Big Butterfly Count 2024
The Big Butterfly Count has begun. From 12 July - 4 August, spend 15 minutes in a sunny spot and help gather vital data to save butterflies and moths.
You might be thinking; What do I need to look for? You can download the big butterfly count identification chart on this link, please enter your details and press download charts.
Research from The University of Derby states that there are also benefits to humans from counting butterflies. The pioneering study involved surveying people taking part in Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count in 2022. The results demonstrate that briefly tuning into nature to count butterflies reduces anxiety by 9% on average, while also enhancing mental wellbeing.
Researchers also found that spending just 15 minutes observing and counting butterflies boosted participants' feeling of connectedness with nature. Noticing butterflies more often was sustained over 6-7 weeks after taking part.
Dr Richard Fox, Head of Science at Butterfly Conservation, said: “While we have long known that there is a link between nature and human wellbeing, this study is the first to prove that the simple act of looking for and counting butterflies leads to a measurable decrease in anxiety.
“The results suggest that citizen science projects such as the Big Butterfly Count can play a part in improving people’s mental health, as well as gathering important data on how butterflies are faring to inform our conservation work.”
In a recent Pitchcare article, Stephen Thompson highlighted some of the moth species to keep an eye out for: "Moths are an insect that perhaps people don’t see much, as they come out at night. Some fly in the day. Keep an eye out for: Scarlet Tiger Moth, Jersey Tiger, Cinnabar Moth and Garden Carpet. Moths might well be hiding in long grass during the day so if you walk through an area of rough, keep your eyes peeled."
He also added: "Butterflies always bring a smile to my face whenever I see one. A flicker of colour as one flutters by, a chase and a chance of a photo or at least of an Identification. Butterflies are a good indication of a healthy ecosystem and can provide much joy to people in their gardens. One of my favourite things to do in the summer in the garden is to look at how many Butterflies are on the Buddleia."
Add your counts here on the website or via the app, and look at a fascinating interactive map to see how your data contributes to conservation science and research.