Butterfly Conservation‘s Big Butterfly Count is nearly here!
How do I get involved?
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Pick up your free butterfly ID chart from the Town Council Helpshop on Radstock Lane from Monday.
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Spend 15 minutes in a sunny spot and record the which species you see
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Submit your count online here or download the free big butterfly count app
Why count butterflies?
We count butterflies because not only are they beautiful creatures to be around but they are also extremely important. They are vital parts of the ecosystem as both pollinators and components of the food chain. However, they are under threat. Numbers of butterflies and moths in the UK have decreased significantly since the 1970s. This is a warning that cannot be ignored.
Butterfly declines are also an early warning for other wildlife losses. Butterflies are key biodiversity indicators for scientists as they react very quickly to changes in their environment. Therefore, if their numbers are falling, then nature is in trouble. So tracking numbers of butterflies is crucial in the fight to conserve our natural world. That’s why taking part in this massive citizen science enterprise is of great importance not just for our butterflies but for the wider environment and biodiversity in general.
So, thank you for taking the time to help!
