Please tell us about Butterfly Conservation and the work you do?

Butterfly Conservation are the UK’s dedicated charity to saving of butterflies, moths, and our environment. Founded in 1968, we are a leading authority on the conservation of these beautiful creatures – key indicators of a healthy ecosystem– and since our beginning through our proven evidence-based conservation approach have achieved numerous successes like the reintroduction of the Chequered Skipper.

What is the Big Butterfly Count and how is it helping?

The Big Butterfly Count is the world’s largest butterfly survey helping Butterfly Conservation assess the health of our environment. From 14th July and 6th August 2023 we are asking everyone to spend just 15 minutes counting the butterflies you see. Butterfly declines are the early warning signs that nature is in trouble, so tracking the numbers of butterflies is crucial in the fight to conserve our natural world.

What dangers are butterflies facing from climate change?

Butterflies react extremely quickly to changes in their environment and with climate change, some species are spreading north or uphill. But unfortunately, many species cannot keep up with the speed at which they need to move and so their environments are becoming inhospitable. We need to work on a landscape scale to make populations more resilient to change, creating bigger, better habitats and therefore protecting their futures before it’s too late.

What impact does working with Evergreen have on your charity?

Working with Evergreen provides vital funding support through the sale of their insurance products. This allows us to work on more crucial conservation projects to save key species who are facing extinction.

How else can people support you?

The clock is ticking and we urgently need the support of the amazing public to combat the biodiversity crisis and save butterflies and moths. People can support by becoming a member of Butterfly Conservation, making a one-off donation or simply signing up to our emails to hear more about our work.