2009 was a wonderful year for the Painted Lady with a massive migration in late May. Thanks to your records we know exactly when and where butterflies arrived in the UK, adding to our knowledge of this unique migration event. With your help, this was probably the best documented butterfly migration ever in Europe.

The results show that the peak arrival was on 25th May when Painted Ladies were seen in their thousands, sometime hundreds of thousands across southern Britain. The wave of colonisation then spread north to reach into Scotland around a week later. The online mapping scheme picked up butterflies as far north as St Kilda and there were even records submitted from many other European countries and from elsewhere in the world, including the USA. We estimate that there were around 15 million butterflies in Britain and Ireland from a mass timed count on 30 May and that these may have produced over 1 billion butterflies later in the year! To read a full account of this fascinating migration click here.

We would like to thank everyone for taking part in the survey which will now be analysed in detail by migration experts. We are also appealing for records this autumn, especially any observations of the elusive return migration, which we assume must occur, but has virtually never been witnessed. So keep a watch out on fine days, especially around the coast, and record your sightings using the online system.

Sadly, the abundance of Painted Ladies masks an underlying steep decline in our British species. Seven out of ten UK Butterflies are declining and even our common butterflies have become severely reduced in number. For many people, butterflies are no longer an intrinsic part of summer days in gardens and the countryside.

Thanks to our efforts, several threatened species are now recovering after a decade of decline.

Our work depends on the support of our 14,000 members as well as the efforts of thousands of volunteers. We have a network of 31 Branches, who organise over 700 educational events and field trips each year, surveying and monitoring butterflies and moths, running our nature reserves, and helping on practical conservation tasks.

HOW YOU CAN HELP - BECOME A MEMBER TODAY!

None of our good work would be possible without your support. You can help us conserve our butterflies and moths by joining us today. As a member you will receive:

• A new member welcome pack
• Our exclusive magazine Butterfly three times a year
• A common garden butterflies ID chart
• Membership of your local Butterfly Conservation Branch, including regional newsletters and details of field trips and events in your area
• Advice on attracting butterflies and moths to your garden
• Opportunities to take part in monitoring and recording schemes

Not already a member? From as little as £2.33 per month you can help Butterfly Conservation protect our butterflies, moths and their habitats. Join Now and receive three months free membership when you join by Direct Debit, that's 15 months membership for the price of 12. You will also receive a beautiful butterfly wall chart, completely free!