Big Butterfly Count results reveal lowest numbers on record

Firstly, a massive thank-you to everyone who took part in this year's Big Butterfly Count. An incredible 85,000 of you spent a combined total of four years counting butterflies in gardens, parks, school grounds and the countryside all over the UK.

Sadly, the results of your counting show a marked and hugely concerning decline in butterfly numbers. So much so that we are today declaring a national Butterfly Emergency.

We're in a Butterfly Emergency

Overall, you spotted just seven butterflies on average per 15-minute Count, a drop of almost 50% on last year’s average of 12, and the lowest in the 14-year history of the Big Butterfly Count.

It was the worst summer in the Count’s history for Common Blue, Holly Blue, Green-veined White, Small White, Small Tortoiseshell, Painted Lady and Scotch Argus. And the majority of species (81%) showed declines in the number seen this year compared with 2023.

See the full results of the Count for details on individual species and how the data breaks down across the UK nations.

"Butterflies are a key indicator species - when they are in trouble we know that the wider environment is in trouble too. Nature is sounding the alarm call. We must act now if we are to turn the tide on these rapid declines and protect species for future generations.”

Dr Richard Fox, Head of Science at Butterfly Conservation

Use your voice for butterflies

In response to the Butterfly Emergency, we're calling on the Government to:

Declare a nature emergency
Implement an immediate and permanent ban on butterfly-harming neonicotinoid pesticides, with no exceptions.

If you agree, sign our letter and add your voice to those of leading conservation figures calling on the Government to take action now.

Add your voice

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