On this cold dull January day, it may seem funny to talk about butterflies, but somewhere near you may be a hibernating butterfly, maybe in your shed or your garage in some dark corner.

Four species usually overwinter in Great Britain the brimstone, usually the first butterfly seen on a warm Spring day and it’s colour may have given us the name ‘butterfly’ as it is a yellow butterfly, the other three are comma, peacock and small tortoiseshell, but over the last few years they have been joined by a fifth butterfly the red admiral which would usually have migrated South to warmer parts of Europe, this is due to the mild Winters we have been having.

On warm days we may sometimes see butterflies flying in January and February, I once saw a peacock butterfly on December 26th on a very mild and sunny day.

Unfortunately some of these butterflies that we may see in the early months of the year January, February and March may not survive mainly because any cold snaps will kill off any early blossom and flowers so cutting off their food source.

Most of the red admiral butterflies that have overwintered in the last few years do not survive but those that do have their numbers boosted by red admirals that migrate from central Europe in the Spring, but as we seem to be going through a spell of cold then mild days I bet it will not be long before we see a butterfly flying if not outside but at your garage or shed window.