Nature & Wildlife | Posted on April 3rd, 2025 | return to news
2024 declared one of the worst years on record for UK butterflies
New data has found that more than half of UK butterfly species are now in long-term decline.
According to newly released data, for the first time since records were kept, more than half of butterfly species in the UK are now in long-term decline.
The Small Tortoiseshell butterfly had its worst year ever and is in long-term decline, while common butterflies that live in gardens, parks and the wider countryside had their second-worst year since 1976.
The figures come from the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS) which has asked volunteers to count butterflies across the country since 1976 and now monitors more than 3,000 sites. The scheme is led by Butterfly Conservation, the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), British Trust for Ornithology and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee.
Overall, 2024 was the fifth worst year since records began for UK butterflies. Butterfly numbers always fluctuate annually, and last year’s low numbers are partly the result of a wet spring and relatively cool summer, however UKBMS data also show that 31 of the 59 resident UK species are now in long-term decline.
In total, 51 of the UK’s 59 species declined in 2024 compared to 2023, with just six species showing any increase.
Dr Richard Fox, head of science at Butterfly Conservation, said: “I am devastated by the decline of our beloved British butterflies, and I’m sorry to say it has been brought about by human actions: we have destroyed wildlife habitats, polluted the environment, used pesticides on an industrial scale and we are changing the climate.
“That means that when we have poor weather, these already-depleted butterfly populations are highly vulnerable and can’t bounce back like they once did, and with climate change, that unusual weather is becoming more and more usual.”
Among the most concerning is the Small Tortoiseshell, a butterfly species recognisable from its bright colours and appearance, which can live in all parts of the UK. Since records began in 1976, its abundance has dropped by 86 per cent. Numbers in 2023 were the worst ever at that point, and last year were down again.
Dr Marc Botham, butterfly ecologist at the UKCEH, said: “These deeply concerning results from the UKBMS emphasise just how important it is to monitor and record our wildlife so we can target conservation efforts and protect our beloved species. Butterflies in particular are valuable not just in their own right but also as indicator species, meaning they can tell us about the health of the wider environment, which makes the UKBMS data invaluable in assessing the health of our countryside and natural world in general.”
The UKBMS figures come after Butterfly Conservation declared a UK-wide butterfly emergency following the worst-ever results of its Big Butterfly Count last year. The next Big Butterfly Count takes place from 18 July until 10 August. To find out how to take part, visit https://bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org/about.
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