Welcome
The county of Cumbria is located where the boundaries of southern and northern species of butterfly overlap which goes some way to explaining why 41 species are recorded, rather high for a county this far north.
We have the Mountain Ringlet and Scotch Argus that cannot be seen anywhere else south of the Scottish border. Large Heath is found on the Solway and Morecambe Bay Mosses, the Small Blue is present on Brownfield sites on the west coast and Marsh Fritillary fly on a few grassland sites in the north and west.
The limestone woodlands and grasslands bordering Morecambe Bay are the UK stronghold of the rare High Brown Fritillary and are also home to Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Northern Brown Argus, Silver-washed Fritillary and Duke of Burgundy butterflies.
Species to look out for
Learn more
Submit your sightings
Let us know what you have seen.
See our latest sightings
View the latest butterfly and day-flying moth sightings in Cumbria.
Get involved
News
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Call to landowners to help save threatened West Wales butterfly
The threatened Brown Hairstreak butterfly’s range in South-west Wales has more than halved in the last decade, a new study by Butterfly Conservation South Wales Branch reveals.
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Galw ar berchnogion tir i helpu i achub glöyn byw sydd dan fygythiad yng Ngorllewin Cymru
Welsh edition of "Call to landowners to help save threatened West Wales butterfly" article - Mae dyfodol y Brithribin Brown yn y fantol yn Ne Orllewin Cymru wrth i wasgariad ei diriogaeth grebachu o fwy na’i hanner dros y degawd diwethaf, yn ôl astudiaeth newydd gan Gangen y De o Gwarchod Glöynnod Byw (BC).
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Streetlights reduce moth populations
A new ground-breaking study from Butterfly Conservation, the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology and Newcastle University has shown streetlights in southern England reduce the abundance of moth caterpillars.
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Butterfly species hard hit by changeable weather patterns
Where have the butterflies gone? Butterfly Conservation launches this year’s Big Butterfly Count with urgent appeal for public’s help after disastrous spring weather.
Events
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Cumbria: Conservation Work Party, Kendal Fell
Sunday 3rd October 2021, 10:00am-3:30pm
Kendal Fell, Kendal
Join a group to create areas for later planting primrose and cowslip at this site for Scotch Argus
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Cumbria: Conservation Work Party, Kendal Fell
Wednesday 6th October 2021, 10:00am-3:30pm
Kendal Fell, Kendal
Join a group to create areas for later planting primrose and cowslip at this site for Scotch Argus
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Cumbria: Conservation Work Party at Yewbarrow, Witherslack
Wednesday 20th October 2021, 10:00am-3:30pm
Yewbarrow, Witherslack
Continuing cutting, clearing and burning scrub to make a new coupe
Volunteer with us
Butterfly Conservation relies on the support of thousands of volunteers, and we are always looking for more help inside the office and out in the field. Whether you want to volunteer at a local branch, get outside and help manage our nature reserves, or help with one of our events, we have something for everyone to get involved in! Your time can make a real difference.
Branch information
In your area
Contact branch
- Chairman:
Chris Winnick - Treasurer:
David Eastlick