The UK’s warm, dry spring has raised hopes that this summer might be a bumper year for butterflies, according to wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation. The charity organises the Big Butterfly Count, calling on the public to submit their butterfly sightings and draw a clearer picture of how butterflies are faring across the UK.
In 2024, the Big Butterfly Count saw the worst results in the event’s history, leading to a butterfly emergency declaration. In 2025, sunnier weather saw better results, and there is hope that with the warm spring this year, butterfly numbers could be much higher.
How to Take Part in the Big Butterfly Count
The Big Butterfly Count is the world’s largest butterfly survey, and asks people to spend just 15 minutes outdoors in a sunny spot, counting the butterflies and day-flying moths they can see and submitting their findings to bigbutterflycount.org.
Butterfly Conservation’s Head of Engagement, Kate Merry, said: “After the colourful spring with seemingly lots of beautiful butterflies appearing across the UK, it’s tempting to assume we’re heading for a bumper summer, and we’d love nothing more as most of our butterfly species have undergone long-term declines.
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“But a bright spring is only ever part of the story, which is why we need people out there taking part in the Big Butterfly Count this summer. We genuinely don’t yet know how this year will unfold, and the only way to find out is for people to tell us what they’re seeing in their own gardens and green spaces.”
80 per cent of UK butterfly species have declined over the last 50 years as a result of habitat loss, pollution and climate change. Scientists need as much data as possible to get a clear picture of what is happening, meaning every pair of eyes that takes part in the count makes a difference.
For all the information on how to take part, take a look at our guide to the Big Butterfly Count.
