Garden wildlife specialists Vivara has teamed up with wildlife charity, Butterfly Conservation, to help encourage people to become citizen scientists this summer.
The new website brand, owned by CJ WildBird Foods, has become a sponsor of the annual Big Butterfly Count, the UK-wide butterfly spotting survey. The online brand aims to supports the creation of wildlife havens through extensive ranges of foods, feeders and habitats for all those species of wildlife that bring gardens to life, as well as plants to encourage biodiverse wildlife gardens.
To view the new Vivara website, click here.
Launching on Friday, 16 July and running for three weeks, the Big Butterfly Count encourages the UK public to benefit from being out in nature by spending 15 minutes in an outdoor space counting the amount and type of butterflies (and some day-flying moths) they see.
By taking part, people will be helping to assess the health of the environment and provide feedback on how species are coping. The campaign also aims to inspire people to help protect butterflies and other pollinators, which are declining in the UK.
Bastiaan de Jong, Chief Commercial Officer at Vivara, said:
"Every garden has the ability to support wildlife, no matter what size, and simple wildlife friendly planting is the key to attracting beneficial butterflies, bees and other pollinating insects. Our core goal at Vivara UK is accessibility - to encourage anyone and everyone to care for wildlife in their outside space, starting from the ground upwards - by sharing our expert advice, product range and garden inspiration. Through our work with the Butterfly Conservation, we are extremely proud to be the sponsors of the Big Butterfly Count, which everyone can be a part of, helping to promote the benefit of identifying and protecting these delicate species.”
Julie Williams, CEO of Butterfly Conservation, added:
“We are delighted to be partnering with Vivara to encourage more people to become citizen scientists and contribute towards our crucial conservation work. Together we hope to inspire more people to take part and enjoy the nature on our doorsteps, which could be something as simple as a single plant pot on a patio or windowsill, and to play their part in protecting our pollinators in the long term."
Last year over 111,000 people submitted over 145,000 counts with an incredible 1.5M butterflies recorded in total. And as this summer more people than ever will be enjoying the wonderful outdoors that the UK has to offer, the charity hopes to collect even more data this year. A new species has also been added for those living in England - the Jersey Tiger moth.
To view the new Vivara website, click here.
About Vivara
Vivara is the latest evolution from 35 years of development by CJ WildBird Foods Ltd. Providing a solutions focus for biodiverse wildlife gardens, vivara.co.uk is a one-stop specialist of quality products and plants to support wildlife-friendly gardens and care for garden wildlife. Vivara is also a hub of information and a 'go-to' reference for advice and knowledge, helping all, from the experienced wildlife supporter, to those starting out on their nature journey. The holding company works with over 20 wildlife charities and organisations across Europe to support conservation projects, raise awareness and develop innovative new products to best suit the needs of wildlife. www.vivara.co.uk
About the Big Butterfly Count
The Big Butterfly Count is a UK-wide survey, run by Butterfly Conservation, aimed at helping us assess the health of our environment simply by counting the amount and type of butterflies (and some day-flying moths) we see. It’s so easy to do and is a fantastic activity for people from 3 to 103 years. All you have to do is spend 15 minutes in an outdoor space during sunny conditions and count the types and amount of butterflies you see. The count is sponsored by garden wildlife specialists Vivara and the DFN Foundation. To find out more go to Bigbutterflycount.org.