Getting involved with butterflies and their conservation.

Butterfly Conservation is the UK charity dedicated to the conservation of butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera). Three quarters of butterfly and two-thirds of moth species are in decline. Whilst important in their own right, butterflies are also indicators of a healthy environment and enhance the quality of life for many people.

Why Count Butterflies?

Understanding changes in butterfly populations is key to conserving them. Knowing the distribution and abundance of different species helps Butterfly Conservation know which species (such as the Pearl Bordered Fritillary) are in decline and which (such as the Ringlet) are on the increase and which (such as the Speckled Wood and Holly Blue) are moving into new areas, possibly due to changes in climate.

Butterflies can be indicators of climate change and of other changes in land use. This is because they respond very quickly to those changes.  Butterfly Conservation often calls it ‘Taking Nature’s Pulse’. Combining records of butterflies with those of bees, bats birds and wildflowers helps to see how nature in the UK is doing. 

Another good reason for identifying and counting butterflies is that it is fun! Butterflies are best seen on warm sunny days when there is little wind, ideal for sitting in the garden or going a walk or having a picnic too. Nice!

How to get involved?

Butterflies are best seen between 1 April and 30 September so this is the time Butterfly Conservation likes us to count butterflies.

The simplest way to get involved and one which involves minimum commitment (just some free time when you feel like it when the weather is good for butterflies) is to collect ad hoc or ‘casual’ records. You can do this siting in the garden, or when out walking anywhere. The information needed is: date, location and species.  The correct form is included in the information pack downloadable using the link below.

When you have enough records, or once a month which ever you prefer, please send a completed copy of the form by email to the East Lothian Coordinator who will then put all the records together and send off to Butterfly Conservation.

The East Lothian Coordinator is Nick Morgan and his email is nmorgan@eastlothian.gov.uk.

You can download the information pack here.

Alternatively you can buy a simple, easily carried, laminated guide for £4.00, produced by the Field Studies Council via their website: www.field-studies-council.org.