Last year 'one of the worst for UK butterflies'

More than half of the UK's butterfly species have populations in long-term decline, a survey has found.

The UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme said that 31 of 59 species have had their numbers fall since 1976, when monitoring began.

It also found that 2024 was the fifth-worst year for butterfly numbers across the country, with all but eight species suffering declines on the previous year - though populations can fluctuate year-on-year in response to the weather.

Dr Richard Fox, head of science at Butterfly Conservation, which conducted the study, said the long-term decline was "entirely down to the way we humans manage the landscape".

While many butterfly species showed population declines last year, nine suffered their worst year on record - with the grizzled skipper, cryptic wood white and chalk hill blue seeing sharp drops compared to the previous year.

But 22 species were found to have suffered significant losses since monitoring began.

Among them was the small tortoiseshell butterfly, numbers of which plummeted by 86% in the past 49 years, while the green-veined white butterfly saw a 28% decline.

Common butterflies that live in gardens, parks and the countryside had their second-worst year in 2024. Only six species showed increases in their numbers since 2023.

Dr Fox said the falling butterfly numbers were due to "destruction of wildlife-rich habitats" by humans, as well as the use of pesticides and other pollutants.