritillary

Egg,

Caterpillar



Chrysalis

Eggs laid in batches on the under side of the leaves.
Feeds on leaves until late August. Hibernates on dead leaves until March. Eats leaves until May.
---

Hatches after 20 days in July.
July-May



15 days in May.

Poplar

Large Tortoiseshell

Egg,

Caterpillar
Chrysalis

Eggs laid in batches encircling the branch of the food plant.
Feeds on leaves.
Hangs suspended from stem.

Hatches after 18-22 days in April.
30 days in May.
9 days in June.

Restharrow

Common Blue

Egg,

Caterpillar


Chrysalis

Groups of eggs on upper side of leaf.
Eats buds and flowers.


Base of food plant.

-
-
Spend winter at the base of the food plant. They resume feeding in March.
2 weeks

Rock-rose

Brown Argus

Egg,
Caterpillar

1 egg under leaf.
Eats leaves.

Sainfoin

Queen of Spain Fritillary

Egg,

Caterpillar


Chrysalis

1 egg laid under the leaf or on top of the flower.
Eats leaves, then before pupating it eats the bloom and leaves of the pansies.
---

7 days in August.

23 days in August-September

3 weeks in September

Common Sallow (Willows, Osiers)

Large Tortoiseshell

Egg,

Caterpillar
Chrysalis

Eggs laid in batches encircling the branch of the food plant.
Feeds on leaves.
Hangs suspended from stem

Hatches after 18-22 days in April.
30 days in May.
9 days in June.

Sea Plantain

Glanville Fritillary

Egg,

Caterpillar



Chrysalis

Eggs laid in batches on the under side of the leaves.
Feeds on leaves until middle of August. Hibernates on dead leaves until March. Eats leaves until April-May.
---

Hatches after 16 days in June.
June-April



25 days in April-May.

Snowberry

Holly Blue

Egg,

Caterpillar
Chrysalis

 

1 egg on underside of a flower bud on its stalk.
Eats flower bud.
---
 

7 days.

28-42 days.
18 days. Early September to Late April for second generation.

Spindle-tree

Holly Blue

Egg,

Caterpillar
Chrysalis

 

1 egg on underside of a flower bud on its stalk.
Eats flower bud.
---

 

7 days.

28-42 days.
18 days. Early September to Late April for second generation.

Stinging Nettle

Comma




Painted Lady



Peacock

Egg,

Caterpillar
Chrysalis

Egg
Caterpillar
Chrysalis

Egg,


Caterpillar

Chrysalis

Groups of eggs on upper side of leaf.
Eats leaves.
---

1 egg on leaf.
Eats leaves.
---

Dense mass of 450-500 eggs on the under side of leaves over a 2 hour period.
Eats leaves, and moves to another plant before pupating.
---

2 weeks in June.
7-11 days.
7-11 days.

14 days in April-May.


28 days.

13days.

Storksbill

Brown Argus

Egg,
Caterpillar

1 egg under leaf.
Eats leaves.

Thistles

Painted Lady

Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis

1 egg on leaf.
Eats leaves.
---

2 weeks
7-11days
7-11 days

Trefoils 1, 2, 3

Clouded Yellow

Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis

1 egg on leaf.
Eats leaves.
 

6 days in May-June.
30 days.
18 days in July-August.

Vetches

Common Blue

Egg,

Caterpillar


Chrysalis

Groups of eggs on upper side of leaf.
Eats buds and flowers.


Base of food plant.

-
-
Spend winter at the base of the food plant. They resume feeding in March.
2 weeks

Vetches

Wood White

Egg,

Caterpillar
Chrysalis

1 egg laid on underside of leaflets or bracts.
Eats leaves.
---

7 days in June.

32 days in June-July.
July-May.

Violets:-
Common Dog Violet,
Hairy Violet,
Heath Dog-violet
Pale Dog violet
Sweet Violet

Dark Green Fritillary

Egg,

Caterpillar


Chrysalis

1 egg on underside of leaf or on stalk.
Hibernates where it hatches.
Eats leaves.

Base of food plant.

July-August for 17 days.

Spends winter on plant until end of March. Eats leaves until end of May.
4 weeks.

Violets:-
Common Dog Violet,
Hairy Violet,
Heath Dog-violet
Pale Dog violet
Sweet Violet

High Brown Fritillary

Egg,

Caterpillar

Chrysalis

1 egg on stem or stalk near plant base.
Feed on young leaves, stalks and stems
---

July to hatch in 8 months in March.
9 weeks ending in May.

