The outcomes of Butterfly Conservation’s Huge Butterfly Rely are in, and whereas the numbers are an unlimited enchancment on 2024’s file lows, the charity has warned that pressing measures are nonetheless wanted to reverse long-term decline.
What’s stated to be the sunniest spring and hottest summer time ever recorded within the UK offered good climate situations for butterflies after 2024’s record-breaking lows. Nonetheless, the outcomes from the Huge Butterfly Rely present that it was positively not a bumper summer time for our beleaguered butterflies.
Between July 18 and August 10, over 125,000 citizen scientists received concerned in Butterfly Conservation’s Huge Butterfly Rely – greater than ever earlier than – and recorded 1.7 million butterflies and moths, with the highest 5 species being Giant White, Small White, Gatekeeper, Crimson Admiral and Meadow Brown.
On common, individuals recorded 10.3 butterflies throughout every 15-minute depend. Whereas a marked enchancment on final summer time’s file low of simply 7, it is just broadly common by fashionable requirements, and has executed little to reverse longer-term declines.
Butterflies want two issues to thrive: good climate and a wholesome atmosphere.
Dr Richard Fox, Head of Science at Butterfly Conservation, warns that “We might really feel like we’ve seen numerous butterflies this summer time, however that’s solely as a result of final 12 months was so terrible.
“Final summer time’s outcomes have been the bottom we’ve seen and a stark warning that lots of our widespread butterfly species are going through important stress from challenges linked to habitat loss, local weather change and pesticide use.
“While we’ve seen noticeably extra butterflies throughout 2025’s Huge Butterfly Rely, the figures counsel it’s truly been a reasonably common 12 months for them by fashionable requirements.
“The 15-year Huge Butterfly Rely tendencies present that greater than twice as many widespread species have declined considerably than have elevated. And, whereas most species had a greater than common summer time, one-third of species fared poorly even within the typically useful climate.
“There stays a necessity for us to take pressing motion to assist our butterfly populations, together with by bettering the atmosphere through which they dwell, restoring habitats and decreasing pesticide use. Till we do these items we’re unlikely to see an excellent restoration in butterfly numbers, no matter how a lot the solar shines.”
Winners and losers
Some species did present marked will increase this summer time. The Giant White and Small White each recorded their greatest ever Huge Butterfly Rely end result.
In the meantime the Small Tortoiseshell, which had its worst Huge Butterfly Rely end result on file in 2024, confirmed some enchancment however nonetheless recorded a under common 12 months and has declined by 60% since 2011.
The Jersey Tiger moth had a file 12 months. The species was recorded extra broadly and in larger numbers than ever earlier than.
Against this, Holly Blue had its second worst Huge Butterfly Rely end result on file, Frequent Blue had its third worst and Meadow Brown had its fourth worst Rely end result.
What might be executed to assist
Butterflies are key indicators of the UK’s biodiversity and environmental well being. Monitoring their numbers helps Butterfly Conservation perceive the impacts of local weather change, habitat loss, and conservation motion.
This 12 months’s outcomes are a reminder of how a lot we nonetheless must do if we need to restore butterfly numbers within the UK.
Dr Richard Fox added: “We’ve reached a essential second. The time to take motion for UK butterflies is now. We all know the climate impacts their numbers and with the summer time we’ve simply had we ought to be seeing them in far larger numbers. Even when the climate is nice, the atmosphere is barely capable of assist far fewer butterflies than it used to.
“We should now do extra to enhance the habitat that our butterflies dwell in. For this reason Butterfly Conservation is looking for an finish to the unlicensed use of butterfly-killing artificial pesticides, and asking retailers to take them off the cabinets. We’re in a nature disaster. We ought to be offering folks with the instruments to assist and never the technique of destruction.”
A rescue mission
Butterfly Conservation has launched a rescue mission for the UK’s butterflies and is asking folks to signal its open letter to retailers calling for the elimination of poisonous artificial pesticides from sale for home use. You may add your identify by visiting www.butterfly-conservation.org
Huge Butterfly Rely will return in 2026. Subsequent 12 months’s occasion will happen between July 17 and August 9 so make sure to make an observation in your diary – let the countdown start!
The numbers
