Brits with butterflies in garden told to take urgent action 'before it's too late'
The UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme has released the latest annual results and they show that 2024 was one of the worst years on record for butterflies in the UK
Gardeners who are lucky enough to have butterflies gracing their gardens are being urged to take immediate action, following alarming new data showing a significant drop in butterfly numbers over the past year. The most recent annual findings from the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme, published on 28 March 2025, reveal that 2024 was one of the worst years on record for butterflies in the UK.
The situation is even more dire in certain areas. In Devon, four butterfly species have seen their numbers plummet to the lowest levels in at least a decade, according to fresh data from Butterfly Conservation.
Data from the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme and Butterflies highlight substantial declines in populations of Wood White, Small Heath and Silver-washed and Dark Green Fritillaries.
Local recorder Pete Hurst told Bird Guides that habitat destruction, large-scale pesticide use and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns due to climate change have left already dwindling populations unable to bounce back.
He labelled the figures as "concerning", pointing out that Silver-washed Fritillary was down 38% compared to the 10-year average and Dark Green Fritillary down 60%. These results mirror a broader national trend, with 2024 identified as the fifth-worst year for butterflies across the UK, and over half of all species now experiencing long-term decline for the first time on record.
Gardeners are being encouraged to play their part in boosting butterfly numbers. The Woodland Trust suggests that one of the most effective ways to do this is by providing food sources - flowers.
Butterfly-friendly plants.
Butterflies are nectar feeders, so a straightforward method to attract more butterflies to your garden is to plant a variety of vibrant flowers. Butterflies are drawn to blooms such as bluebell, lavender, red campion, cornflower, primrose, bird's-foot-trefoil and clover.
Buddleia is also a butterfly favourite, however, the Woodland Trust advises against it due to its invasive nature, which can rapidly spread and potentially harm other native plants.
Ensure your flowers are planted in a bright, sunny area that's protected from the wind. If space is limited, consider using a window box or large pot.
Fruit trees.
The juice from ripe fruit provides essential energy for butterflies during autumn, while spring blossoms serve as an excellent nectar source for pollinators.
Other plants.
While they may not be the first choice, these plants also aid butterflies. Some have flowers that benefit adult butterflies, while others serve as valuable food sources for caterpillars.
Create a butterfly feeder.
In addition to planting for butterflies and their caterpillars, you can also assist by providing a sweet treat to give them an energy boost. This is particularly beneficial in autumn when many plants cease flowering and nectar becomes less accessible.
Add a quarter cup of sugar to two cups of water and heat in a saucepan until the sugar has dissolved. Allow it to cool for at least 30 minutes.
Immerse a brightly-coloured cloth in the sugary water and position it near some flowers. Alternatively, you could place overripe fruit in a warm, sunny spot.
Mushy bananas are particularly popular – butterflies adore their sweet, sticky texture.
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The UK butterfly abundance statistics from the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS), spearheaded by Butterfly Conservation, the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH), British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and JNCC, provide butterfly population trends from 1976 to 2024 at a UK level for 58 of the 59 regularly occurring species.
Overall, the most recent data reveals that 2024 was one of the worst years on record for butterflies in the UK, ranking 45th in the 49-year series. For the first time since monitoring began, more than half of butterfly species (31 out of 59) in the UK are now experiencing long-term decline, with nine species having their worst recorded year, including Small Tortoiseshell, Chalk Hill Blue and Small Copper.
Moreover, common butterflies, which inhabit gardens, parks and the wider countryside, experienced their second-worst year since 1976. In the shorter term, compared to the previous year (2023), 51 of the UK's 59 species declined in 2024, while six species showed an increase.
Steve Wilkinson, Director of Ecosystem Evidence and Advice at JNCC, earlier this year remarked on the crucial nature of wildlife monitoring following insights from the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme: "The results revealed by the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme highlights why robust wildlife monitoring is absolutely essential for conservation. Without the dedicated efforts of thousands of volunteers tracking butterfly numbers, we wouldn't fully understand the scale of this decline."
He elaborated on the significance of such comprehensive surveillance: "This comprehensive surveillance allows us to identify which species need urgent intervention, track long-term trends, and measure the effectiveness of our conservation efforts. The UKBMS data doesn't just tell us about butterflies – it provides a critical indicator of the health of our wider environment. In the face of habitat loss and climate change, these monitoring schemes provide the evidence base we need to take meaningful action before it's too late."
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