4 weeks

Vipers Bugloss

Painted Lady

Egg,
Caterpillar
Chrysalis

1 egg on leaf.
Eats leaves.
---

2 weeks.
7-11days.
7-11 days

Whitebeam
(White Beam)

Large Tortoiseshell

Egg,

Caterpillar
Chrysalis

Eggs laid in batches encircling the branch of the food plant.
Feeds on leaves.
Hangs suspended from stem.

Hatches after 18-22 days in April.
30 days in May.
9 days in June.

Wild Angelica

Swallowtail

Egg,


Caterpillar


Chrysalis

1 egg on leaf. 5 or 6 eggs may be deposited by separate females on one leaf.
Eats leaves, and moves to stems of sedges or other fen plants before pupating.
---

14 days in July-August.


August-September.


September-May

Willow
(Bay Willow)

Large Tortoiseshell

Egg,

Caterpillar
Chrysalis

Eggs laid in batches encircling the branch of the food plant.
Feeds on leaves.
Hangs suspended from stem.

Hatches after 18-22 days in April.
30 days in May.
9 days in June.

Wood-Sage

Marsh Fritillary

Egg,

Caterpillar



Chrysalis

Eggs laid in batches on the under side of the leaves.
Feeds on leaves until late August. Hibernates on dead leaves until March. Eats leaves until May.
---

Hatches after 20 days in July.
July-May.



15 days in May.

Plant Name

Butterfly Name

Egg/ Caterpillar/ Chrysalis/ Butterfly

Plant Usage

Plant Usage Months

Asters
in gardens

Comma

Butterfly

Eats nectar.

Runner and Broad Beans in fields and gardens

Large White


Small White

Butterfly

Eats nectar

April-June or July-September.

March-May or June-September

Aubretia in gardens

Clouded Yellow

Butterfly

Eats nectar

May-June or August till killed by frost and damp in September-November

Birch

Holly Blue

Butterfly

Eats sap exuding from trunk.

April-Mid June and Mid July-Early September for second generation.

Common Birdsfoot Trefoil

Chalk-Hill Blue

Wood White

Marsh Fritillary

Butterfly

Eats nectar.

20 days.


May-June.

30 days in May-June.

Bitter Vetch

Wood White

Butterfly

Eats nectar

May-June

Bluebell

Holly Blue




Pearl-bordered Fritillary

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary

Butterfly

Eats nectar

April-Mid June and Mid July-Early September for second generation.


June.



June-August.

Bramble

Comma

Silver-washed Fritillary

High Brown Fritillary

Butterfly

Eats nectar.

July-October.

7 weeks in July-August.



June-August

Buddleias
in gardens

Comma

Peacock

Butterfly

Eats nectar.

July-October.

July-May

Bugle

Wood White

Pearl-bordered Fritillary

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary

Heath Fritillary

Butterfly

Eats nectar

May-June.

June.



June-August.



June-July.

Cabbage and cabbages in fields

Large White


Small White


Green-veined White

Orange Tip

Butterfly

Eats nectar

April-June or July-September.

March-May or June-September.

A Month during May-June or second flight in late July-August.

May-June for 18 days.

Charlock

Painted Lady

Butterfly

Eats nectar

July-October

Clovers 1, 2, 3

Adonis Blue



Chalk-Hill Blue

Painted Lady

Peacock

Large White


Small White

Butterfly

Eats nectar.

1 Month during Mid-May to Mid-June or during August-September

20 days in August.


July-October.

July-May.

April-June or July-September.

March-May or June-September

Clovers 1, 2, 3

Pale Clouded Yellow


Clouded Yellow


Berger's Clouded Yellow


Queen of Spain Fritillary

Butterfly

Eats nectar

May-June or August till killed by frost and damp in September-November

May-June or August till killed by frost and damp in September-November.

1 Month in May-June or August till killed by frost and damp in September-November.

May-September.

Cow-wheat
(Common CowWheat, Field CowWheat)

Heath Fritillary

Butterfly

Eats nectar

June-July

Cuckoo Flower (Lady's Smock)

Wood White

Butterfly

Eats nectar

May-June

Dandelion

Holly Blue



Marsh Fritillary

Butterfly

Eats nectar

April-Mid June and Mid July-Early September for second generation.

30 days in May-June.

