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Join the Big Butterfly Count and help take nature’s pulse locally during July and August 2021

Big-Butterfly-CountAreas rich in butterflies and moths are rich in other wildlife. They are an important part of the food chain as prey for birds, bats and other animals and also as pollinators. Butterfly Conservation’s butterfly data, collected over many years, is a unique resource which is proving to be extremely important for scientific research into the climate crisis.

The Big Butterfly Count is a UK-wide survey aimed at helping assess the health of our environment simply by counting the number and type of butterflies (and some day-flying moths) we see. In 2021 the Big Butterfly Count will take place from 16 July – 8 August.

It’s so easy to do and is a fantastic activity for everyone. All you have to do is spend 15 minutes in an outdoor space during sunny conditions and count the types and number of butterflies you see.
You can do as many counts as you like on different days during the three-week Big Butterfly Count period, and even unsuccessful counts (where you saw no butterflies at all) are important and should also be submitted.

How to take part?

To become a citizen scientist in the Big Butterfly Count you will need to:

  1. Visit the website and register yourself as a citizen scientist or download the free app for iOS and Android smart phones. See www.bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org
  2. Choose a place to spot butterflies and moths for 15 minutes and identify and record the butterflies you spot (the website and app will help you).
  3. Submit your sightings on the website and app and look at the fascinating interactive maps to see how your data is contributing to conservation science and research.

And, if you are not sure how to identify butterflies and moths, take a look at Butterfly Conservation’s website where there are details of the 59 species of butterfly in the UK of which 23 are most commonly found in our gardens.The website also tells you everything you need to know about gardening to encourage butterflies and moths.