Butterflies are a good indicator of the health of our environment. The more species of butterfly we see, the healthier it means our environment is and the more varieties of plants and insects there are about. There are thought to be around 60 types of common butterfly in the UK. However, the numbers of butterflies and moths being recorded has significantly decreased since the 1970s due to land use change and habitat loss. With the threat of climate change worsening and more extreme weather in the future, the outlook for butterflies does not look good.
The Butterfly Conservation Organisation therefore want us to help them survey butterflies in the UK and record where and when we are seeing them! Visit their website https://bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org/about or download their app 'Big Butterfly Count' for more information on what to do. The count lasts from 16 July until 8 August 2021. Set aside 15 minutes to do a butterfly count (you can do more than one, perhaps even one every day!) and record your results on the app or website. Even if you don't see any butterflies, you can still record it as this is useful information too. The app also has a handy ID page to help you identify which butterflies you are seeing.
Happy butterfly hunting!