Fleabanes

Common Blue

Butterfly

Eats nectar.

3 weeks between May and September

Germander Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys - Birdseye Speedwell)

Heath Fritillary

Butterfly

Eats nectar

June-July

Greater Knapweed

Comma

Peacock

Clouded Yellow


Brimstone

Butterfly

Eats nectar.

July-October.

July-May.

May-June or August till killed by frost and damp in September-November.

12 months

Hawkbit

Marsh Fritillary

Butterfly

Eats nectar

30 days in May-June.

Heartsease

Queen of Spain Fritillary

Butterfly

Eats nectar

May-September

Hedge Parsley

Orange Tip

Butterfly

Eats nectar.

May-June for 18 days.

Hemp agrimony

Comma

Butterfly

Eats nectar.

July-October

Horseshoe vetch

Adonis Blue

Chalk-Hill Blue

Butterfly

Eats nectar.

1 Month.

20 days

Ivy

Painted Lady

Brimstone

Butterfly

Eats nectar.

Hibernates during winter months in its foliage.

July-October.

October-July

Lucerne

Painted Lady

Large White


Small White


Pale Clouded Yellow


Clouded Yellow


Berger's Clouded Yellow

Butterfly

Eats nectar

July-October.

April-June or July-September.

March-May or June-September

May-June or August till killed by frost and damp in September-November.

May-June or August till killed by frost and damp in September-November.

1 Month in May-June or August till killed by frost and damp in September-November

Marigolds in gardens

Clouded Yellow

Butterfly

Eats nectar

May-June or August till killed by frost and damp in September-November

Marjoram

Adonis Blue



Chalk-Hill Blue

Common Blue

Clouded Yellow

Butterfly

Eats nectar.

1 Month during Mid-May to Mid-June or during August-September.

20 days in August.


3 weeks in May-September.

May-June or August till killed by frost and damp in September-November

Michaelmas Daisies
in gardens

Comma

Butterfly

Eats nectar.

July-October

Mignonettes

Large White


Small White

Butterfly

Eats nectar

April-June or July-September.

March-May or June-September

Narrow-leaved Plantain (Ribwort Plantain)

Heath Fritillary

Butterfly

Eats nectar

June-July

Nasturtiums in gardens

Large White


Small White

Butterfly

Eats nectar

April-June or July-September

March-May or June-September

Oak Tree

Holly Blue

Butterfly

Eats sap exuding from trunk.

April-Mid June and Mid July-Early September for second generation.

Primroses

Pearl-bordered Fritillary

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary

Butterfly

Eats nectar

June.



June-August.

Ragged Robin

Wood White

Heath Fritillary

Butterfly

Eats nectar

May-June.

June-July.

Scabious

Painted Lady

Peacock

Butterfly

Eats nectar

July-October.

July-May

Sedum

Peacock

Butterfly

Eats nectar

July-May

Teasels

Silver-washed Fritillary

Butterfly

Eats nectar

7 weeks in July-August.

Thistles -
Creeping Thistle, Dwarf Thistle, Marsh Thistle, Meadow Thistle, Melancholy Thistle, Milk Thistle,
Musk Thistle, Seaside Thistle, Scotch Thistle, Spear Thistle, Tuberous Thistle, Welted Thistle, Woolly Thistle

Comma

Painted Lady

Peacock

Swallowtail

Clouded Yellow


Brimstone

Silver-washed Fritillary

High Brown Fritillary

Dark Green Fritillary

Queen of Spain Fritillary

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary

Butterfly

Eats nectar.

July-October.

July-October.

July-May.

May-July.

May-June or August till killed by frost and damp in September-November.

12 months.

7 weeks in July-August



June-August.


July-August for 6 weeks.


May-September.



June-August.

Thymes

Common Blue

Butterfly

Eats nectar.

3 weeks between May and September

Trefoils 1, 2, 3

Adonis Blue



Chalk-Hill Blue

Glanville Fritillary

Butterfly

 

Eats nectar.
 

1 Month during Mid-May to Mid-June or during August-September

20 days in August.


June-July

Vetches

Chalk-Hill Blue

Glanville Fritillary

Butterfly

Eats nectar.

20 days in August.


June-July.

Violets

Pearl-bordered Fritillary

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary

Butterfly

Eats nectar

June.

June-August.

