‘Magical’: butterfly sightings across the UK this summer
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
Britons urged to count butterfly numbers amid hopes of ‘outstanding’ summer
The Big Butterfly Count asks volunteers to spend 15 minutes in a local green space counting the butterflies and day-flying moths they see. Results of the survey, which takes place from 18 July to 10 August, can be logged on the Butterfly Conservation charity’s website or via its free app. Fine and sunny weather in April and May ensured caterpillars prospered and there have been large and unusually early emergences of midsummer butterflies including peacocks, gatekeepers and marbled whites. Butterflies have also been seen farther north than ever before as a result of global heating, with the booming purple emperor spotted in North Yorkshire and the white-letter hairstreak – which only reached Scotland in 2017 – now found in Dundee. But a few of Britain’s 59 native species of butterfly have not fared well this year, including the rare large blue and common species such as the ringlet. The once-ubiquitous small tortoiseshell continues its baffling disappearance from southern Britain.
The Big Butterfly Count asks volunteers to spend 15 minutes in a local green space counting the butterflies and day-flying moths they see. Results of the survey, which takes place from 18 July to 10 August, can be logged on the Butterfly Conservation charity’s website or via its free app.
Naturalists say it has been an “outstanding” summer for butterflies and other flying insects but the Big Butterfly Count will determine whether it has been better than average or simply a return to normal after the dismal, butterfly-less summer of 2024.
Fine and sunny weather in April and May ensured caterpillars prospered and there have been large and unusually early emergences of midsummer butterflies including peacocks, gatekeepers and marbled whites. Butterflies have also been seen farther north than ever before as a result of global heating, with the booming purple emperor spotted in North Yorkshire and the white-letter hairstreak – which only reached Scotland in 2017 – now found in Dundee.
“It’s an outstanding year for most, but not all, butterflies and many other winged insects,” said Matthew Oates, a naturalist and butterfly expert. “It’s all the more remarkable after last year’s insect nadir, which was by far the worst insect trough in my experience of nearly 70 years of butterflying. I was seriously worried.”
Butterfly Conservation declared a “butterfly emergency” after last summer’s Big Butterfly Count revealed the lowest numbers in its history. The UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme, the gold standard of scientific butterfly surveying, which has been collecting data since 1976, also reported the second-lowest numbers of common butterfly species in 2024 since records began.
Dr Richard Fox of Butterfly Conservation said this year was much more encouraging but warned of “shifting baseline syndrome” whereby people became used to lower numbers of butterflies and so considered what might actually only be a moderately good or average summer to be an abundant one.
“I’ve been in Cornwall and there were loads of butterflies around – red admirals, peacocks, gatekeepers, and the whites are doing well,” said Fox. “There are two big ‘buts’: a better summer for butterflies does not redress the 50 years of decline, and we know that drought isn’t good for butterflies or moths or anything that eats plants. The impact of this year’s dry weather will be on the next generation of butterflies, and drought is not good news.”
The sunniest spring on record and continued sunny weather through the summer have been a boon for many species, and in many regions there has been just enough rain to prevent caterpillar food plants shrivelling up and dying.
Many species have emerged as butterflies earlier than ever this year. The brown hairstreak, which is usually an August butterfly and the last species to take to the wing as a butterfly each summer, was spotted in Surrey and Sussex in June. Lepidopterists expect that some species, such as the white admiral and the small pearl-bordered fritillary, may have unusual second or third broods this summer because they emerged so early.
But a few of Britain’s 59 native species of butterfly have not fared well this year, including the rare large blue and common species such as the ringlet. The large blue is susceptible to dry springs, while the ringlet requires damp conditions for its grass-feeding caterpillars, and struggles in dry summers. The once-ubiquitous small tortoiseshell continues its baffling disappearance from southern Britain, where it has become a rare butterfly.
Up to 100,000 citizen scientists who take part in the Big Butterfly Count each summer provide “quality data about how butterflies are doing beyond the nature reserves that are monitored every week”, said Fox. “Taking that 15 minutes just to spend time in nature, to stop worrying about the day-to-day grind and focus on things of beauty, we know is good for our brains and it’s good for mental wellbeing. It’s something that everyone can do and it gives us a bit of agency when faced with these huge threats to our precious natural environment.”
Public urged to join butterfly count in ‘rescue mission’ for declining insects
The Big Butterfly Count is organised by wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation over three weeks in the summer. It gets members of the public to spend 15 minutes recording the butterflies they see in their garden, park or countryside. Last year saw the lowest numbers spotted in the count’s 14-year history, with a record number of counts logged as seeing no butterflies at all. More than 80% of butterfly species have declined since the 1970s, with experts warning they have been hit by damage to their habitats, climate change and the use of pesticides. Dr Richard Fox, head of science at Butterfly Conservation said: “Butterfly numbers fluctuate from year to year in response to the weather, and the warm, sunny conditions over recent weeks have been much better for butterflies.”
This year, the charity is urging people to take part in what it describes as a “nationwide rescue mission” for the UK’s ailing butterfly species, to provide data that helps scientists understand where butterflies are thriving, struggling or moving due to habitat loss or restoration.
