On a sunny and warm summer day there is plenty to see when making your way around the nature trail. At this time of year it is the insects that take centre stage. You can find 31 out of the 58 butterfly species in the UK on our reserve, so we are with no doubt the right place to come to admire them and test your identification skills.
Skipper (Frank Prince-Iles)
Butterflies are not only pretty and important pollinators, they are also good indicators for health of our environment. They respond quickly to even the smallest environmental changes, so any declines in their abundance and biodiversity can act as a warning that the health of our environment is declining and that could be leading to other wildlife losses. There is a nationwide survey, The Big Butterfly Count, that takes place each year during the peak butterfly season and is aimed at helping us assess the health of our environment.
This year, the count takes place from Friday 17 July to Sunday 9 August. Play your part and download a butterfly ID chart or a free mobile app to identify and record the butterflies you spot (https://bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org/). The survey only takes 15 minutes and can be done in your garden, local park, on a walk in the countryside or here at Pulborough Brooks.
During the national Big Butterfly Count we’ll have a special butterfly themed trail running with lots of interesting facts about their fascinating lives. Did you know, the Painted Lady butterfly makes a 9000 mile round journey all the way from Tropical Africa to the Arctic Circle as a relay race involving 6 successive generations? Neither had I, till now!