Northern Ireland news

Moths struggling to move north to adapt to climate change in the UK could be assisted by pinpointing areas where habitat restoration can give them a smoother journey.

Wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation is warning that time is running out to save some of Britain’s best-loved insects, with the latest Red List assessment of butterflies published today, revealing a 26% increase in the number of species threatened with extinction.

Wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation is warning that time is running out to save some of Britain’s best-loved insects, with the latest Red List assessment of butterflies published today, revealing a 26% increase in the number of species threatened with extinction.

Moth enthusiasts, conservationists and the public will be heading for the woods for the UK's largest annual Moth Night event - running on days and nights from 19th - 21st May.

TV gardener, and Butterfly Conservation's Vice-president, Alan Titchmarsh, calls on people to create a Pit Stop for Pollinators this spring, and provide butterflies and moths with the plants they need for survival.

Scotland’s lowland bogs are vital habitat for butterflies and moths, but sadly many are in poor condition due to historic drainage for agriculture and forestry.

Dr Richard Fox has been part of Butterfly Conservation for almost 24 years. Now Head of Science, we met with Richard to discuss his role and the importance of recording and collecting data, as well as his own love of butterflies and moths.

Results from the annual UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS) show that while the overall picture for butterflies in 2021 was poor, species that are the focus of targeted conservation efforts have fared well.

The abundance of Painted Lady butterflies seen in the UK varies hugely from year to year, and more so than for any other butterfly species.

Phil Sterling, Building Sites for Butterflies Programme Manager, looks at how new road verges are set to change in coming years.

A new database that holds a wealth of information on all the butterflies and larger moths found in Great Britain and Ireland has been published, enabling researchers and conservationists to have ecological information about butterflies and macro-moths in the same place for the first time.

A joint statement from NGOs campaigning for an end to peat sales says there is no time to waste in protecting our peatlands.

The UK government has authorised the emergency use of neonicotinoid pesticide - which is almost entirely banned in the EU because of the known harm it can cause butterflies, bees and other wildlife.

Everyone, everywhere, should be able to grow up, and grow old, with nature. This is why Butterfly Conservation, along with more than 60 other organisations to demand a legal right to nature.

The rare moth was sighted during a survey by Butterfly Conservation.

Public able to see the rare butterfly in England for the first time in more than 40 years.

Want to reconnect with the wild in 2022? We have some suggestions for ways to bring a little bit of nature into your life this year.

We're asking people to help butterflies and moths by leaving leaf litter, keeping branches and letting plant stems go uncut in the garden this winter. So here are some ideas for alternatives to gardening this winter.

The leaves in your garden could be hiding a multitude of insects this winter.

Our guide to helping butterflies and moths through the coldest months of the year.

Most insects in the UK take a break in the winter months. Unlike mammals and birds they can't easily heat themselves up, and their sources of food from plants dwindle. But a few hardy butterflies and moths can be seen during this time, with some moths only appearing as adults during the months when few other insects are on the wing. 

A new Red List assessment of the extinction risk of butterfly species in Great Britain has been produced by Butterfly Conservation.

The largest survey of pollinator abundance in Wales has found that woodland and hedgerow creation can play a crucial role in action to reverse declines in insects that are essential for crop yield and other wildlife.

A new paper, led by Callum Macgregor and colleagues at the University of Hull, UKCEH and Butterfly Conservation researched the species richness of birds, plants and insects in relation to historical landfill sites.

We interview Butterfly Conservation's Ecological Statistician, Lisbeth Hordley, and find out about the projects she is working on.

The use of data in our policy and advocacy work - the Quinquennial Review of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (QQR) and the Oak Processionary Moth.

Wildlife charity warns that we must act now if we are to save the UK’s butterflies and moths for future generations.

We at Butterfly Conservation, Newcastle University and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology were shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the recent sudden loss of Douglas Boyes. A supremely talented, enthusiastic and dedicated young scientist he was also a kind and generous colleague to those he worked with, and a young man who had already achieved so much in his career and life to date.

Our craft club returns on January 20th 2022 and this time you can felt your own Red Admiral butterfly.
Suitable for complete beginners as well as more experienced crafters, you’ll receive all the materials you need to take part.

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.