Latest news with #RichardFox
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Britons urged to stop mowing lawns to boost butterfly numbers 'in long-term decline'
Conservation experts are urging homeowners not to mow their lawns over the coming months to help boost butterfly numbers, with more than half of UK species now in long-term decline. Last year was one of the worst on record for butterflies, with 51 of the UK's 59 butterfly species showing a decline in numbers compared with figures for 2023. The fall is being driven by human activity, the use of pesticides and climate change, experts have said. The UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme, run by a coalition of conservation organisations, said renowned butterfly species including the small tortoiseshell, the chalk hill blue and small copper suffered their worst year ever. It was also the second-worst year, since monitoring started in 1976, for popular butterflies living in gardens, parks and the countryside such as the common blue, gatekeeper and large whites. Richard Fox, from Butterfly Conservation, said: "I am devastated by the decline of our beloved British butterflies, and I'm sorry to say it has been brought about by human actions. "We have destroyed wildlife habitats, polluted the environment, used pesticides on an industrial scale and we are changing the climate. "That means that when we have poor weather, these already-depleted butterfly populations are highly vulnerable and can't bounce back like they once did - and with climate change, that unusual weather is becoming more and more usual." 'Significant' declines in some species Data revealed 31 species have shown a long-term decline. Experts said this included 22 species showing significant declines, including widespread butterflies such as the small tortoiseshell, whose numbers have plummeted by 86% since 1976. The green-veined white has seen a 28% decline, while the grizzled skipper, small pearl-bordered fritillary and chalk hill blue had their worst year on record. Conservationists said those species required specific habitat to survive, which had been destroyed over the past century. Dr Marc Botham, butterfly ecologist at the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, said the results were "deeply concerning", particularly as "they can tell us about the health of the wider environment". Read more from Sky News:' What can be done to help butterflies? The results come after Butterfly Conservation declared a UK-wide following the worst-ever results of its Big Butterfly Count last year. Dr Fox said the "best thing we can do" was to create "more habitat". He said research showed letting part of a garden grow wild with long grass increases butterflies. "That is why we are calling on people and councils across the UK to pledge to not cut their grass this year from April to September, this simple act can make a real, immediate difference to butterflies, moths and other wildlife," he added.
Sky News
02-04-2025
- General
- Sky News
Britons urged to stop mowing lawns to boost butterfly numbers 'in long-term decline'
Conservation experts are urging homeowners not to mow their lawns over the coming months to help boost butterfly numbers, with more than half of UK species now in long-term decline. Last year was one of the worst on record for butterflies, with 51 of the UK's 59 butterfly species showing a decline in numbers compared with figures for 2023. The fall is being driven by human activity, the use of pesticides and climate change, experts have said. The UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme, run by a coalition of conservation organisations, said renowned butterfly species including the small tortoiseshell, the chalk hill blue and small copper suffered their worst year ever. It was also the second-worst year, since monitoring started in 1976, for popular butterflies living in gardens, parks and the countryside such as the common blue, gatekeeper and large whites. Richard Fox, from Butterfly Conservation, said: "I am devastated by the decline of our beloved British butterflies, and I'm sorry to say it has been brought about by human actions. "We have destroyed wildlife habitats, polluted the environment, used pesticides on an industrial scale and we are changing the climate. "That means that when we have poor weather, these already-depleted butterfly populations are highly vulnerable and can't bounce back like they once did - and with climate change, that unusual weather is becoming more and more usual." 'Significant' declines in some species Data revealed 31 species have shown a long-term decline. Experts said this included 22 species showing significant declines, including widespread butterflies such as the small tortoiseshell, whose numbers have plummeted by 86% since 1976. The green-veined white has seen a 28% decline, while the grizzled skipper, small pearl-bordered fritillary and chalk hill blue had their worst year on record. Conservationists said those species required specific habitat to survive, which had been destroyed over the past century. Dr Marc Botham, butterfly ecologist at the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, said the results were "deeply concerning", particularly as "they can tell us about the health of the wider environment". What can be done to help butterflies? The results come after Butterfly Conservation declared a UK-wide"butterfly emergency" following the worst-ever results of its Big Butterfly Count last year. Dr Fox said the "best thing we can do" was to create "more habitat". He said research showed letting part of a garden grow wild with long grass increases butterflies. "That is why we are calling on people and councils across the UK to pledge to not cut their grass this year from April to September, this simple act can make a real, immediate difference to butterflies, moths and other wildlife," he added.
