Butterfly Conservation slams 'obsession with tidiness' in British gardens and green spaces that is 'just really bad for nature', after the public counted record low butterfly numbers this summer. But that's not the only reason the insects are declining, it said.
Conservationists have declared a 'butterfly emergency' after a vast community survey recorded the lowest ever numbers of the insect. The Big Butterfly Count, organised over three weeks in the summer, asked members of the public to spend 15 minutes recording the butterflies they see in a nearby green space, whether a garden, park or countryside.
He added: 'Nature is sounding the alarm call. We must act now if we are to turn the tide on these rapid declines and protect species for future generations.' The charity said butterflies were hit by a wet spring and cool summer - but warned that seasonal variations come on top of serious long-term declines. The insects are under pressure from loss of habitat, pesticides, and extreme weather driven by climate change.
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