They've arrived!

We were beginning to wonder if they would ever arrive. It's been worth the wait. No doubt helped by the exceptionally warm weather and, we hope, the plethora of flowers in the garden at present, it is such a joy to see their aerial courtship dances and search for nectar. Their presence is also a reminder to complete the annual 'Big Butterfly Count' which is taking place between the 17th July and 9th August. This citizen science survey is the largest of its kind in the world. It produces vital information about the health of the butterfly population in the UK. It only takes 15 minutes to complete and is an invitation to pause, where ever you are outside, and record the butterflies you see. The Big Butterfly Count app is very easy to use to record your results and is excellent in helping with butterfly identification. The survey can be undertaken more than once and even no sightings is important information for the survey. We have included a QR code link to the app below and website address.

www.bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org