Butterfly Conservation, the charity behind the annual Big Butterfly Count, says a hot and dry spring could produce a "bumper" year for butterflies in the UK, with several species already showing signs of increase. The count, running from 17 July to 9 August 2026, asks members of the public to record the butterflies and moths they spot, helping experts track population trends after decades of decline linked to habitat loss and degradation.

Dr Dan Hoare of Butterfly Conservation said he had seen three or four species in southern England wandering beyond their usual range, describing the warm weather as an opportunity for butterflies to colonise new areas. Professor Helen Roy of the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology said the encouraging signs suggested other insects may also be thriving, crediting initiatives such as No Mow May, and urged people to let gardens grow "messy" and "diverse" to create habitat patchworks across the country.