More butterflies seen but action vital say experts

The gatekeeper was the most commonly recorded butterfly in Devon during the survey

Butterfly numbers have "vastly improved" over the past year, a conservation charity has said, but "urgent measures" were needed to reverse their decline.

Butterfly Conservation said its annual survey, the Big Butterfly Count, showed the sunniest spring and hottest summer recorded in the UK had created good conditions after 2024's record-breaking lows.

On average, spotters in Devon saw 12.5 butterflies and day-flying moths per count, a 40% increase compared to last year, with the gatekeeper being the most commonly recorded one.

In Cornwall spotters saw an average of 11.9 butterflies and moths per count, a 39% increase compared to 2024, and the most commonly spotted was the large white.

The most spotted butterfly in Cornwall during the count was the large white

Between 18 July and 10 August more than 125,000 citizen scientists across the UK recorded 1.7 million butterflies and moths, with the top five species being large white, small white, gatekeeper, red admiral and meadow brown.

On average, spotters recorded 10.3 butterflies during each 15-minute count compared to seven last year.

Dr Richard Fox, head of science at Butterfly Conservation, said the survey trends showed more than twice as many widespread species had declined significantly than had increased and a third of species had fared poorly even in the generally beneficial weather.

He said urgent action was needed to support butterflies, such as restoring their habitats and reducing pesticide use.

"Until we do these things we are unlikely to see a great recovery in butterfly numbers, regardless of how much the sun shines," he added.

Butterfly Conservation said the Jersey tiger moth had been recorded more widely and in higher numbers than ever before

Stephen Hussey, Devon Wildlife Trust, said making changes to gardens and other local green spaces could make a positive difference to butterflies and a host of other creatures.

He suggested people could:

• Reduce or better still stop using chemical herbicides and pesticides on your patch

• Introduce more and a wider range of flowering plants to maximise the supplies of pollen and nectar you garden provides

• Leaving patches of grass to go unmown is ideal – some butterfly and moth species lay their eggs on grasses, others will shelter and feed in your garden's new wild zones. A nettle patch is also a great wildlife asset – red admiral, comma, small tortoiseshell and peacock butterflies all lay their eggs on nettles