Islanders Invited To Take Part In Big Butterfly Count And Vote For Britain’s Favourite Butterfly

Islanders are being encouraged to look out for butterflies this summer as a nationwide wildlife survey returns — alongside a brand new vote to find Britain’s favourite species.

The annual Big Butterfly Count, organised by Butterfly Conservation, will once again see thousands of people across the country spend 15 minutes counting butterflies to help scientists monitor their populations.

This year, the charity is also launching a new initiative inviting the public — including residents on the Isle of Wight — to vote for Britain’s Favourite Butterfly.

Over the last 16 years, hundreds of thousands of people have taken part in the Big Butterfly Count, recording nearly 13.8 million butterflies and contributing valuable data to conservation research.

Kate Merry said the charity hopes 2026 will be a “bumper summer” for the colourful insects.

She said:

“Over the last 16 years, more than 1.35 million counts have been done by hundreds of thousands of people across the UK, spotting almost 13.8 million butterflies and helping us with our vital science and conservation activities.

“This year, we can’t wait to celebrate a bumper summer of butterflies by holding the first-ever vote to discover Britain’s Favourite Butterfly, before welcoming back the 17th annual Big Butterfly Count.”

Among the species that could take the crown are the striking Peacock butterfly, the common Small White, the migratory Painted Lady and the hedgerow-loving Gatekeeper butterfly.

The charity says counting butterflies has been shown to help people feel more connected to nature and more motivated to protect it — something Islanders can easily do in gardens, parks, countryside paths and coastal areas across the Isle of Wight.

Key Dates

• Britain’s Favourite Butterfly vote: 15 May – 7 June

• Big Butterfly Count: 17 July – 9 August

Participants simply spend 15 minutes in a sunny outdoor spot counting the butterflies they see and submit their results online.

More information about how to take part can be found via the Butterfly Conservation website.