A WILDLIFE charity is today launching the first-ever vote to crown Britain’s Favourite Butterfly.
Butterfly Conservation is asking people across the country to choose the butterfly they love most, whether that be a familiar garden visitor like the red admiral, orange-tip or holly blue, or an elusive rarity like the aristocratic duke of burgundy or the mighty purple emperor.
Butterfly Conservation has launched a dedicated website with fun facts about every single species, where people can cast their vote and even take a ‘what’s your butterfly personality?’ quiz to choose their champion.
The charity hopes to encourage children and adults to marvel at butterflies this summer, reconnect with nature and celebrate the diversity and importance of the UK’s most iconic insects.
Julie Williams, chief executive of Butterfly Conservation, said: “It’s clear Britain is a nation of butterfly lovers.
“From Sir David Attenborough and the Royal Family, to the hundreds of thousands of people who have taken part in Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count.
“These incredible insects hold a very special place in our hearts.
“Now, for the first-time, we want to find out which of our much-loved butterflies takes the nation’s top spot.”
The UK is home to 60 species of butterfly of which 58 are resident, including: large white, small tortoiseshell and green hairstreak.
For many, butterflies are one of our earliest memories of wildlife; in a recent survey they were voted most-loved creatures in childhood.
But butterflies are in trouble; 80% of species have declined in the last 50 years due to habitat loss, land use change, and climate breakdown.
Butterfly Conservation is dedicated to saving butterflies, moths and the environment.
It advises on how to conserve and restore habitats, runs projects to protect more than 100 threatened species, and is involved in conserving hundreds of sites and reserves.
Julie said: “It’s no surprise butterflies are loved by people of all ages.
“They have the power to connect people to the natural world, and inspire us to keep fighting for a wilder future.”
Even just a short time spent enjoying spotting butterflies could play a vital role in nature’s recovery.
As little as 15 minutes watching butterflies can increase people’s connection with nature, and their motivation to protect it.
Butterfly Conservation’s President, Sir David Attenborough, said: “No-one will protect what they don’t care about, and no one will care about what they have never experienced.”
“A few precious moments spent watching a stunning red admiral or peacock butterfly feeding amongst the flowers in my garden never fails to bring me great pleasure.”
With different butterfly species appearing in different areas of the UK, the search for Britain’s Favourite Butterfly could show some big regional variations.
Researchers have discovered a clear northward spread for some species, including the peacock, comma and holly blue, as climate change dictates the habitats where they can survive.
Julie said: “Anyone, anywhere, can take part in this vote.
“You don’t have to know anything about butterflies.
“Whether you choose based on a lovely colour, a fun name, what you spot in your garden, or your fondness for a specialist species, it’s what’s important to you that matters.”
The vote to find Britain’s Favourite Butterfly will take place from Friday, May 15 through to Sunday, June 7, with the result announced later in June.
For information, and to vote, people can visit: butterfly-conservation.org and: britainsfavouritebutterfly.co.uk