Last year saw the lowest numbers spotted in the count’s 14-year history, with a record number of counts logged as seeing no butterflies at all, and familiar species such as small whites, common blues and small tortoiseshells having their worst summer ever.
Small whites had their worst year in the count in 2024 (Ann Collier/Butterfly Conservation/PA)
While 2024’s lows were in part down to the wet spring and cool summer, and this year’s warm sunny conditions are much better for butterflies, conservationists warn they come on top of long-term declines in the UK.
More than 80% of butterfly species have declined since the 1970s, with experts warning they have been hit by damage to their habitats, climate change and the use of pesticides.
They say that taking part in the Big Butterfly Count can be a small action that contributes to the larger effort to save butterfly species and the natural systems they support.
Dr Richard Fox, head of science at Butterfly Conservation told the PA news agency: “Butterfly numbers fluctuate from year to year in response to the weather, and the warm, sunny conditions over recent weeks have been much better for butterflies than the wetter, cool conditions last year, which resulted in one of the worst years for UK butterflies on record.
“How much butterflies have bounced back will only become clear if people get out, in their thousands, to take part in the Big Butterfly Count.”
He also warned that while “it’s lovely” to see more butterflies around, one better summer would only go a little way to reversing the long-term declines, with numbers in peak years getting low and troughs when the weather is bad getting deeper.
People are being urged to take part in the Big Butterfly Count to help protect butterflies (Butterfly Conservation/PA)
“Also, although the recent sunshine is great for adult butterflies, the growing drought across many parts of Britain is bad news for their caterpillar offspring, which need growing plants to feed on,” he added.
He said the more information conservationists could gather on how butterflies respond to changes, including the weather, the better informed conservation decisions would be in the fight to protect wildlife.
“Ultimately, the more counts we get from all over the country, the better we are able to respond to the challenges, which certainly include extreme weather resulting from climate change,” he said.
To take part in the Big Butterfly Count, people can download the free app or visit www.bigbutterflycount.org, and between July 18 and August 10, spend 15 minutes in any outdoor space, counting the number and type of butterflies spotted, logging results on the website or app.
Elusive purple emperor butterfly sighted at National Trust estate
The purple emperor, with a wingspan of around 8cm, was sighted at Sheringham Park in Norfolk in June. The National Trust said sightings at the estate had dwindled in recent years, but that it has now seen an increase – bringing renewed hope for the species.Male purple emperors have a stunning purple sheen on their upper wings, while females are typically brown with white markings. Despite their colourful appearance, they are elusive as they spend a large amount of time high up in the tree canopy. It is possible that rising temperatures could lead to this butterfly moving further north in the future, the Trust said. The conservation charity said that shifts in temperature and weather patterns can impact both the butterfly’s breeding cycle and habitat suitability.
The National Trust said sightings at the estate had dwindled in recent years, but that it has now seen an increase – bringing renewed hope for the species.
A female purple emperor butterfly (Matthew Oates/National Trust/PA)
The purple emperor, second in size only to the swallowtail, was spotted in Norfolk in 2016 following a 50-year absence.
Sheringham Park was believed to be the location of a breeding colony in 2018, but after a last sighting in 2021 things appeared to have “gone quiet” until this summer.
A purple emperor was discovered in a butterfly transect at the estate in June this year, and staff and volunteers have since reported further sightings.
Male purple emperors have a stunning purple sheen on their upper wings, while females are typically brown with white markings.
Despite their colourful appearance, they are elusive as they spend a large amount of time high up in the tree canopy.
Butterfly enthusiasts have been known to try to lure males down from the canopy with banana skins and even shrimp paste, according to the Woodland Trust.
Rob Coleman, of the National Trust’s Sheringham Park, said: “This a magnificent butterfly, second only in size to Norfolk’s famous swallowtail.
“It was exciting to see the first one back at Sheringham Park in 2016, after it had been absent from the county for the best part of 50 years.
“At the time, some people were sceptical that a breeding colony had been established, but small numbers of sightings in the subsequent years supported this theory.
The view above the tree canopy at Sheringham Park (Kezia Everson/National Trust/PA)
“However, things had gone quiet on the emperor front recently, and with our last sighting in 2021 and the establishment of populations elsewhere we thought ‘His Majesty’ had moved on.
“So, I was utterly delighted to see a handful of male purple emperors soaring again in an oak canopy on one of our weekly butterfly transect surveys.”
The estate’s ancient woodland, with oak and sallow trees, is vital for the purple emperor’s lifecycle.
Early indications from transects elsewhere in the country show numbers of purple emperors on track to potentially beat 2018, which was the last record year, the National Trust said.
The conservation charity said that shifts in temperature and weather patterns can impact both the butterfly’s breeding cycle and habitat suitability.
Naturalist and nature writer Matthew Oates said: “This is indeed proving to be a record purple emperor year.
“Hibernating larvae survived the winter very well, with unusually low predation rates.
“Then larval development was assisted by the fine spring.