Wood-Sage

Heath Fritillary

Butterfly

Eats nectar

June-July

Apple/Pear/Cherry/Plum Fruit Tree Blossom in Spring

Peacock

Butterfly

Eats Nectar

April-May

Rotten Fruit

Peacock

Butterfly

Drinks juice

July-September

Tree sap and damaged ripe fruit, which are high in sugar

Large Tortoiseshell

Butterfly

Hibernates inside hollow trees or outhouses until March. Eats sap or fruit juice until April.

10 months in June-April

Wild Flowers

Large Skipper

Brimstone

Silver-washed Fritillary.

Queen of Spain Fritillary

Butterfly

Eats Nectar

June-August


12 months.

7 weeks in July-August.



May-September

Links to the other Butterflies:-

Black Hairstreak uses Blackthorn, Privet, Guelder Rose, and Wayfaring tree
Brown Hairstreak uses Blackthorn, Bramble flowers and tops of Ash trees for males to congregate in
Camberwell Beauty It is not believed that it breeds in the UK, but butterflies swarm over from European Countries depending on the weather.
Chequered Skipper uses False Brome, Hairy Brome Grass, Bugle

I have detailed the use of plants by these eggs, caterpillars, chrysalis and butterfly in full with either photos of those butterflies, etc or illustrations from Sandars. It shows that they do use plants all year round and I will insert the information of their Life Histories into the remainder of the Butterfly Description Pages but I will put no further information in this table or the Butterfly Name with its use of plants table. Please see what a council did to destroy the native habitat, so that children could ride bicyles anywhere in the park in the row below.
Dingy Skipper
Duke of Burgundy
Essex Skipper
Gatekeeper
Grayling
Green Hairstreak
Grizzled Skipper
Hedge Brown
Large Blue
Large Heath
Long-tailed Blue
Lulworth Skipper
Marbled White
Mazarine Blue
Meadow Brown
Monarch
Northern Brown Argus
Purple Emperor
Purple Hairstreak
Red Admiral
Ringlet
Scotch Argus
Short-tailed Blue
Silver-spotted Skipper
Silver-studded Blue
Small Copper
Small Heath
Small Mountain Ringlet
Small Skipper
Small Tortoiseshell
Speckled Wood
Wall Brown
White Admiral
White-letter Hairstreak

Details of what plant is used by each of the different 'egg, caterpillar, chrysalis or butterfly' unit and for how long is given in the table on the left.

At least 2 of these butterflies live in America as well as in the UK in 2022:-
Carterocephalus palaemon (Chequered Skipper) - Arctic Skippering - a butterfly of America.
Papilio machaon machaon (Swallowtail) - Old World Swallowtail - a butterfly of America.

The following is an excerpt from my Comments about the proposed destruction of the wildlife habitats at Cobtree Manor Park in the summer of 2010 from my Mission Statement page:-

"We would be sorry to lose the butterflies on the bluebells, bramble and ivy that would be restricted to only the very small area of proposed Wildlife Meadow by the Woods at the bottom of a hill with water springs on it. The wildlife is now being excluded from all the other areas by the "pruning", so that the nettles, brambles etc which had for instance the butterfly life cycle included; are now being ruthlessly removed to create a garden, not a park, with neat little areas."

When you look at the life history graphs of each of the 68 butterflies of Britain, you will see that they use plants throughout all 12 months - the information of what plant is used by the egg, caterpillar, chrysalis or butterfly is also given in the table on the left. With this proposed removal of all plants required for butterflies etc to live in and pro-create; at least once a year by the autumn or spring clearing up, you destroy the wildlife in this park as is done in every managed park in the world. Please leave something for the wildlife to live in without disturbance; rather than destroy everything so children can ride their bicycles anywhere they want when the park is open during the day and they are not at school.

The following information (5 December 2021) comes from Wikipedia about Southern Water Services Ltd, which had a revenue of £0.829 billion in 2017-18. Area served by Southern Water is Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Sussex and Kent.

