People across the UK are being asked to take part in an annual count of butterflies starting on the 15th July.

I was only thinking the other day that I had not seen many butterflies at all in my garden or on the country lanes when I go cycling.

The Big Butterfly Count is a nationwide citizen science survey aimed at helping us assess the health of our environment. It was launched in 2010 and has rapidly become the world’s biggest survey of butterflies. Over 107,000 citizen scientists took part in 2021, submitting 152,039 counts of butterflies and day-flying moths from across the UK.

Big Butterfly Count could provide key research on the impact of climate change on wildlife.

Members of the public should spend 15 minutes outside counting the number and type of butterflies they see.

The annual count will take place over the next three weeks starting on the 15th July.

Packham, who is vice-president of Butterfly Conservation, said: “Biodiversity and climate crisis is an urgent issue and it can be overwhelming to think about what we can do as individuals to really make a difference.

…low numbers of speckled wood butterflies, while small tortoiseshells, commas, green-veined whites, large whites and red admirals 

Butterfly Conservation

“Because butterflies and moths make excellent indicators of the impacts of climate change and other human environmental factors, collecting data on their numbers is really important.

If you want to get involved or find out more visit these links.
You can also download a fabulous poster to help identify the butterflies and day time moths!