Britain is in the midst of a 'butterfly emergency': Numbers of winged insects across the UK have hit a 14-year low - and experts warn climate change is to blame Members of the public spent 15 minutes recording butterflies in their garden Participants spotted just seven butterflies on average - lowest survey has seen By Shivali Best For Mailonline Published: 00:01 BST, 18 September 2024 | Updated: 00:01 BST, 18 September 2024 e-mail 1 View comments They're some of the most beautiful creatures on Earth. But new figures have revealed that Britain is in the midst of a 'butterfly emergency', with numbers of the winged insects at a record low. The Big Butterfly Count, organised by wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation over three weeks in the summer, gets members of the public to spend 15 minutes recording the butterflies they see in their garden, park or countryside.
Worryingly, this year's results were the worst in the count's 14-year history. Participants spotted just seven butterflies on average per count - down almost half on last year's average of 12, and the lowest the survey has seen. They're some of the most beautiful creatures on Earth.
But new figures have revealed that Britain is in the midst of a 'butterfly emergency', with numbers of the winged insects at a record low. Pictured: Scotch Arugs The Big Butterfly Count, organised by wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation over three weeks in the summer, gets members of the public to spend 15 minutes recording the butterf.