Residents urged to join this year’s Big Butterfly Count
East Yorkshire residents are being urged to discover whether their favourite butterflies are thriving this summer.
Yorkshire crowned the Peacock its favourite butterfly, now wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation is calling on residents to get out for its annual Big Butterfly Count and report on how the showstopping species is faring.
As well as topping the Yorkshire’s leaderboard, the Peacock reigned supreme across the nation, taking the title of Britain’s Favourite Butterfly in the first-ever vote on all 60 UK butterflies.
Completing the colourful cast of characters in the county’s top five were the uplifting Orange-tip in second, striking Red Admiral taking third, sunshine-yellow Brimstone in fourth, and fairy-like Holly Blue in fifth.
Now Butterfly Conservation wants to know how butterflies are faring across the county this summer.
The charity is calling on everyone in Yorkshire to take part in this year’s Big Butterfly Count, which kicks off on Friday, July 17 and runs until Sunday, August 9, to help scientists see what’s happening with some of our most common and much-loved butterflies.
The world’s largest butterfly survey, the Big Butterfly Count asks people to spend just 15 minutes outdoors in a sunny spot, count the butterflies and day-flying moths they see, and submit their sightings via the free app or at www.bigbutterflycount.org.
Butterfly Conservation’s head of engagement, Kate Merry, said: “It’s been wonderful to see so many people in Yorkshire get behind their favourite butterflies in the vote. Now we want that passion to turn into action!
“The Big Butterfly Count starts on Friday, July 17 and we’d love residents to be ready and waiting to help paint a picture of how butterflies and moths are doing across the county.”