Big Butterfly Count: Take Part

People are being urged to record buttefly numbers Credit: Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/DPA/PA Images

The big butterfly count is underway - a survey aimed at monitoring the health of our environment. Now in its ninth year, organisers say it is an important way of testing the health of all species.

Butterflies react quickly to change so their decline is an early warning for other wildlife losses. The count will also assist with identifying trends in species, helping to protect butterflies from extinction and understand the effect of climate change on wildlife.

How to help:

  • Download the check-list

  • Simply count butterflies for 15 minutes during bright (preferably sunny) weather during the big butterfly count

  • Record your sightings on the website or download the smartphone app

  • Keep an eye on the results

Top tips:If you are counting from a fixed position in your garden, count the maximum number of each species that you can see at a single time. For example, if you see three Red Admirals together on a buddleia bush then record it as 3, but if you only see one at a time then record it as 1 (even if you saw one on several occasions) – this is so that you do not count the same butterfly more than once.

If you are doing your count on a walk, then simply total up the number of each butterfly species that you see during the 15 minutes.