Nation invited to choose its inaugural butterfly champion
Wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation is today launching the first-ever vote to crown Britain’s Favourite Butterfly.
From Friday 15 May – Sunday 7 June, people across the country are being asked 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.
With a plethora of species to choose from, Butterfly Conservation has launched a dedicated website with fun facts about every single species, where people can cast their vote and even take a fun ‘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 ever, we want to find out which of our much-loved butterflies takes the nation’s top spot. From the colourful to the quirky, the common to the elusive, all butterflies are beautiful and we look forward to officially crowning Britain’s favourite.”
The UK is home to 60 species of butterfly, 58 resident including Large White, Small Tortoiseshell and Green Hairstreak, and two regular visitors – Painted Lady and Clouded Yellow.
For many of us, butterflies are one of our earliest memories of wildlife; in a recent survey they were voted most-loved creatures in childhood.
Julie says: “It’s no surprise butterflies are loved by people of all ages. Their journey from caterpillar to adult is both fascinating and joyful.
“It is in this almost magical story of transformation that butterflies have the power to connect people to the natural world, and inspire us to keep fighting for a wilder future.”
But these incredible insects, which evoke childlike joy, delight and visions of balmy summer days, are in trouble. 80% of species have declined in the last 50 years due to habitat loss, land use change, and climate breakdown.
However, all is not lost. Recent scientific evidence proves that, as well as benefiting our wellbeing, as little as 15 minutes watching butterflies can increase people’s feelings of being connected to nature, which has a direct correlation with how motivated they are to protect it.
In short, time spent simply enjoying spotting butterflies could play a vital role in nature’s recovery.
Butterfly Conservation’s President, Sir David Attenborough, famously 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 prove fascinating and show some big regional variations in voting.
After analysing 50 years of data, researchers have discovered a clear northward spread for some species, including common garden favourites the Peacock, Comma and Holly Blue, the result of climate change creating warmer habitats for them to survive in.
Julie explained: “It will be interesting to see if people in different parts of the UK have different favourites. Some of our native butterflies are garden visitors across much of the UK, some live only in certain areas, and some are more secretive, living in very remote, specialised habitats. But all are equally important as indicators of the health of our natural environment.
“The exciting thing about this vote is that anyone, anywhere can take part and root for their favourite. You don’t have to know anything about butterflies! So 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 highly coveted title is up for grabs. The nation will decide…
The vote to find Britain’s Favourite Butterfly takes place from Friday 15 May – Sunday 7 June, and the result will be announced later in June.
Vote for your favourite at https://britainsfavouritebutterfly.co.uk
