More than 32,000 butterflies and day-flying moths were recorded in Lincolnshire this summer, an increase of 55 per cent compared with last year. The figures come from Butterfly Conservation’s annual Big Butterfly Count, which ran from 18 July to 10 August.
Favourable weather contributed to a UK-wide boost, though numbers were not as high as expected. The charity’s data, collected over 15 years, shows that many widespread species remain in long-term decline, with losses outpacing gains.
In Lincolnshire, over 1,900 participants contributed to the survey. The large white emerged as the most frequently spotted butterfly. Nationally, more than 125,000 people took part, counting 1.7 million butterflies and moths. The five most commonly recorded species across the UK were the large white, small white, gatekeeper, red admiral, and meadow brown.
Several species recorded their strongest ever results, including the large white, small white and the Jersey tiger moth. The small tortoiseshell also showed improvement. Others fared less well: the holly blue had its second-worst year on record, the common blue its third-worst, and the meadow brown its fourth-worst.
The findings suggest that while weather can influence short-term numbers, pressures linked to habitat loss, climate change, and pesticide use continue to affect populations.
Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/Maridav
