Butterfly numbers hit record low
Butterfly numbers in the UK are still declining, latest figures have shown. This year’s Big Butterfly Count, which ran from July 15 to August 7, revealed an average of just under nine butterflies seen per individual count, an all-time low in the 13 years since the citizen science project began.
Species that saw a worrying decline from last year include some well-known favourites, such as Red Admiral, Small White and Meadow Brown.
Head of Science for Butterfly Conservation, Dr Richard Fox, said: “We might have expected this summer to have been a much better one for butterflies given the good weather we experienced in many parts of the UK. The fact that more butterflies weren’t seen is concerning and it’s clear that much more needs to be done to protect and restore habitats to aid nature recovery. The sun could shine for days on end, but we still won’t see more butterflies unless there is habitat for them to thrive in.”
Some species did show a revival, however, with increased numbers of Gatekeeper, Comma, Common Blue and Holly Blue.