Big Butterfly Count 2026 is now underway, with people across the UK coming together to take part in the nationwide citizen science survey.  

The Big Butterfly Count was launched in 2010 and it has quickly become the world’s biggest survey of butterflies.  

This year’s count runs from 17th July to 9th August and you can take part wherever you’re based in the UK!  

You can join in from your back garden, the local park or in one of Yorkshire’s beautiful national parks. Wherever you’re counting, you will make positive contribution to assessing the health of our environment.  

How does it work? 

It’s easy to get involved! 

1). Download the handy butterfly ID chart from the Big Butterfly Count website 

2). Choose your favourite spot, set your timer for fifteen minutes and keep and eye out for butterflies and moths  

3). Note down what species you’ve seen and add them to the count

4). Check out the interactive map to discover what other species people have spotted!  

Other easy ways to help nature 

1). Create a bug hotel using a tin can 

Building a bug hotel doesn’t need to be expensive and complicated. Reusing household items is a great way to avoid waste and minimise cost. For example, a tin can works very well as a bug hotel as it has adequate space to fill with twigs and leaves and provides shelter for insects. Creating your bug hotel is easy: just clean a tin can and collect natural materials to fill it with. You can even decorate your bug hotel – why not turn it into your favourite insect?  

2). Plant for pollinators 

Alongside taking part in the Big Butterfly Count, another easy way to help butterflies and other pollinators is to plant flowers which help them to pollinate. You don’t need a big garden or lots of gardening expertise to do this and a flower in a window box, or a small planted patch on your driveway are excellent ways to provide flowers for pollinators. Examples of flowers which are good for pollinators include Cosmos and Dahila’s.  

3). Create safe passage for hedgehogs 

Did you know that hedgehogs can travel up to 2km in a single night?! This is because they need to travel to find food, nesting sites and mates. Sometimes, hedgehogs may need to venture onto paths and roads to move between gardens which puts them in danger. To help hedgehogs navigate more safely, you can install a hedgehog sized hole (13cmx13cm) in your garden fence to help them stay safe on their journey to the next garden.