In July, Katie and Jemma from our team headed out to the fields to take part in The Big Butterfly Count. Organised by Butterfly Conservation, it’s one of the UK’s biggest citizen science projects. Each summer, people all over the country spend a few minutes noting down the butterflies they spot. Together, those sightings give scientists a clearer picture of how butterfly numbers are changing, which matters more than ever with so many species declining.
For us, it was also a chance to see what’s living among the flowers we grow and dry for our trade customers. Jemma tells the story:
“Have you heard of this? It pops up and has been talked about on the BBC, radio, Instagram and socials etc…
It was our first year of participation at Shropshire Petals & LSF, and I’ve been quite eager to take part in more citizen science projects.
Katie and I journeyed up to the flower production field on 21st July – mid way through our harvest period. The sunshine was out, it was lovely, and our ten-minute survey found 5 species over our beds of statice and helichrysum.
We observed:
- Large White
- Small White
- Green-veined White
- Gatekeeper
- Painted Lady
It was such a small snapshot – a very hot day, and a very specific area of the field.
Next year I think we will plan to conduct several more surveys over time and different habitats so we can get a wider understanding for ourselves and of course, log more data for the Big Butterfly count which will contribute to the bigger picture across the UK. This in turn helps scientists understand the direct impact of negative environmental factors on our wildlife and ecological systems. It is also very fulfilling to recognise and have more knowledge about the world around you!”
Want to take part in 2027?
Next year’s count runs from 9th July to 1st August 2027. Head to the Big Butterfly Count website to download their butterfly ID chart, or get the free app on your phone. Then find a spot, spend 15 minutes watching for butterflies and moths, and log what you see. Their interactive map is well worth a look too, as you can see sightings from across the country.
We’re already looking forward to counting again next summer, and seeing which butterflies turn up in our flower fields in 2027.
