Join in the Big Butterfly Count

President of Butterfly Conservation, Sir David Attenborough is urging the people of Dartmoor to take part in the world’s largest butterfly survey.

The Big Butterfly Count is a nationwide survey aimed at helping assess the health of our environment. It was launched in 2010 and has rapidly become the world’s biggest survey of butterflies.

Over 60,000 people took part in 2017, submitting 62,500 counts of butterflies and day-flying moths from across the UK.

Simply count butterflies for 15 minutes during bright (preferably sunny) weather during the big butterfly count.

Organisers have chosen this time of year because most butterflies are at the adult stage of their lifecycle, so more likely to be seen. Records are welcome from anywhere such as parks, school grounds and gardens, to fields and forests.

Apart from Sir David, the survey is also supported by celebrity gardener Alan Titchmarsh, Vice Presidents of Butterfly Conservation Mike Dilger, actress Joanna Lumley and Dartmoor resident Nick Baker who have all given their enthusiastic backing to the project.

The survey which runs until 12th August gives important data on how a particular species is faring. Sir David said, “I have been privileged to have witnessed some truly breath-taking wildlife spectacles in far-flung locations but some of my most memorable experiences have happened when I have been watching wildlife where I live.”

For more information and to download the handy butterfly identification chart visit
www.bigbutterflycount.org