The UK has 59 species of butterflies – 57 resident species of butterflies and two regular migrants – the Painted Lady and Clouded Yellow.

The State of the UK’s Butterflies 2015 report found that 76% of the UK’s resident and regular migrant butterflies declined in abundance, occurrence or both over the last four decades.

Every year the Butterfly Conservation Trust organises the Big Butterfly Count: https://www.bigbutterflycount.org/. This year it runs from Friday 15th July to Sunday 7th August 2020. Simply count butterflies for 15 minutes during bright (preferably sunny) weather during the big butterfly count. This time of year is chosen because most butterflies are at the adult stage of their life cycle, so are more likely to be seen. Records are welcome from anywhere: from parks, school grounds and gardens, to fields and forests. You can send in your sightings online at www.bigbutterflycount.org or by using our FREE big butterfly count smartphone apps available for iOS and Android.

People in your community may be organising small meet ups to complete your Big Butterfly Count together, keep an eye on our Facebook Page!

The Save butterflies iRecord app is easy to use and help you to identify the butterflies that you have photographed so that you can submit your sightings at any time. You can also find out more about butterflies on the butterfly conservation trust Identify a Butterfly Page.

To find out more about butterflies in North Devon visit the butterfly conservation Devon branch website.

Marsland Nature Reserve near Hartland is being managed especially for the small pearl-bordered and pearl-bordered fritillaries.

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Get involved in Butterfly Transect Surveys

Can you commit more than the 15 minutes required of the Big Butterfly Count? Between April and September, Butterfly Conservation are looking for individuals and groups to get involved in walking butterfly transects every week. This can be combined with walking your dog! All you need to do is walk the same route each week (it's no problem if you miss a week here and there) and record the different species of butterfly and mouth you see. Find out more and get involved! 

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HALF PRICE MEMBERSHIP

Please use the promo code: GARDENING for half price membership to the Butterfly Conservation Trust.

Read the blog by Jenny Plackett from the Butterfly Conservation here.