4Bs Butterflies
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The UK is home to 59 resident butterfly species, plus a few regular migrants such as the Painted Lady and Clouded Yellow. They are perhaps the most attractive and visible of our insect pollinators. 2024 was a bad year for butterflies because of the cold wet spring weather, 28 species of butterfly were recorded in the 4Bs (see below). Butterflies can be difficult to photograph but some of thioe we have captured in the 4Bs nature group are shown in the slide show.
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Big Butterfly Count 2025
This year the annual survey organised by the Butterfly Conservations Society runs between 18th of July and 10th of August. We are encouraging members of our community to participate in the survey and build on the results we obtaned in the 2024 survey (see below). The Biodiversity Initiative Team will gather all the records made in the 4Bs and produce a summary report for our area at the end of the survey.
Information about the survey including an ID Chart and the interactive map showing results can be found on the Big Butterfly Count website. https://bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org/ There is also a smartphone Big Butterfly Count app that you can be downloaded from your app store.
This year the annual survey organised by the Butterfly Conservations Society runs between 18th of July and 10th of August. We are encouraging members of our community to participate in the survey and build on the results we obtaned in the 2024 survey (see below). The Biodiversity Initiative Team will gather all the records made in the 4Bs and produce a summary report for our area at the end of the survey.
Information about the survey including an ID Chart and the interactive map showing results can be found on the Big Butterfly Count website. https://bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org/ There is also a smartphone Big Butterfly Count app that you can be downloaded from your app store.
Wherever you live, so long as you have some outdoor space, you can attract beautiful butterflies. It is easy; all they need are some nectar-rich flowers and the right food for their caterpillars. Dave Goulson shares some ideas for plants you might grow.
Results of the 2025 Survey
The sunniest spring and hottest summer ever recorded in the UK provided good weather conditions for butterflies, and while it might seem that there were lots of butterflies around, it was not a bumper summer.
Between July 18 and August 10, over 125,000 citizen scientists got involved in the Big Butterfly Count and recorded 1.7 million butterflies and moths. On average, 10.3 butterflies were recorded during each 15-minute count. By comparison, within the 4Bs area, 910 butterflies were observed during the 15 minute counts and the average of all counts was 11.7 butterflies per count. While a marked improvement on last summer’s record low of just 7.2, it is only broadly average by modern standards and the numbers suggest that there is little change in the pattern of long-term population decline.
READ THE FULL REPORT
https://butterfly-conservation.org/big-butterfly-count-results-2025
Results of 2024 Butterfly Survey
The National Picture
Prior to the survey, there was concern about the lack of butterflies and bees, with many commentators attributing this to the poor spring early summer weather. July witnessed warmer and sunnier weather and butterflies, moths and other pollinators began to appear in greater numbers. By the end of the count (see footnote) 919,325 butterflies and moths of the selected species had been counted across the UK with an average of 7 butterflies recorded for each count - an all time low and almost half the average number of 12 butterflies recorded for each count in 2023. While we may blame the poor weather for the reduced abundance of these indicator species of butterflies and moths, the long term decline in populations must be a serious cause for concern.
Butterflies & Moths in the 4Bs
Turning to our 4Bs patch (Buckland, Betchworth, Brockham and Box Hill) this is the first time we have tried to collect data for our area so we have nothing to compare. Thanks to the contributions of 54 citizen scientists we managed 176 counts and recorded a total of 2766 butterflies and a total of 32 species (28 species of butterfly + 4 moth).
Species Abundance
Large White n=136, Small White 232, Green Veined White 21, Brimstone 14, Marbled White 71, Small Copper 31, Gatekeeper 609, Meadow Brown 999, Ringlet 69, Speckled Wood 57, Comma 46, Painted Lady 5, Small Tortoishell 5, Red Admiral 35, Peacock 39, Common Blue 137, Holly Blue 2, Silver Y 25, Six Spot Burnet 205, Jersey Tiger 12, Also significant but unknown numbers of Small Skipper and Large Skipper and small but unknown numbers of Small Heath, Dark Green and Silver-washed Fritillary, Small Blue, Chalk Hill Blue, White Admiral and Brown Hairstreak.
Our commonest butterflies and moths are: 1.Meadow Brown 992; 2.Gatekeeper 624; 3.Small White 232; 4.Six Spot Burnet 205; 5.Common Blue 137. This compares with the commonest butterflies and mothsi in the UK-wide survey 1.Gatekeeper 184,901; 2.Meadow Brown 175,654; 3.Large White 135,375; 4.Small White 110,016; 5.Peacock 48,813. These differences are likely to reflect the particular habitats we have within the 4Bs area.