“The weather was reasonable during the crucial pupation period, and now the butterflies are benefiting from fine midsummer weather.
“So, it’s win, win, win, win – and all after a ghastly year for butterflies and other insects last year. Emperors are turning up all over the place, including in the Yare valley downstream of Norwich.”
It is possible that rising temperatures could lead to this butterfly moving further north in the future, the National Trust said.
Free and low-cost things to do in Leeds over the summer holidays
The 2025 Summer Reading Challenge has begun and is a free holiday activity for children aged 4 to 11. Children can read anything they like and collect free rewards for their reading, including a bookmark, pop badge and wooden medal. This year’s theme is Story Garden – Adventures in Nature and the Great Outdoors and will inspire children to tap into a world of imagination through reading. As part of the Big Butterfly Count 2025 enjoy a special weekend of activities on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 July, inside the zoo and at the Wildflower Meadows in Roundhay Park (weather permitting) The Butterfly Conservation Yorkshire team will be on site with lots of information on these fascinating creatures. Enjoy interactive play, arts and crafts, games, sports, food and, of course, Breeze’s famous collection of classic inflatables. Breeze in the Park is back for 2025 and is recommended for kids aged 7+. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Hop down to Leeds City Museum over the summer holidays to experience Miffy! Take part in sing-along storytimes, experience dazzling magic and design interactive artwork.
Taxidermied! Workshop at Leeds Discovery Centre
Join a Natural Science curator to look at how animals are taxidermied and preserved, and get up close to our animal collections. How are our animal collections preserved? Learn about taxidermy and the preservation of animals, and how they can contribute to the understanding of animals. After a tour in our store, we’ll be creating a shoebox scene of your own to take home.
Wednesday 13 August, 10am to 12pm, cost: give what you can
Find out more: Taxidermied! Workshop at Leeds Discovery Centre
Creative family fun session with artist Kalisha Piper Cheddie. Use drawing and collage to make patterns on long pieces of paper that will be hung on the large walls in Central Court on the first floor of the gallery. While you’re there, take some time to find out more about Lynette Yiadom-Boakye’s favourite music and poetry that inspired her exhibition, To Improvise a Mountain: Lynette Yiadom-Boakye Curates. Drop-in, no need to book.Tuesday 19, Wednesday 20, Thursday 21 August, 11am to 3pm, cost: give what you canFind out more: Pattern Making Poetry at Leeds Art Gallery This article is in support of Child Friendly Leeds Wish 7: Children and young people know about different things to do and places to go across the city. They enjoy different cultural experiences including art, music, sport and film. Read the full wish and find out more: https://wearechildfriendlyleeds.com/wish-7-things-to-do/ Child Friendly Leeds also have a great guide full of even more things to do in Leeds over summer. Take a look at their summer activities guide here.
Project coaxes purple butterfly as big as your palm into Derbyshire
Project coaxes purple butterfly into new county. Purple emperors have made it as far north as Derbyshire. Two sightings, in Bretby and Aston-on-Trent, in 2024. A further record of the purple emperor basking on a driveway in Ticknall. The species had been noted expanding north from Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and most recently Leicestershire due to climate change. But sighting them can prove tough as males prefer to congregate on the tops of oak trees waiting for females to pass by.
Image source, PA Image caption, Purple emperors have made it as far north as Derbyshire
Author, Isaac Ashe Role, BBC News, Derby
26 June 2025
A “conservation success story” has seen a British butterfly species coaxed in to a new county.
The purple emperor is a relatively common sight in the south of England but until last summer was previously unrecorded in Derbyshire.
The planting of sallow trees in shaded spots close to the oak woodlands the species inhabits in the county since 2023 encouraged two sightings, in Bretby and Aston-on-Trent, in 2024.
And a further record of the purple emperor basking on a driveway in Ticknall on Wednesday means the butterfly is “100% going to establish” locally, according to Derbyshire recorder for charity Butterfly Conservation Ken Orpe.
Mr Orpe, who was awarded a Green Apple environmental award for his work encouraging landowners to create caterpillar habitats including at Kedleston and Hardwick estates, said the species had been noted expanding north from Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and most recently Leicestershire due to climate change.
He said: “We thought if we can get some sallows, which is the food plant of the caterpillar, planted, it might just entice it into our beloved county.”
Image source, Butterfly Conservation Image caption, A female purple emperor was photographed in Ticknall
Purple emperor males can be the size of a small bird, says the Woodland Trust, and have an iridescent purple sheen to their wings, while the females are smaller and brown in colour.
Butterfly enthusiasts call the species “His Majesty” said the trust, and Mr Orpe added in Victorian times spotters would “go crazy” for them.
But sighting them can prove tough, as when mature in late June to August, the males prefer to congregate on the tops of oak trees waiting for females to pass by.
Mr Orpe said: “They’re absolutely brilliant, quite large, as big as the palm of your hand, and when the sun shines on the male it’s a beautiful purple sheen on the wings.
“It’s really good news that they’ve reached Derbyshire. I used to have to go to Wiltshire or Hampshire to see them, that was 20 years ago, but now they’ve come to see us.”
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