Butterflywatch: A very good summer for butterflies or a return to average?

We require several decent years in a row - 2025 is an improvement on last year but we need more vintage yearsIs it a superlative summer for butterflies or simply a return to normal? Plenty of nature-lovers have delighted in the abundance of gatekeepers, red admirals and peacocks this year, particularly after the dire summer of 2024, the second worst for common butterflies since scientific records began in 1976.We won't know the answer until results from the Big Butterfly Count come in - add your 15-minute butterfly counts in your local green space using the free app or website until 10 August. Confirmation will come when UKBMS data is crunched early next year. Continue reading...