Further work
Thanks to our 54 citizen scientists we now have an excellent data base that provides us with baseline data for future surveys and a map of locations. Using this information we will be able to say something about the distribution of butterflies across the 4Bs area. We can continue adding to this data base outside the count by adding any new species to our list as they are spotted. Furthermore, the Big Butterfly Count interactive map remains open through August for people to continue uploading counts.
We have made a great start to understanding the biodiversity of these indicator species in our area and we need to say a big thank you to everyone who contributed.
Footnote - The numbers above for the 2024 survey are the numbers at 11pm on August 4th. On August 5th butterfly counts are still being accepted so these numbers may rise.
This movie shows the butterfly species we have identified to date. We will add to it as more butterflies are discovered.
The sunniest spring and hottest summer ever recorded in the UK provided good weather conditions for butterflies, and while it might seem that there were lots of butterflies around, it was not a bumper summer.
Between July 18 and August 10, over 125,000 citizen scientists got involved in the Big Butterfly Count and recorded 1.7 million butterflies and moths. On average, 10.3 butterflies were recorded during each 15-minute count. By comparison, within the 4Bs area, 910 butterflies were observed during the 15 minute counts and the average of all counts was 11.7 butterflies per count. While a marked improvement on last summer’s record low of just 7.2, it is only broadly average by modern standards and the numbers suggest that there is little change in the pattern of long-term population decline.
READ THE FULL REPORT
https://butterfly-conservation.org/big-butterfly-count-results-2025
Results of 2024 Butterfly Survey
The National Picture
Prior to the survey, there was concern about the lack of butterflies and bees, with many commentators attributing this to the poor spring early summer weather. July witnessed warmer and sunnier weather and butterflies, moths and other pollinators began to appear in greater numbers. By the end of the count (see footnote) 919,325 butterflies and moths of the selected species had been counted across the UK with an average of 7 butterflies recorded for each count - an all time low and almost half the average number of 12 butterflies recorded for each count in 2023. While we may blame the poor weather for the reduced abundance of these indicator species of butterflies and moths, the long term decline in populations must be a serious cause for concern.
Butterflies & Moths in the 4Bs
Turning to our 4Bs patch (Buckland, Betchworth, Brockham and Box Hill) this is the first time we have tried to collect data for our area so we have nothing to compare. Thanks to the contributions of 54 citizen scientists we managed 176 counts and recorded a total of 2766 butterflies and a total of 32 species (28 species of butterfly + 4 moth).
Species Abundance
Large White n=136, Small White 232, Green Veined White 21, Brimstone 14, Marbled White 71, Small Copper 31, Gatekeeper 609, Meadow Brown 999, Ringlet 69, Speckled Wood 57, Comma 46, Painted Lady 5, Small Tortoishell 5, Red Admiral 35, Peacock 39, Common Blue 137, Holly Blue 2, Silver Y 25, Six Spot Burnet 205, Jersey Tiger 12, Also significant but unknown numbers of Small Skipper and Large Skipper and small but unknown numbers of Small Heath, Dark Green and Silver-washed Fritillary, Small Blue, Chalk Hill Blue, White Admiral and Brown Hairstreak.
Our commonest butterflies and moths are: 1.Meadow Brown 992; 2.Gatekeeper 624; 3.Small White 232; 4.Six Spot Burnet 205; 5.Common Blue 137. This compares with the commonest butterflies and mothsi in the UK-wide survey 1.Gatekeeper 184,901; 2.Meadow Brown 175,654; 3.Large White 135,375; 4.Small White 110,016; 5.Peacock 48,813. These differences are likely to reflect the particular habitats we have within the 4Bs area.
Further work
Thanks to our 54 citizen scientists we now have an excellent data base that provides us with baseline data for future surveys and a map of locations. Using this information we will be able to say something about the distribution of butterflies across the 4Bs area. We can continue adding to this data base outside the count by adding any new species to our list as they are spotted. Furthermore, the Big Butterfly Count interactive map remains open through August for people to continue uploading counts.
We have made a great start to understanding the biodiversity of these indicator species in our area and we need to say a big thank you to everyone who contributed.
Footnote - The numbers above for the 2024 survey are the numbers at 11pm on August 4th. On August 5th butterfly counts are still being accepted so these numbers may rise.
This movie shows the butterfly species we have identified to date. We will add to it as more butterflies are discovered.