The results of the 2025 Big Butterfly Count are in, revealing the long-term forecast for the healthy survival of many of our much-loved summer insects is still gloomy.
The sunniest spring and hottest summer ever recorded in the UK should have provided ideal conditions for butterflies and moths, but clement weather is only half the story. For successful breeding numbers, unpolluted habitats are as crucial as warm, dry spells.
Butterflies are key indicators of biodiversity and environmental health. Tracking their numbers helps Butterfly Conservation, the charity that organises the count, understand the impacts of climate change, habitat loss and any conservation action taken.
A total of nearly 1.7 million butterflies and moths were sighted during this year’s count, with 125,000 citizen scientists recording an average of 10.3 animals in every 15-minute session. This average was a vast improvement on the 7 of 2024, a year of record lows due to poor weather, but it doesn’t reflect a bumper year or give any reason for overall optimism.
Dr Richard Fox, Head of Science at Butterfly Conservation, says: “Whilst we’ve seen noticeably more butterflies during 2025’s count, the figures suggest it’s actually been a pretty average year for them by modern standards.
“The 15-year Big Butterfly Count trends show that more than twice as many widespread species have declined significantly than have increased. And, while most species had a better than average summer, one-third fared poorly even in the generally beneficial weather.”
Large white, small white, gatekeeper, red admiral and meadow brown were the top five species seen this year. However, of those, gatekeeper and meadow brown have declined more than 21 per cent and 18 per cent respectively over the past 15 years. And these figures are eclipsed by the loss of small tortoiseshell, common blue and green-veined white butterflies that are down by more than 59, 57 and 54 per cent in the same timeframe.
The news was not all bad. The Jersey tiger moth had a record year in 2025, with the species recorded more widely and in higher numbers. Small coppers and red admirals have also fared better than most since 2011. These small successes, though, do not negate the need for nationwide action to preserve the second element in butterfly requirements – healthy habitats in which to live and breed.
“There remains a need for us to take urgent action to support our butterfly populations,” says Dr Fox, “including by improving the environment in which they live, restoring habitats and reducing pesticide use. Until we do these things we are unlikely to see a great recovery, regardless of how much the sun shines.
“This is why Butterfly Conservation is calling for an end to the unlicensed use of butterfly-killing synthetic pesticides and asking retailers to take them off the shelves. We are in a nature crisis. We should be providing people with the tools to help and not the means of destruction.”
Synthetic pesticides such as glyphosate are laboratory-produced substances present in many proprietary weedkillers. Butterfly Conservation is asking people to sign its open letter to retailers calling for the removal of toxic synthetic pesticides from sale for domestic use. Visit the Butterfly Conservation website to add your name.
Top image: Gatekeeper. Credit: Liam Richardson, Butterfly Conservation
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