Big Butterfly Count

Big Butterfly Count

July 28, 2016

Help the Big Butterfly Count take nature’s pulse by recording and identifying all the butterflies you find.

The more people that participate in the count, the more we can learn about butterflies and how they are doing. The count runs until the end of August so there’s still time to record your findings.

Counting butterflies isn’t a new activity. 2016 marks the 250th anniversary of the first Hampshire butterfly record – noted by Gilbert White. Often referred to as the ‘first ecologist’ White made this record in his home village of Selborne, near Alton on 8 March 1766: “Saw ye first butterfly, P.sulphureus, a brimstone-coloured one: some people saw several of these, & several that were coloured with black spots; these are I believe, P.urticae”. The butterflies he referred to are the brimstone and the small tortoiseshell.

Today we’re working hard to restore the fortunes of one of our most endangered butterflies. The Duke of Burgundy butterfly is one of the most rapidly declining and threatened species of butterfly in the UK. Numbers have crashed by over 50 per cent since the 1970s and only about 100 colonies remain. In 2003, only eight Duke of Burgundy butterflies were seen in the whole of Sussex.

However there is hope for this dainty little butterfly. Work to restore rare chalk grassland has supported the survival of rare wildlife such as the Duke of Burgundy. Thanks to the efforts of butterfly expert Neil Hulme, local conservation volunteers and nature organisations and landowners their numbers are increasing.

The Big Butterfly Count website has lots of ideas on how to become a big butterfly count ambassador to spread the message to get as many people to take part in the count. Get inspired with ideas for events to hold to raise awareness of the count, like having a butterfly themed tea party or play date. There’s also lots of activities to print off for children to have fun colouring in, like the butterfly face mask.

Go to www.bigbutterflycount.org to download the handy identification chart or free app now.