DISCOVERING the world of marvellous moths at night has been endorsed by UK conservation charity, Butterfly Conservation.

May is the perfect time to look out for moths as they emerge in gardens across UK after the sun goes down.

Discovering moths at night provides a new way to learn about and appreciate the nature right on our doorstep.

Senior Moth Ecologist at Butterfly Conservation, George Tordoff said: "As the nights warm up and spring really gets going, there are so many amazing moth species on the wing across the whole of the UK. Moths are really important insects in our ecosystem and crucial indicators of the health of our environment. There are many species that have seen major declines in recent years, and we must do all we can to protect them. But first of all we have to see how brilliant they are for ourselves."

The charity has also revealed some methods of how to hunt for months in your garden.

Using a moth trap is recommended, but there are also cheaper options such as hanging a large white sheet over a washing line or between two tree branches.

Once the sheet is secured and it's completely dark outside, take a strong torch or camping lamp and shine the light at the sheet.

Slowly but surely, moths should come fluttering to the sheet.

George explained an additional method: "For those that need to go to bed a bit earlier, you can make some sweet moth lures to attract species at dusk. Take half a bottle of red wine and 500g of sugar and heat in a pan, without boiling, until the sugar is dissolved. Find some strips of clean cotton cloth or thick cord and dip them in the mixture. Hang the strips over bushes, tree branches or a fence as darkness falls, then go out and check them with a torch.

"If nothing else, check your outdoor windowsills before you switch off the lights at night and you never know what you might find. For best results, leave the curtains open."

To find out what moths can be spotted in your garden, visit: Butterfly-conservation.org/moths

To discover what moths have been spotted in your local area, see: Butterfly-conservation.org/moths/whats-flying-tonight