Butterfly Conservation is calling nature lovers, puddle splashers and beach bathers to join the world’s largest butterfly count this summer.
The Big Butterfly Count, which runs from 18 July to 10 August is an invitation to explore the great outdoors, learn about the wildlife on your doorstep and inspire a love of nature in curious young minds.
As well as being an important tool that helps Butterfly Conservation understand how butterflies are faring across the UK, the Big Butterfly Count is a great way to add a twist to spaces you already know and love or find a new outdoor space to enjoy as a family.
For families on a budget, the count has the added bonus of being absolutely free and it can be done in as many spaces and as many times as you like throughout the count period.
The Big Butterfly Count can be made into a butterfly scavenger hunt to add variety to a Sunday afternoon stroll, an “I spy” style garden game or inspiration for a butterfly themed art session at home.
If you do your count in your garden, why not keep a note of how many butterflies you see this year and see whether adding favourite butterfly and caterpillar food plants, such as lavender, nettles and buddleia, helps you spot a higher number next year?
It’s also a great activity to springboard conversations about metamorphosis, climate change and habitat loss with children of all ages.
If that’s not enough to get you out with a butterfly ID guide this summer, all of the data collected during the count helps paint a bigger picture of how delicate butterfly species are faring in the UK.
Having people taking part right across the country, from Lands End in the south to John O’Groats in the north, Ness Point in the east to Ardnamurchan Point in the west and everywhere in between, provides a wealth of data for Butterfly Conservation scientists.
This information shows where butterflies are doing well, where they are struggling, and whether species are returning to the same areas or being pushed further north due to climate change.
This year’s survey is particularly important in light of the current Butterfly Emergency, which was called following last year’s Big Butterfly Count.
On average participants spotted an average of just seven butterflies during a 15 minute count compared to an average of 12 in 2023 marking an all-time low.
With that in mind, the future of UK native butterfly species really is in the hands of our children and Butterfly Conservation wants as many families as possible to enjoy the simple pleasure of butterfly spotting.
Kate Merry, head of engagement at Butterfly Conservation, said: “Taking part in the Big Butterfly Count is a great way for families to connect with nature during the summer holidays. Children love spotting butterflies, and with a little help to identify them it’s a fantastic introduction to wildlife while contributing to real scientific research.
“Whether you’re in your local park, on a countryside walk, or enjoying a camping holiday, every count matters. It’s simple, free and has the potential to turn everyday outdoor moments into mini adventures filled with colour, curiosity, and learning.
“By taking just 15 minutes to look more closely at the world around us, we’re not only creating joyful memories, but also helping to protect the future of the UK’s butterflies and the wider environment they depend on. So grab a guide, head outside, and be part of something truly important this summer.”
The Big Butterfly Count can be completed in a garden, park, woodland, meadow, city balcony or on holiday by the coast, wherever you happen to be, every count helps paint a big picture.
If you’re feeling inspired visit the Butterfly Conservation website for fascinating butterfly and moth info, fun free activities and downloads for children, plus gardening tips and guidance on how to find butterflies and moths where you live.
Favourites, including a poster to colour in and display in your window to encourage others to get out for the count, have been put into a Big Butterfly Count family pack, with something for all ages come rain or shine. Find it at https://butterfly-conservation.org/family-fun
Getting involved in the count, is a simple three step process:
- Get ready with the FREE Big Butterfly Count app or by downloading Butterfly Conservation’s FREE butterfly ID chart
- Join in between July 18 and August 10
- Add your counts via the website or app
Download the free Big Butterfly Count app or visit www.bigbutterflycount.org to learn more and start planning your butterfly adventure.
