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Friday 12 October 2018

The Big Butterfly Count results are out

The weather has been doing funny things - and so has effected butterfly numbers dramatically: 
Small Tortoiseshell crashes despite heatwave - Butterfly Conservation

As the latest newsletter shows:

News from Butterfly Conservation



The weather wasn't the only thing breaking records this summer. More than 100,000 people contributed to conservation by counting butterflies, culminating in the biggest ever Big Butterfly Count. The top ten list of most counted butterflies brings some surprises;  read the full results and analysis to find out more.  The Secret Gardener is back with the low-down on what to plant this autumn and if you are keen to support our Vice-president, Chris Packham, on his crusade for wildlife, we've got some suggestions about where to start.
Small Tortoiseshell Slumps
Despite high hopes that the warm weather would boost butterfly populations, this summer's Big Butterfly Count results bring bad news as well as good.

The Small Tortoiseshell really struggled, with sightings falling by 32% compared to 2017. Populations of Red Admiral and Comma were also well down on last year's figures.

Meanwhile the Large, Small and Green-veined Whites leaped up the charts with their combined numbers amounting to more than half of all the butterflies counted.


Dig it:  Nectar for Now And Next Year
The clocks change at the end of the month so gardeners need to make the most of the fading daylight.

October gives you one more chance to plant bulbs and seeds for next year. If you are quick you might also be able to add some last-minute nectar for overwintering species, to help them  stock up before hibernation.

Discover what you can do to take care of butterflies and moths now, or start laying the groundwork for next year's pollinator paradise.

   
Look Out For...
10 Ways To Save Wildlife
Chris Packham launched the People's Manifesto For Wildlife last month. This draft document challenges us all to think about what we can change to improve our environment and stop the destruction and declines blighting our natural world.

The full document contains 200 ideas or proposals to fix the future for biodiversity. We've picked out 10 ways you can start to make a difference for butterflies and moths. Take a look and read the full manifesto for more inspiration.




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