Inverness people urged by Chris Packham to log butterflies as they flutter by

WILDLIFE lovers are being encouraged to take part in a nationwide exercise to provide vital information about the health of Britain’s butterfly population.

The Big Butterfly Count aims to get people finding and recording butterflies as a step towards preserving and – if possible – boosting their numbers.

There were more than 145,000 spottings submitted to the count last year.

Worryingly, however, 2020 also saw the lowest average number of butterflies logged since the event began 12 years ago and scientists with Butterfly Conservation are keen to see if this is a trend that continues into this year as well.

Broadcaster and Butterfly Conservation vice-president Chris Packham said: “Because butterflies and moths make excellent indicators of the impacts of climate change and other human environmental factors, collecting data on their numbers is really important. Something as simple as recording a butterfly spotted in your garden, at your local park or on your window box can play a part in vital research into a global problem.”

For more information see www.bigbutterflycount.org

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