The annual Big Butterfly Count returns for another year, starting on Friday 17th July and finishing on Sunday 9th August.
Coordinated by the Butterfly Conservation charity, it is a nationwide citizen science project inviting participants across the nation to count butterflies in their gardens and local green spaces. Launched in 2010, with the aim at helping assess the health of our environment, it has rapidly become the world’s largest butterfly survey.
Not only are butterflies fascinating creatures, but they are also extremely important. They are highly sensitive indicators of the health of the environment and play a vital role in our ecosystem, as both pollinators and components of the food chain. However, they are under threat. The State of the UK’s Butterflies 2022 report found that 80% of butterfly species in the UK have declined since the 1970s. If their numbers are falling, then nature is in trouble. This is why tracking numbers of butterflies is crucial to conserve our natural world. The data from these counts can help identify important trends and assist in planning how to protect our butterflies.
Across Guernsey and Herm, a total of 30 species of butterflies are found, including 10 migrant species that have also been recorded. Monitoring the trends in butterflies found in Guernsey is essential in understanding how our changing climate may be impacting the ecosystem and the wildlife found within.
Last year’s Big Butterfly Count saw a huge increase in the total number of counts recorded in Guernsey. A total of 295 counts were completed, compared to 89 in 2024. This is a great success story for citizen science within our island, showing that more people are getting engaged and wanting to help understand and protect the islands’ natural environment.
Angela Salmon, Head of Operations and Education at the Nature Commission is encouraging everyone to take part: “The Nature Commission would love individuals and families to count butterflies for the Big Butterfly Count in July and August. In recent weeks, I have visited many primary schools to promote this survey and spoken to more than 1,500 children so we’re hoping that many families will enjoy taking part this year.”
Pictured: Peacock Butterfly. Photo credit: Angela Salmon
