The UK’s warm, dry spring has raised hopes that this summer might be a bumper year for butterflies, according to wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation.
Butterfly Conservation organises the Big Butterfly Count each year, calling on the public to submit their butterfly sightings and draw a clearer picture of how butterflies are faring across the UK.
The Big Butterfly Count is the world’s largest butterfly survey.
It asks people to spend just 15 minutes outdoors in a sunny spot, counting the butterflies and day-flying moths they can see and submitting their findings to bigbutterflycount.org.
In 2024, the Big Butterfly Count saw the worst results in the event’s history, leading to a butterfly emergency declaration.
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Sunnier weather in 2025 saw better results, and there is hope that with the warm spring this year, butterfly numbers could be much higher.
Butterfly Conservation’s Head of Engagement, Kate Merry, said: “After the colourful spring with seemingly lots of beautiful butterflies appearing across the UK, it’s tempting to assume we’re heading for a bumper summer, and we’d love nothing more as most of our butterfly species have undergone long-term declines.
“But a bright spring is only ever part of the story, which is why we need people out there taking part in the Big Butterfly Count this summer.
Kate Merry added that we genuinely don’t yet know how this year will unfold, and the only way to find out is for people to tell us what they’re seeing in their own gardens and green spaces.
The Big Butterfly Count relies on data from the public to get a clear picture of what is happening to butterfly populations, as 80 per cent of UK butterfly species have declined over the last 50 years due to habitat loss, pollution and climate change.
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Scientists need as much data as possible, meaning every pair of eyes that takes part makes a difference.
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As the survey begins, it’s a good time to learn about the different species of butterflies that can be found in the UK, and how to identify them.
For all the information on how to take part, take a look at our guide to the Big Butterfly Count.