The Guardian
02-04-2025
- Science
- The Guardian
Last summer was second worst for common UK butterflies since 1976
Last summer was the fifth worst in nearly half a century for butterflies in Britain, according to the biggest scientific survey of insect populations in the world. For the first time since scientific recording began in 1976, more than half of Britain's 59 native species are in long-term decline. Nine species suffered their worst year on record, including the once-common small tortoiseshell, the small copper, small skipper, large skipper and green-veined white. Dr Richard Fox, the head of science at Butterfly Conservation, said the 'devastating' butterfly declines had been brought about by human actions. 'We have destroyed wildlife habitats, polluted the environment, used pesticides on an industrial scale and we are changing the climate,' he said. 'That means that when we have poor weather, these already-depleted butterfly populations are highly vulnerable and can't bounce back like they once did – and with climate change, that unusual weather is becoming more and more usual.' Common butterflies found in gardens, parks and the general countryside had their second-worst summer since 1976, with 51 of the 59 native species falling in number compared with 2023. Butterfly numbers fluctuate annually because of the fickle British climate, and the summer of 2024 was notable for its wet spring and relatively cool temperatures. But the data from the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS), in which volunteers scientifically count butterflies at more than 3,000 sites across the country, reveals that 31 of the native species are in long-term decline. The decline of the small tortoiseshell is mystifying scientists because the butterfly was once ubiquitous in gardens and its caterpillars feed on stinging nettles, an extremely common plant. The summer of 2023 was the worst on record for the small tortoiseshell, only for the butterfly to suffer a further decline last year. While conservationists have scored notable successes with reviving critically endangered butterfly species in recent decades, among those experiencing their worst ever years were species already listed as threatened on the 'red list' for British butterflies: the grizzled skipper, small pearl-bordered fritillary and chalkhill blue. Sign up to Down to Earth The planet's most important stories. Get all the week's environment news - the good, the bad and the essential after newsletter promotion Butterfly Conservation is leading calls this year to reduce council grass-cutting and encourage people to leave lawns long to benefit butterflies and other insects. Scientific research last year revealed that gardens with long grass increased butterfly abundance and species. 'By far the best thing we can do to help butterflies is to create more habitat,' said Fox. 'That is why we are calling on people and councils across the UK to pledge to not cut their grass this year from April to September: this simple act can make a real, immediate difference to butterflies, moths and other wildlife.'
The Independent
01-04-2025
- General
- The Independent
Half of UK butterfly species are in long-term decline - and humans are to blame
More than half of the butterfly species in the UK are in long-term decline for the first time and experts say human actions are to blame. The UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme, run by a coalition of conservation organisations, revealed that 2024 was the fifth worst year since records began for butterflies, with 51 of the UK's 59 butterfly species declining last year compared with 2023, while just six increased. Species including the small tortoiseshell, the chalk hill blue and small copper suffered their worst year ever. Richard Fox, from Butterfly Conservation, said he was 'devastated' by the declines in British butterflies, which he said were driven by humans destroying habitats, polluting the environment, using pesticides and driving climate change. The monitoring scheme by charity Butterfly Conservation, the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) has been running since 1976, and now sees volunteers count butterflies across more than 3,000 sites. It found 2024 was the second worst year on record for common butterflies that live in gardens, parks and the wider countryside such as common blue, gatekeeper and large whites, while nine species had their worst year since counting began. Experts said that butterfly numbers fluctuate from year to year, and last year's low numbers are in part due to the wet spring and relatively cool summer which did not provide good conditions for winged insects to feed and breed. But the monitoring data also shows that for the first time, more than half of the UK's butterfly species are in long-term decline. It reveals 31 have declined since monitoring began, with 22 species suffering significant declines including widespread species such as the small tortoiseshell whose numbers have plummeted 86 per cent since 1976, and the green-veined white which has seen a 28 per cent decline. Several species listed on the 'red list' amid concerns over their survival, the grizzled skipper, small pearl-bordered fritillary and chalk hill blue, had their worst year on record, the monitoring showed. Conservationists said those species required specific habitat to survive, which had been destroyed over the past century. Dr Fox said: 'I am devastated by the decline of our beloved British butterflies, and I'm sorry to say it has been brought about by human actions: we have destroyed wildlife habitats, polluted the environment, used pesticides on an industrial scale and we are changing the climate. 'That means that when we have poor weather, these already-depleted butterfly populations are highly vulnerable and can't bounce back like they once did – and with climate change, that unusual weather is becoming more and more usual.' The results come after Butterfly Conservation declared a UK-wide 'butterfly emergency' following the worst-ever results of its citizen science Big Butterfly Count last year. Dr Fox said the wildlife charity had been 'inundated' with people last summer asking where the butterflies had gone and what they could do to help. 'By far the best thing we can do to help butterflies is to create more habitat,' he said, pointing to research by the charity which showed letting part of the garden grow wild with long grass increases butterflies – particularly in gardens and intensive agriculture. 'That is why we are calling on people and councils across the UK to pledge to not cut their grass this year from April to September: this simple act can make a real, immediate difference to butterflies, moths and other wildlife,' Dr Fox urged. Dr Marc Botham, butterfly ecologist at the UKCEH, said: 'These deeply concerning results from the UKBMS emphasise just how important it is to monitor and record our wildlife so we can target conservation efforts and protect our beloved species. 'Butterflies in particular are valuable not just in their own right but also as indicator species, meaning they can tell us about the health of the wider environment, which makes the UKBMS data invaluable in assessing the health of our countryside and natural world in general.'