"Legal issues[edit]
2005-2007[edit]
In 2007, Ofwat announced its intention to fine Southern Water £20.3 million for 'deliberate misreporting' and failing to meet guaranteed standards of service to customers. The misreporting resulted in Southern Water being able to raise its prices by more than it should have done.[11] Southern Water Chief Executive Les Dawson said: "Today's announcement draws a line under a shameful period in the company's history" and "we accept this fine - we have no arguments with it".[12]

2009-2011[edit]
Crawley Magistrates' Court heard that the Environment Agency received calls from members of the public after dead fish were seen in the Sunnyside Stream in East Grinstead on 30 August 2009. The court also heard that a similar incident occurred along the same sewer line some 4 years earlier in September 2005.[13] Following an investigation, in June 2010 Southern Water was fined £3,000 after it admitted polluting 2 km of the Sussex stream with raw sewage, killing up to a hundred brown trout and devastating the fish population for the second time in five years.
In 2011 Southern Water Ltd was fined £25,000 when sewage flooded into Southampton water.
The company was ordered to pay £10,000 in fines and costs after sewage seeped into a stream at Beltinge in Kent.
A leak of sewage from Southern Water's plant at Hurstpierpoint pumping station, West Sussex, lead to fines and costs of £7,200 in 2011.[14]
Southern Water was fined £50,000 in April 2011 for two offences relating to unscreened discharges into Langstone Harbour, Hampshire, between November 2009 and April 2010.

2014-2016[edit]
In November 2014 Southern Water were fined £500,000 and agreed to pay costs of £19,224 at Canterbury Crown Court after an Environment Agency investigation found that untreated sewage was discharged into the Swalecliffe Brook, polluting a 1.2 km stretch of the watercourse and killing local wildlife.[15] Although sewage directly polluted a 1.2 km stretch, the Swalecliffe Brook flows through the Thanet Coast Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) before it joins the north Kent coast to the east of Whitstable.
In December 2016 Southern Water was fined a record £2,000,000 for flooding beaches in Kent with raw sewage. As a result of a series of failures at a wastewater pumping station, raw sewage flooded on to beaches, forcing Thanet district council to close the beaches to the public for nine days including during the Queen's Diamond Jubilee bank holiday weekend.[16] The Environment Agency called the event “catastrophic”, with tampons, condoms and other debris costing more than £400,000 to clean up. The Environment Agency said that the discharge along a considerable length of coastline, resulted in a risk to public health and negative impact in an area heavily reliant on the tourism industry. A judge at Maidstone crown court said that Southern Water’s repeat offending was “wholly unacceptable”. Following the investigation, Southern Water director Simon Oates apologised unreservedly for the failure of the wastewater plant.[17]

2019[edit]
In June 2019, the Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat) announced its intentions to issue Southern Water with a financial penalty of £37.7 million reduced exceptionally to £3 million for significant breaches of its licence conditions and statutory duties.[18] Following a lengthy investigation, Ofwat concluded that Southern Water deliberately misreported data about the performance of its wastewater treatment works. The investigation concluded that Southern Water had failed: to have adequate systems of planning, governance and internal controls in place to manage its wastewater treatment works; to accurately report information about the performance of these works; and to properly carry out its statutory duties as a sewerage undertaker, to make provision for effectually dealing with and treating wastewater. Ofwat found that Southern Water's failure to operate its wastewater treatment works properly resulted in unpermitted and premature spills of wastewater from its treatment works, with wastewater being released into the environment before going through the required processes.

Following the investigation, Southern Water agreed to pay customers approximately £123 million by 2024, partly a payment of price review underperformance penalties the company avoided paying in the period 2010 to 2017 and some of which is a payment to customers for the failures found in Ofwat's investigation. In response to Ofwat's findings, Southern Water announced that following its own internal review, which highlighted multiple failures between 2010 and 2017, it was 'profoundly sorry' and 'working very hard to understand past failings and implement the changes required' to ensure it meets the standards its customers deserve.[19]

2021[edit]
In 2020, Southern Water pleaded guilty to 51 offences related to polluting the water on the coasts of Kent and Sussex with untreated sewage between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2015.[20] It was described as "the worst case brought by the Environment Agency in its history." Over the period, the company made 8,400 illegal discharges of raw sewage into coastal waters. It also allowed storm tanks to be kept full and turn septic, instead of putting their contents through the required treatment process. In one plant alone, 746m litres were released into Southampton Water. Southern Water failed to report its illegal discharges to the regulator, but as the quality of shellfish on the Kent cost failed to meet quality standards due to the high levels of faecal contamination the Environment Agency began to investigate.[21][5] The company was fined £90m for deliberately dumping billions of litres of raw sewage into the sea and the judge stated that the offences had been committed deliberately by Southern Water's directors.[6"

How can a government allow a business to carry on when it is damaging the health of its population? and when it does not bother to correct the problem but its directors keep on committing the offences? Is that because the fines do not matter to the company who continue to commit offences and the government turns the other cheek.