Number of butterflies in UK falls to lowest since surveys began

While the gatekeeper butterfly recorded an increase of over 50% this summer, many other species declined on the levels recorded last year, according to Butterfly Conservation’s annual Big Butterfly Count. Photograph: Liam Richardson/Butterfly Conservation/PA

Despite a summer of glorious sunshine, fewer butterflies than ever were recorded in the world’s largest citizen science insect count.

On average, fewer than nine butterflies per count were spotted in this summer’s Big Butterfly Count, the lowest in the 13 years of Butterfly Conservation’s popular July recording scheme.