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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment
Patrick Barkham

EXPLAINED: Butterfly emergency declared as uk summer count hits record low - The Real Truth

United Kingdom Butterfly Conservation Richard Fox
Blue butterfly against green blurred-out background
It was the worst year on record for the common blue, along with a number of other once-ubiquitous species. Photograph: Tamas Nestor/Butterfly Conservation/PA

A national “butterfly emergency” has been declared by Butterfly Conservation after the lowest Big Butterfly Count since records began.

An average of just seven butterflies per 15-minute count were recorded by participants in this summer’s butterfly count, the lowest in the survey’s 14-year history.

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