The Independent
01-04-2025
- Science
- The Independent
Half of UK butterfly species in long-term decline, monitoring reveals
More than half of UK butterfly species are now in long-term decline, as humans destroy habitats, use pesticides and drive climate change, experts said. The UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme, run by a coalition of conservation organisations, has also revealed that 2024 was one of the worst on record for butterflies in the UK with species including the small tortoiseshell, the chalk hill blue and small copper suffering their worst year ever. Richard Fox, from Butterfly Conservation, said he was 'devastated' by the declines in British butterflies, which he said were driven by human actions. The monitoring scheme by charity Butterfly Conservation, the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) has been running since 1976, and now sees volunteers count butterflies across more than 3,000 sites. Monitoring reveals that 2024 was the fifth worst year since records began for butterflies, with 51 of the UK's 59 butterfly species declining last year compared with 2023, while just six increased. It was the second worst year on record for common butterflies that live in gardens, parks and the wider countryside such as common blue, gatekeeper and large whites, while nine species had their worst year since counting began. Experts said that butterfly numbers fluctuate from year to year, and last year's low numbers are in part due to the wet spring and relatively cool summer which did not provide good conditions for winged insects to feed and breed. But the monitoring data also shows that for the first time, more than half of the UK's butterfly species are in long-term decline. It reveals 31 have declined since monitoring began, with 22 species suffering significant declines including widespread species such as the small tortoiseshell whose numbers have plummeted 86% since 1976, and the green-veined white which has seen a 28% decline. Several species listed on the 'red list' amid concerns over their survival, the grizzled skipper, small pearl-bordered fritillary and chalk hill blue, had their worst year on record, the monitoring showed. Conservationists said those species required specific habitat to survive, which had been destroyed over the past century. Dr Fox said: 'I am devastated by the decline of our beloved British butterflies, and I'm sorry to say it has been brought about by human actions: we have destroyed wildlife habitats, polluted the environment, used pesticides on an industrial scale and we are changing the climate. 'That means that when we have poor weather, these already-depleted butterfly populations are highly vulnerable and can't bounce back like they once did – and with climate change, that unusual weather is becoming more and more usual.' The results come after Butterfly Conservation declared a UK-wide 'butterfly emergency' following the worst-ever results of its citizen science Big Butterfly Count last year. Dr Fox said the wildlife charity had been 'inundated' with people last summer asking where the butterflies had gone and what they could do to help. 'By far the best thing we can do to help butterflies is to create more habitat,' he said, pointing to research by the charity which showed letting part of the garden grow wild with long grass increases butterflies – particularly in gardens and intensive agriculture. 'That is why we are calling on people and councils across the UK to pledge to not cut their grass this year from April to September: this simple act can make a real, immediate difference to butterflies, moths and other wildlife,' Dr Fox urged. Dr Marc Botham, butterfly ecologist at the UKCEH, said: 'These deeply concerning results from the UKBMS emphasise just how important it is to monitor and record our wildlife so we can target conservation efforts and protect our beloved species. ' Butterflies in particular are valuable not just in their own right but also as indicator species, meaning they can tell us about the health of the wider environment, which makes the UKBMS data invaluable in assessing the health of our countryside and natural world in general.'
