The annual Big Butterfly Count starts on Friday 18th July and finishes on Sunday 10th August. Every year Butterfly Conservation coordinates the Big Butterfly Count, a nationwide citizen science project inviting participants to count butterflies in their gardens and local green spaces. It is the world's biggest survey of butterflies and has been taking place every summer for the past 15 years. 

Tens of thousands of people across the UK take part to monitor butterfly populations and help understand the health of our environment. Butterflies are good environmental indicators due to their short life cycle and quick response to environmental changes. Declining numbers of butterflies seen in the results of last year’s Big Butterfly Count led to the Butterfly Conservation charity declaring a nationwide Butterfly Emergency so it’s more important than ever that people take part in 2025. 

There are 20 species of butterfly found in Guernsey and Herm and another 10 migrant species have also been found. Monitoring the trends in all butterflies found in Guernsey is essential in understanding how the changing climate may be impacting the range of wildlife. Last year 61 people in Guernsey took part in the Big Butterfly Count, with 89 counts and a total of 962 butterflies. The information drawn from this is hugely valuable, so we are encouraging everyone to get out for the Count!

To take part, simply spend 15 minutes in a sunny spot counting the butterflies that you see. If you don’t see any butterflies, that’s important information too. You can identify and record the butterflies you spot by visiting the Big Butterfly Count website or downloading the free Big Butterfly Count app. You can do as many counts as you like, wherever you like, simply record each 15-minute Count separately. As well as contributing to important scientific data collection, taking part in the Count is a great way to enjoy time outdoors, connect with nature and have fun!