Sometimes you just need to stop and smell the roses...or in this case count the butterflies. In our fast paced modern lives it is so easy to forget about the bigger picture, but our environment is something we are all responsible for. That is why the Big Butterfly Count has been launched with the enthusiastic backing of Sir David Attenborough, President of Butterfly Conservation, and Alan Titchmarsh MBE, Vice President of Butterfly Conservation.
Between the 16th and 31st of July we are being encouraged to spend just 15 minutes during bright and preferably sunny weather (fingers crossed for that then) counting butterflies. This gives an invaluable insight into the health of our environments as butterflies react very quickly to changes in their environment which makes them excellent biodiversity indicators. Butterfly declines are an early warning for other wildlife losses. As David Attenborough explained, "The Big Butterfly Count is about more than just counting butterflies - we'll be taking the pulse of nature". If you don’t know your Admirals from your Peacocks then this is the perfect opportunity to get a little clued up, it is also a fun exercise to keep kids entertained. The Big Butterfly count website provides you with all the tools for identifying and logging your findings.
You can find out more info about the Big Butterfly Count and how to take part here.