The Big Butterfly Count is an annual event created by the Butterfly Conservation. The count is a UK-wide survey aimed at helping the Butterfly Conservation assess the health of our environment simply by counting the amount and type of butterflies (and some day-flying moths) that you see in your local area. The count runs from Friday 12th July until Sunday 4th August.
Butterflies are a vital part of the ecosystem as they act as both pollinators and components of the food chain, being a key prey for a number of wildlife species. However, like much of wildlife in this modern age, butterflies are under threat and numbers of butterflies and moths in the UK have decreased significantly since the 1970s.
A decline in butterfly numbers can be an early warning for other wildlife losses. Butterflies are key biodiversity indicators for scientists as they react very quickly to changes in their environment. Therefore, if their numbers are falling, then nature is in trouble. The count also helps to encourage members of society to take an active interest in science and to the conservation of nature.
The website can be found here, along with a helpful tracker so you can keep a record of the butterflies and moths that you see, as well as an interactive map which will be updated during the count to show the distribution of butterflies and moths across the whole of the UK. There is also a phone app that you can download and an identifying chart to help you figure out the different species you are able to see.
I will be taking part as much as I can. Working from home means that I can go whole days where I don’t leave my house, but this is giving me a very good reason to sit outside in my local greenspace and take 15 minutes to just enjoy nature and take even a small roll in butterfly conservation. When I am in the office I work in central London, but will still try to make a point of going outside and seeing if my very urban area has any butterfly tourists!
Taylor Talks Vegan 