Northern Ireland news

UK butterflies bounced back in 2018 following a string of poor years, thanks in part to last year’s heatwave summer, a study has revealed.

Street lighting operating all night can alter the natural pollination of a common wildflower, a study involving Butterfly Conservation (BC) has revealed.

In July 2018 Prime Minister Theresa May announced that the Government would bring forward an Environment Bill. Butterfly Conservation (BC) understand that Defra are working on the draft of the Bill, to cover England and reserved matters in devolved countries, and this will be published before Christmas.

Scientists have discovered that moths may play a much broader role as plant pollinators than previously suspected.

Numbers of one of the UK’s best known garden butterflies have plummeted this summer despite the record-breaking hot weather, results from the Big Butterfly Count have revealed.

Scottish Ministers have “called-in” plans for a golf course at Coul Links near Embo, East Sutherland after deciding that the case is of ‘national importance’.

History fans are being asked to take a closer look at castles this summer in a bid to track the changing fortunes of one of the UK’s most striking and overlooked butterflies.

The Prince of Wales has recorded dozens of butterflies while taking part in the world’s largest butterfly survey at his home in Highgrove, Gloucestershire.

Sir David Attenborough has spoken of the mental health benefits of watching butterflies as he urged the public to take part in the world’s biggest butterfly survey over the next three weeks.

In the UK, since 1976, the habitat specialists butterflies index has fallen by 77%, whilst wider countryside abundance is down by 46%.

An increasing number of new moth species are arriving and settling in the UK as a result of the global reach of the horticultural trade and the changing climate, moth experts today revealed.

The Chequered Skipper has been returned to England after 40 year absence

Alan Titchmarsh is calling on gardeners to make a metre for wildlife this summer by providing a refuge for struggling butterflies, moths and other pollinators.

Major study reveals another tough summer for UK butterflies

Climate change has provided a window of opportunity for a previously extinct butterfly

Spot butterflies and moths to earn i-SPY points

Sir David Attenborough is urging people to take action for butterflies and moths this year, to mark the 50th anniversary of wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation (BC).

Butterfly Conservation welcomes publication of long awaited 25 Year Environment Plan

A major new conservation project spanning Northern Ireland, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland will help butterflies, birds and other species.

Charities benefit from Patsy Wood Trust legacy grants

UK braced for influx of rare continental moths looking for ivy to feed upon

The Red Admiral enjoyed a record summer in this year's Big Butterfly Count...

Gardeners are being urged to keep their eye out for a potential butterfly bonanza this autumn

Julie Williams has been elected as the new Chief Executive of wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation (BC), taking on the role after Dr Martin Warren OBE retired from the post last year.

Sir David Attenborough has warned that UK butterflies face a critical summer after a string of poor years has seen the numbers of many common species decline.

A naturalist who almost single-handedly saved a rare butterfly from extinction in Sussex, has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for his long-standing services to wildlife conservation.

Gardeners are being asked to help the UK’s beleaguered butterflies, bees and moths by making their county the most pollinator-friendly in the UK.

Butterfly Conservation welcomes B&Q's decision to stop using controversial pesticides

UK butterflies suffered their fourth worst year on record in 2016 with the majority of species experiencing a decline in numbers, a study has revealed.

Butterfly Conservation has strongly welcomed the sentencing of a collector found guilty of illegally catching and killing the UK’s rarest butterfly.