The big butterfly count is up and running for this year.  It was launched in 2010 and has become one of the world's biggest surveys of butterflies.    It is a nationwide survey and is aimed at assessing the ‘health” of our environment, and that of butterfly populations.  Butterflies and moths are good indicators of biodiversity, and reflect changes in various environmental parameters.

To join in with big butterfly count 2018, which runs from 20th July to 12th August, all you need to do is simply count butterflies for 15 minutes during bright (preferably sunny) weather. 

Sightings from cultivated areas, such as parks, school grounds and gardens, to fields, woodlands and forests are all valuable and help to build a picture of butterfly (and moth) populations.

You can submit separate records for different dates at the same place, and for different places that you visit. Your count is valuable even if you do not see any butterflies or moths!

There is a very useful identification chart available to help you find out which butterflies you have seen.  You can send in your records online at www.bigbutterflycount.org or you can use the FREE big butterfly count smartphone apps (available for iOS and Android).