Blog

Sarah Meredith, Butterfly Conservation’s Large Blue Conservation Officer and David Simcox, of Habitat Designs Ltd and project manager for the Large Blue Committee have been jointly awarded the UK Butterflies Outstanding Contribution Award for 2018.

Heleniums bring both colour and a food source for pollinators to your flowerbeds in autumn.

The Met Office are predicting a mild start to autumn which could lead to a rise in some of the biggest and most glamorous species found in the UK.

Paloma Oteo Golderos, a biology from the University of Granada in Spain, has spent the summer working with Butterfly Conservation as part of an Erasmus traineeship. Here she explains why she swapped the Sierras for the seaside on the hunt for butterflies.

Paul Kirkland, Butterfly Conservation Director, Scotland, reveals why the Scottish Government’s decision to ‘call in’ proposals to develop a wildlife hotspot into a golf course offers nature lovers some hope.

There is increasing evidence that gardening provides substantial health benefits and improves wellbeing. Simply being in a green space can make you feel happier and healthier and gardening is an easy way to get out in nature.

Only 12 hours after Sir David Attenborough explained the personal and scientific benefits of Big Butterfly Count to the watching nation, I was standing under a tree in the pouring rain.

It’s been almost two months since the Chequered Skipper butterfly took to the wing in England for the first time in 40 years. So what’s been happening since then? 

This month the Secret Gardener investigates the best plants to provide caterpillar food and flying-fuel for both day and night flying moths.

Moth Night is the UK’s annual celebration of moths and moth recording, a chance for naturalists to raise the profile of these much-maligned creatures, for conservationists to gather useful data and for members of the public to experience the dazzling diversity of these important insects.

BC's Small Blue project aims to improve chalk downland habitats on the North Downs, mainly between Guildford and Dorking, for Britain’s smallest butterfly. Project Officer Fiona Haynes tells us more....

Butterfly Conservation Ambassador and gardening writer Kate Bradbury explains how if we all find some space for butterflies and moths we can make the world a happier and more healthy place to live.

The Secret Gardener's star plant which has been flowering without stopping, since it was planted couple of years ago, is the Perennial Wallflower Erysimum ‘Bowles Mauve’.

Introducing the newest member of Butterfly Conservation's science team, who was awarded the Faculty of Sciences Prize for Postgraduate Research at the University of Kent in 2015, has had 7 papers published since 2014 and received an "Honourable Mention" from the judges of the 2017 Young Biometrician's Award.

BC is one of the largest collectors and holders of biological data in the UK, running world-renowned recording and monitoring schemes on butterflies and moths that collectively total in excess of 40 million records by over 70,000 recorders.

Despite their seemingly delicate nature, butterflies and moths are surprisingly resilient to the winter chill. Richard Fox reveals why a cold snap may actually be beneficial for butterflies.

Back in 2004, when Rothamsted Research and Butterfly Conservation first uncovered the significant, long-term decline in moth abundance, artificial light at night (ALAN) was highlighted as a potential contributor to the observed trends.

The Heath Fritillary Melitaea athalia is a priority species with a restricted distribution in the south of England, occupying an area of less than 1km2 in the UK.

When buying potted plants, we should consider four significant environmental issues: pesticides, biosecurity, peat, and plastic.

At the end of March BC will launch an e-newsletter exploring the wide range of science that we are involved with.

BC volunteer Ken Haydock reveals the story behind the recent discovery of White-letter Hairstreak eggs in Berwickshire - confirmation the declining butterfly may have started breeding in Scotland for the first time in 130 years...

Dr Sam Ellis, BC's Director of Conservation outlines the charity's position on the Chelsea Road Elm in Sheffield and the tree's population of White-letter Hairstreak butterflies

As February gets into its stride, the signs of the fast approaching spring are becoming more and more evident.

January is an easy month to help butterflies and moths in the garden. Many species will be taking shelter until temperatures start to rise so leave leaf litter and postpone pruning to protect eggs, caterpillars and crysalises.

Butterfly Conservation makes important strides forward in 2017

The Secret Gardener investigates which species just one lichen-covered branch could be supporting and reminds you to be careful when bringing twigs inside.

A study has revealed the importance of information gathered by the Big Butterfly Count

The Red Admiral has had an exceptionally good year, possibly its best ever.

Butterfly Conservation welcomes ban on harmful pesticides