The butterfly effect
You can help protect butterflies and moths by getting involved in the Big Butterfly Count, a nationwide survey taking place from 16th July to 7th August.
First, visit www.bigbutterflycount.org to download a chart to help you identify different butterflies, then stand in a garden, park or field, (or any location where you might see butterflies), and record how many you see in 15 minutes. Register your findings on line and you'll help provide valuable information on the health of our wildlife and the environment.
Common Blue male
Butterflies and moths are very sensitive to environmental change, which makes them an excellent indicator of the health of the countryside. If they thrive in an area, this suggests that it's good for other wildlife too.
However, many natural habitats have been destroyed and consequently butterflies and moths are in rapid decline, with many species extinct or threatened with extinction. We're supporting Butterfly Conservation by helping to raise awareness of the importance of butterflies and moths - improving the environment for us all.
An important aspect of our partnership will involve us working with Butterfly Conservation to provide support to our farmers, helping them to encourage and maintain butterflies on their farms. Over three-quarters of UK butterflies and moths depend on farmland, and if we were to lose these, not only would we see a decline in birds and other wildlife that rely on caterpillars for food, but farmers could also see a reduction in some crop yields.
And this year we've joined forces with the National Schools Partnership to create The Butterfly Effect, a fantastic cross-curricular educational programme that's spreading the word about our nation's endangered butterflies. Including downloadable lesson plans, activity sheets for pupils and even a section to create your own virtual butterfly, the link below will tell you more.
www.butterflyeffectschools.org
You can further help the work of Butterfly Conservation by buying selected M&S products. Donations will be made to the charity across selected girlswear clothing, lavender and salvia plants, Colin the Caterpillar and butterfly cakes and Colin the Caterpillar sweets.*
*20p per product on lavender and salvia plants in store and 50p on lavender plants on line; 5p per product on Colin the Caterpillar and butterfly cakes, and Colin the Caterpillar sweets, from 1st to 31st July; 10% of the sale of selected butterfly-themed girlswear items.
Butterfly Conservation
We're supporting Butterfly Conservation by helping to raise awareness of the importance of butterflies and moths.
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