Residents across the UK are being urged to join the Big Butterfly Count starting this Friday, 17th July until Sunday 9th August. Organized by Butterfly Conservation, the annual citizen science project encourages people across the UK to record butterflies and moths in gardens, parks, fields, or even balconies. The survey helps scientists track the health of butterfly populations, which are key indicators of biodiversity and environmental change, as over 80% of UK butterfly species have declined over the past 50 years due to factors including habitat loss, pollution and climate change.
How to Take Part in the Citizen Science Project
Local residents can participate in the count by observing insects in any outdoor space, such as a garden, park, school field, or countryside area. The survey asks participants to spend 15 minutes recording all butterflies and day-flying moths they see. Every 15-minute count helps build a clearer picture of how butterflies are doing locally and nationally. Residents can submit their sightings using the free Big Butterfly Count app or through the organisation’s website, or download the official ID guide to help identify species.
The Warrington Nature Conservation Forum (WNCF) says that everyone can take part at any age and its great fun for the family. Forum chair Geoff Settle stated: “It’s something that our members participate in every year. There is an interactive map that will show you what species and where butterflies have been spotted. You may have noticed that the hot weather has brought out many butterflies across the borough.” Visitors can check the official Big Butterfly Count website at https://bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org/ for details and id chart.
Andy Hadley, BCP Council’s lead for climate response, environment and energy, said local habitats were important for a variety of butterflies and moths. Every 15-minute count helps build a clearer picture of how butterflies are doing locally and nationally,
he said.
Environmental Indicators and Common Species to Spot
Butterflies are vital pollinators and act as environmental barometers. Their presence and abundance reflect the health of ecosystems. By participating, you help scientists understand trends, identify species at risk, and inform conservation strategies. Species that can be recorded during the survey include the Peacock, Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Brimstone and Small Copper.
Warrington Nature Conservation Forum members and other observers have noted various insects during the summer. Common species to spot include the Peacock (bright eyespots, often basking in the sun), Red Admiral (black with red bands and white spots, loves garden flowers), Brimstone (often basking in the sun), and Holly Blue (found in hedgerows and meadows).
Geoff said “I remember over ten years ago when thousands of Painted Ladies crossed the English Channel from France with a following wind to Warrington with over thirty landing on a buddleia bush on Bewsey Street, the rare sight hasn’t been seen since then, but it was good whilst it lasted.” He added, “My favourites are the orange tip and brimstone that arrive early at Spittle Brook followed later by the comma and its distinctive shaped wings. The common blue and holly blue are not seen often but when they are they’re a delight and so fast.” Organizers urge the public to spend 15 minutes slots to record the butterflies and add your records to the butterfly conservation database and put Warrington sightings on the interactive map.
Local Conservation Actions and Grass Management
Continuing the conservation theme the WNCF have helped other forms of nature recover through action, observation and identification. Working with the WBC mowing team grass remained uncut and new sightings of wild orchids, Northern Marsh wild orchids and other wildflowers have prospered. Geoff
Because of their new knowledge of Bee-Orchids the mowing team spotted the orchid spikes in Gorse Covert and waved around them. At the Birchwood Expressway site, Settle counted over 160 Bee-Orchids this year, 60 more than ten years ago when a lady, called Cath, from Cinnamon Brow emailed to let him know of her discovery when she was cycling to work. It was a year of cutbacks and grass had been allowed to grow tall, an environment that the Birchwood Orchids love, though once mowing had resumed in subsequent years no bee-orchids had appeared.
Coupled with this conservation action by Kevin NcCready’s mowing team and publicity from Warrington Worldwide, a further site has been reported by a resident in Great Sankey. We are very grateful for their support and others; it shows that nature can recovered if allowed to and of course the orchids are suppling nectar to the butterflies a win situation,
Geoff stated.
