The Big Butterfly Count is the world’s biggest annual survey collecting numbers of UK butterflies and day flying moths.
Speckled wood butterfly: Genevieve Leaper (Rspb images)
This year, it runs for three weeks from this Friday 16th until Sunday 8th August when participants are encouraged to spend just 15 minutes counting and recording their sightings online or with the app. The top five butterflies from last year were No 1: The Large White, No2: The Small White, No 3: The orange and brown Gatekeeper with two white dots in the dark eye marking, No 4: The stunningly colourful Peacock and No 5: The Meadow-brown with just one white dot in the dark eye marking.
You can view all the 2020 results here.
There are many things that will encourage butterflies to our gardens like leaving long grassy areas with wild flowers to grow, even in a smallish area and avoiding the use of pesticides. Trying to keep a succession and wide variety of flowering plants blooming through summer and early autumn with regular deadheading is hugely beneficial; include nectar rich flowers such as Asters, Verbena bonariensis, Lavenders, Echinaceas, Sedums, Scabious, Marjoram, Echinops, Heleniums and Hebe shrubs.
The RHS have more information also on how to help butterflies in the garden.
Leaving fallen fruit on the ground will provide a sugary boost or place ripe fruit outside in a shallow dish. Children may like to create a butterfly cafe or a muddy puddling station for butterflies where they may come to drink for some essential minerals not provided by nectar. You can also buy butterfly food, identification charts and gifts from the RSPB shop.
It's butterfly time so however you take part or simply enjoy observing our beautiful UK butterflies, let's hope for lots of sunshine to bring them out over the next few weeks.
For more inspiration on wildlife gardening, the Flatford Wildlife Garden, is currently open every day until October from 10.30am – 4.30pm. Entrance to the garden is free and well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome. Car parking is £5 at the Flatford National Trust car park and this gives you access to the stunning countryside walks around Dedham Vale in Constable Country.