ISLANDERS are being invited to spend just 15 minutes counting butterflies to help scientists understand how healthy Jersey’s environment is.
The annual Big Butterfly Count runs from Friday 17 July to Sunday 9 August.
People across the UK and Channel Islands can take part by looking for butterflies and moths in their gardens or local green spaces and recording what they see.
Organised by the Butterfly Conservation charity, it is now the world’s biggest butterfly survey.
Emily Wagdin, from the Jersey Biodiversity Centre, says butterflies are very important because they help pollinate plants and are also part of the food chain.
Different stages of a butterfly’s life, from caterpillar to adult, depend on certain plants growing in the right places.
She explained that if butterfly numbers suddenly fall, it can be a sign that something in the environment is changing.
Butterfly numbers in Jersey have gone up and down over the past 20 years, but there has been a decline over the last five to ten years.
The Big Butterfly Count helps build a picture of where butterflies are thriving and where they are struggling.
The information is used to support future planning and decisions about protecting nature.
Anyone can take part. Simply spend 15 minutes looking for butterflies and moths, then record the species you spot using the Big Butterfly Count website or the free app.
Every sighting helps scientists learn more about Jersey’s unique wildlife.
