Butterflies are extremely valuable indicators of the state of the environment. Butterfly Conservation runs schemes to record and monitor them which involve over 15,000 volunteer recorders.

The data gathered in our world-renowned schemes is used by the Government to indicate the health of the environment at national, UK and European levels. The ongoing recording and monitoring programmes help us direct our conservation effort where it is needed. It also helps us asses how effective current conservation work is.

Anyone can take part, from butterfly beginners to experienced recorders.

• Butterflies for the New Millennium

  This survey assesses the distribution of each butterfly species across the British Isles. Anyone can submit sightings.

• UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme

  We survey butterfly abundance across a network of over 750 sites by a combination of weekly and single transects.

• Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey

  A new method involving a few visits to randomly selected 1-km squares. This survey assesses the status of butterflies.

• First Sightings

  First sightings are gathered as the butterfly season progresses, providing information about species emergence.

• Big BUtterfly Count

  Our annual nationwide survey to help assess the health of our environment by using butterflies as indicators. Anyone can join in.

• National moth recording scheme

  This survey covers all of the larger (macro-) moth species in the UK, Isle of Man and Channel Islands. Open to everyone.

• moth Night

  Our Annual celebration of moth recording run by Atropos, in association with the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.