IF you’ve been out in your garden or in the local park lately, you might have noticed there’s been an influx of butterflies.

These Painted Lady butterflies, with their distinctive orange and brown tortoiseshell wings, have flown from the Middle East and North Africa, on their 10-yearly migration to the British Isles.

It’s an impressive feat, finding their way hundreds of miles across land and sea. However, some experts are concerned that patterns of migration are changing, with butterflies arriving earlier than usual. This may be because their habitats are being destroyed by climate change, forcing them to migrate earlier in search of food.

A recent intergovernmental report from the IPBES (Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services) highlighted the increasing rate at which nature is being destroyed, with one million species worldwide at risk of extinction.

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The impact of this destruction of life on earth could be as significant as climate change, and requires just as urgent a response.

Earlier this year, Glasgow City Council declared a climate emergency, and we need to make sure biodiversity is at the heart of our response. From trees and wildflowers to ponds and wetlands, we need to protect and enhance biodiversity across our city. Not only will this create an environment where wildlife can thrive but it will also offer more green spaces for residents to enjoy.

We can all help. If you have a garden, you can create little pockets of wildflowers, or put out feeders for the birds. And if you don’t have a garden, you can join your local park’s friends group. These groups are doing fantastic work across the city to enhance our parks, like the Friends of Victoria Park, who are restoring the fernery around the Fossil Grove.

Protecting nature benefits everyone, with cleaner air, a greener city, and a better environment for all.