Big City Butterflies is an exciting London based project which seeks to inspire people to discover butterflies and moths, and connect them with nature and their local green spaces.
The people we reach will have opportunities to learn about butterflies and moths, how to seek them out and to help them thrive in their neighbourhoods. Thanks to National Lottery players, this four year project began in May 2021. Now in it's fourth and final year are busy delivering community events, school workshops, site advice, habitat improvements and training in identification and recording across London's inner Boroughs, the project presents a huge opportunity to test new approaches to butterfly and moth conservation in a major urban landscape. People - their needs, interests and behaviours are as important to the project as the 'traditional' conservation practices of habitat management, surveying and monitoring.
London is home to a surprising diversity of butterflies and moths. Twenty-five of the UK's 59 butterfly species can be spotted in the capital. Enjoy our free family guide to the city's butterflies and moths and enjoy seeing what you can spot in your local park.
How does the project work?
Sites (parks, commons, heaths, community green spaces) across London's inner boroughs have been selected to form a focus for project activities. We work together with the owners and managers and associated volunteer groups to see how best the project can support them. We are busy making contacts with groups within the surrounding communities including schools, 'friends' groups and other groups of volunteers.
The project draws on the local knowledge and expertise of four Butterfly Conservation Branches, Surrey and SW London, Kent and SE London, Herts and Middlesex, Cambridge and Essex.
The three strands of our project are described below. You can contact our Project Officers below and follow them on Twitter @BigCButterflies and Instagram @bigcitybutterflies.
Emma Bickford (Engagement Officer) [email protected]
Steve Bolton (Conservation Officer) [email protected]
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Improving Habitats
We strive to improve habitats to enhance and connect London's green spaces to better support butterflies and moths. Our Conservation Officer offers site visits, tailored advice and training. Download our new guide to managing urban habitats for butterflies below.
Recording Species
We need to know more about how butterflies and moths are faring in the Capital. We encourage and enable people to contribute to our knowledge of butterflies and moths by taking part in one of our varied schemes for identifying and recording the species they see in their local green spaces. Download our guide to identifying and recording butterflies in London below.
Inspiring People
We share our knowledge and passion for these beautiful insects with a wide audience by creating varied opportunities for local communities to connect with our project. Download our Family Activity Pack below.