How YOU can help butterflies, just by counting them

Do you love spotting butterflies as they flutter through the flowers? Well, you can help to protect them - just by counting each one that you see.

The Big Butterfly Count is back from 18 July to 10 August, and everyone in the UK invited to take part.

Last year, butterfly numbers were at their lowest in 14 years. Some well-known species like the Small White, Common Blue, and Small Tortoiseshell had their worst summer ever. Experts are worried that butterflies are disappearing because of habitat loss, climate change, pollution and other issues.

This year's warm, sunny weather is better for butterflies, but they still need help and counting butterflies can give scientists important information about how these insects are doing in different parts of the UK.

In 2024 a decline in numbers was put down to a wet spring and cooler summer, however butterfly numbers have seen a general decline since the 1970s.

Experts warn that things like loss of habitat, climate change and chemicals used in pesticides are largely to blame.

Dr Richard Fox, head of science at Butterfly Conservation said: "Butterfly numbers fluctuate from year to year in response to the weather, and the warm, sunny conditions over recent weeks have been much better for butterflies than the wetter, cool conditions last year, which resulted in one of the worst years for UK butterflies on record.

"How much butterflies have bounced back will only become clear if people get out, in their thousands, to take part in the Big Butterfly Count," he said.

"Although the recent sunshine is great for adult butterflies, the growing drought across many parts of Britain is bad news for their caterpillar offspring, which need growing plants to feed on."

How do I get involved in the Big Butterfly Count?

To take part, first you need to ask a grown-up to go onto the Big Butterfly Count website.

You can then go out together, and maybe take a friend or sibling with you, and find an outdoor space.

Set a 15 minute timer, and see how many butterflies you count in that time.

Note them down, and see if you can spot certain colours or types of butterfly.

The count runs from Friday 18th July to Sunday 10th August 2025.