The 2026 Big Butterfly Count is now on and is running until 9th August so it’s not too late to get involved. Butterfly Conservation and high profile supporters such as Sir David Attenborough, Chris Packham and Alan Titchmarsh MBE, are calling upon members of the public to spend just 15 minutes of their time to record their butterfly sightings.
Whether in a park, playground or your own back garden, your butterfly counting will not only help monitor butterfly numbers and different varieties but will also contribute to valuable scientific research.
‘Counting butterflies can be described as taking the pulse of nature’ Butterfly Conservation
Butterflies react quickly to changes in the environment making monitoring an excellent ‘biodiversity indicator’ to help assess the health of our natural surroundings.
Launched in 2010, the Big Butterfly Count is the world's largest survey of butterflies and moths and it couldn’t be easier to get involved. Simply register at butterfly-conservation.org where you will find an ID chart to help with your spotting. All sightings can be submitted online or via apps which can be downloaded from the site.
Whilst the 2025 results showed some encouraging signs of recovery compared with the record-low numbers recorded in 2024, butterfly populations across the UK remain significantly below long-term averages, making every sighting more valuable than ever.
Butterflies thrive in warm, dry weather so with this year's sunny spring followed by a prolonged spell of warm summer conditions, conservationists are hopeful that 2026 will see an increase in sightings. The Big Butterfly Count remains a vital tool for monitoring the health of our environment and helping to build a clearer picture of how Britain's butterflies are faring. So why not take part, spend just 15 minutes counting the butterflies you spot and contribute to one of the country's most important wildlife surveys?
Encourage butterflies into the garden
Whilst a decline in butterfly numbers is considered to be an early warning for other wildlife losses, as they react very quickly to changes in the environment, there are lots of ways we can encourage butterflies into our gardens. Choosing butterfly friendly plants is just one.
Buddleja, Hebe, Alstroemeria and Osmanthus are just a few of our favourites, but there’s a huge range of annuals, perennials, shrubs and vegetables that are also perfect for the job. Just pop to our Plant Area information centre next time you’re in and ask one of our experts. They will be able to give you with the perfect advice for your type of garden.
The Big Butterfly Count is a great opportunity to help monitor wildlife and help the experts keep a check on the health of these beautiful creatures. We’d like to encourage as many people as possible to get involved…happy counting!