Gloucestershire spots 41,852 butterflies this summer thanks to hot, dry weather
The results of Butterfly Conservation’s 2026 Big Butterfly Count are in and show it was a very good summer for butterflies in Gloucestershire.
Across the county, 2,979 people took part, spotting 41,852 butterflies and day-flying moths during the three weeks of the Big Butterfly Count. The most-spotted butterfly in the county was the Small White, also known as the ‘Cabbage White’ due to their caterpillars’ taste for cabbages and other brassicas, it has pale white wings with small black tips. The Gatekeeper took the second spot, with the Large White following in third.
Another standout species was the Painted Lady. Citizen scientists in Gloucestershire spotted 1,882 Painted Ladies in this year’s Count and across the UK it was up 335% on last year, in what’s been widely described as a ‘Painted Lady summer’. Painted Ladies undertake one of the most remarkable insect migrations in the world, arriving in Britain via a relay of several generations, each flying a leg of the journey from Africa, across the Sahara Desert and Mediterranean Sea, before reaching UK shores.
The strong numbers of butterflies this year are likely down to excellent conditions for caterpillars in the spring and hot, dry weather which is loved by adult butterflies in the summer. However, despite conditions being brilliant for butterflies this year, experts warn that what comes next could be dire…
With the Met Office confirming it ‘increasingly likely’ to be the hottest summer on record, August saw the UK’s National Drought Group declare that more than 70% of England was officially in drought, with almost all of the UK experiencing drier than usual conditions.
This year, many of the plants that caterpillars depend on had withered or died before the caterpillars had finished feeding on them, and the charity fears the impact on butterfly and moth populations will become fully apparent in 2027.
Professor Richard Fox, Head of Science at Butterfly Conservation, said: “Adult butterflies love hot, sunny weather for flying, feeding and breeding, and that’s exactly why people saw so many this summer. However, the very same weather that made it a good year for butterflies – lots of sunshine and very little rain – could mean we’re actually on course for a population crash, which could take years to recover from.
“The extreme droughts in 1976 and 1995 had severe impacts on butterfly populations, with some species never fully recovering. And the major problem we have now is that 80% of the UK’s butterflies have declined since the 1970s, so many are already struggling for survival, without these extreme weather pressures.
“With increasingly hot, dry summers and droughts predicted to become more and more frequent due to climate breakdown, degraded habitats and already depleted butterfly populations, some species may be pushed further and faster towards extinction, which is a very sombre thought. They are, quite simply, less resilient to these events, which means we could be looking at very difficult years ahead.”
Three top tips to ‘drought-proof’ gardens for butterflies
Butterfly Conservation’s concern lies not with this summer’s results, but with the impact of the extreme summer weather experienced across much of Britain on butterflies next year and in the longer term. That’s why they’re calling on people across Gloucestershire to take three simple ‘drought-proofing’ actions in their gardens and outdoor spaces this winter to help caterpillars, and in turn, butterflies and moths:
1. Plant more trees and shrubs
Holly, Ivy and Buckthorn are among the best choices for butterflies. Holly and Ivy together support garden favourite the Holly Blue, while flowering Ivy is also a valuable late-season nectar source for the colourful Red Admiral and charming Comma, as well as a host of bees, moths and hoverflies.
Buckthorns are the food source for Brimstone caterpillars, whose sunshine-yellow butterflies often herald the start of spring.
Species such as oaks, Hawthorn, birches, apples and willows all provide homes for caterpillars of a wide array of native moths.
All are widely available, low-maintenance, and provide shade and shelter from heatwaves as well as food for caterpillars and adult insects. Their deep roots and dense structure also help them cope with dry conditions once established.
2. Set up water butts
Collecting rainwater through autumn and winter, when it’s plentiful, means there’s a reserve to fall back on for key plants during a dry summer.
With numerous hosepipe bans enforced in 2026, preparing now could be the key to helping butterflies next year when the hot, dry weather is predicted to return.
3. Leave patches of grass to grow long
Left uncut, grass develops deeper roots and stays green for longer than a closely mown lawn, which browns off quickly in a drought. Longer grass also provides caterpillar foodplants for species like Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper, and creates cooler, damper conditions for butterflies to seek refuge during heatwaves.
Research by Butterfly Conservation scientists showed that gardens with a patch of long grass saw up to 93% more butterflies and a wider range of species, so this is one free and simple change that could really help butterflies when they need it most.
The Big Butterfly Count will return in 2027, when citizen scientists in Gloucestershire will be more important than ever before to help discover the true impact of this summer’s extreme weather.
Mark your diary now… Big Butterfly Count 2027 – Friday 9 July – Sunday 1 August.
For more butterfly friendly gardening tips visit www.butterfly-conservation.org