The Big Butterfly Count: your 15 minutes for nature

All it takes is 15 minutes outdoors in your garden, local park, school field, or even a balcony to count butterflies and day-flying moths.

Why? Because butterflies are more than just beautiful, they are powerful indicators of the health of our environment. By taking part, you’ll help scientists track how these vital species are coping with threats like climate change, habitat loss, and pollution. Your sightings (even if you don’t see any) feed into real conservation work to protect them for the future.

In 2024, over 85,000 people took part, submitting more than 143,000 individual counts: equivalent to nearly 36,000 hours of butterfly watching.

The count recorded over 935,000 butterflies and day-flying moths in 2024, despite it being the lowest average count on record, just 7 butterflies per 15-minute session, down from 12 the year before. 

How to take part

• Pick a spot
  Choose any outdoor space, your garden, a park, a field, or even a balcony.

• Choose a sunny day
  Butterflies are most active in warm, sunny weather, so try to count when the sun is out.

• Set a timer for 15 minutes
  Stay in one place and count the butterflies and day-flying moths you see.

• Use the ID guide
  Download the free ID chart or use the Big Butterfly Count app to help identify species.

• Submit your count
  Enter your results on the Big Butterfly Count website or through the app. Even if you see none, that’s still useful data.

The Big Butterfly Count is more than a summer activity it’s a simple way to make a big impact. Spend just 15 minutes counting butterflies and contribute to vital research tracking the health of our environment. Step outside and help shape the future of nature, one butterfly at a time.

Feeling inspired?

Whether you're passionate about helping pollinators, or want to learn more about swifts and house martins, our nature section has a story for you.