We're getting out for the Big Butterfly Count 2026!

The Butterfly Conservation Big Butterfly Count returns from 17 July - 9 August 2026

Leading wildlife charity, Butterfly Conservation, has revealed the dates of this year’s highly anticipated Big Butterfly Count, which will take place from 17th July - 9th August.

The annual citizen science programme, which is now in its 17th year, attracts tens of thousands of people out into their gardens, local green spaces or the countryside to spend 15 minutes counting butterflies and helping to track trends and inform conservation action - and this year, all of our holiday parks will be getting involved.

2025 was an average year for butterflies. The sunniest spring and hottest summer ever recorded in the UK provided good weather conditions for butterflies after 2024’s record-breaking lows. However, the results show that it was definitely not a bumper summer for our butterflies. On average, participants recorded 10.3 butterflies per 15-minute count. While a marked improvement on last summer’s record low of just 7, it is only broadly average by modern standards, and has done little to reverse longer-term declines.

Dr Richard Fox, Head of Science at Butterfly Conservation warns that:

“We may feel like we’ve seen lots of butterflies this summer, but that’s only because last year was so awful.

 “Last summer’s results were the lowest we’ve seen and a stark warning that many of our common butterfly species are facing significant pressure from challenges linked to habitat loss, climate change and pesticide use. 

“Whilst we’ve seen noticeably more butterflies during 2025’s Big Butterfly 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 of species fared poorly even in the generally beneficial weather.

“There remains a need for us to take urgent action to support our butterfly populations, 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 in butterfly numbers, regardless of how much the sun shines.”

 This year’s Big Butterfly Count runs from Friday 17 July - Sunday 9 August. For more information and to take part simply visit www.bigbutterflycount.org or download the free Big Butterfly Count app.