Devon news

New research published by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) reveals how the UK's gardens are acting as a safe haven for butterflies.

A new report on the trends of grassland butterflies across Europe has shown numbers have declined by 36% over the last decade.

If you have been following the saga of Coul Links in East Sutherland you will know that the original proposal for a golf course was turned down by the Scottish Government. In July last year another application was submitted. Here's an update on our objection.

A new study, published today by the science journal PNAS, has found that increased use of pesticides and fertiliser is driving bird population declines across the UK and Europe. 

Plymouth, UK - Pollenize, a local environmental organisation, has launched its Pesticide Free Plymouth campaign, aimed at reducing the use of pesticides in the city to protect pollinators and promote biodiversity.
 

This article reflects upon a recent paper, co-authored by BC’s Senior Ecological Statistician, Emily Dennis, in collaboration with Alison Johnston (University of St Andrews) and Eleni Matechou (University of Kent), and published in Methods in Ecology and Evolution, which reviews the outstanding challenges for biodiversity monitoring using citizen science data. 

Dr Nigel Bourn, Chief Scientist at Butterfly Conservation, has been a conservationist his entire life and spent the last five decades studying butterflies. 

Every five years or so, since the start of the century, Butterfly Conservation and its partners have produced an up-to-date assessment of the changing fortunes of the UK’s butterfly species. The latest such assessment, The State of the UK’s Butterflies 20221, was published in February and contains long-term trends derived from countrywide citizen science schemes involving tens of thousands of participants.

Dr Lisbeth Horsley explores how moths threatened by climate change could be saved by better water management. 

Rachel Jones, Senior Ecologist, explores local-scale management impact on the Lulworth Skipper. 

Toxic neonicotinoid pesticides have once again been authorised for use on sugar beet crops by the UK Government.
 

New research has found that moths are more efficient pollinators at night than day-flying pollinators such as bees.

The heatwave and drought of summer 2022 has had a major negative impact on some UK butterfly species, a study has confirmed.

New research from wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation and Northumbria University has shown that moths adapted to cooler conditions are being lost from parts of Britain as a result of climate change. 
 

A beautiful and unusual moth that looks like a Hummingbird in flight appears to have had a bumper year in 2022, with an estimated ten-fold increase in sightings reported across the UK.

March 3rd is World Wildlife Day and to mark the occasion we've put together some information about the butterfly and moth species you might see if you venture out this weekend.

This March, Butterfly Conservation is offering free and discounted will writing services to make it easier for people to support the butterflies and moths they value and the ensure everyone, whatever their circumstance, has the chance to shape the future for the next generation to enjoy.

Wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation is seeking nature-loving volunteers for a brand-new project called Wild Spaces which will transform urban spaces in Perth into green havens.
 

Wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation is seeking nature-loving volunteers for a brand-new project called Wild Spaces which will transform urban spaces in Stirling into green havens.
 

Overall, 71% of butterflies in Wales have declined in abundance, distribution, or both, with those species that require specific habitats in order to thrive the worst affected.

In Scotland, butterfly species that require specialist habitats have greatly declined, but the figures show increases too, as many countryside-wide species have increased in Scotland. While this bucks the trend elsewhere in the UK, it’s a clear indicator of climate change.

Overall, 71% of butterflies in Wales have declined in abundance, distribution, or both, with those species that require specific habitats in order to thrive the worst affected.

Of the four UK countries, England’s butterflies have fared the worst, particularly those species that rely on specific habitat to thrive.

The State of the UK's Butterflies 2022 report, released today by Butterfly Conservation, has revealed the alarming news that 80% of butterflies in the UK have declined since the 1970s.

Join us in signing the petition addressed to Rishi Sunak, asking him
to take the lead at the COP15 summit on biodiversity and fight for a global deal to halt and
reverse nature loss across the world by 2030.
 

Butterfly Conservation is thrilled to be celebrating two wins at the RSPB Scotland’s Nature Awards 2022.
 

The Dataset’s Dream is a temporary art installation created by two artists, award-winning writer Thomas Sharp and the visual artist Bryony Benge-Abbott, who produced  last month’s film with Big City Butterflies called The Colour of Transformation. 

We are sorry to have to announce that, due to difficulties with transport, the Walk for Wildlife planned for London on 27th November has been postponed until spring 2023.

Many moth species have increased in distribution by shifting their ranges in response to climate change, predominantly due to habitat availability which is limiting their ability for range expansion.

On Tuesday the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill starts its progress through the Houses of Parliament. The main purpose of the bill is to end all remaining laws that came from the EU on 31st December 2023.