Sir David Attenborough is inviting everyone to take part in the Big Butterfly Count as concerns grow regarding the risk wet weather poses to Cornwall's butterflies.
The Big Butterfly Count is the world’s largest butterfly survey, which encourages people to record 18 species of common butterflies and two day-flying moths during three weeks of high summer.
Sir David is asking people to take part in this year’s count to help scientists chart the effects of the poor weather conditions on widespread species as this year's slow spring and soggy summer may have had a negative effect on chances for the butterflies to feed and mate.
He said: "During my lifetime I have seen first-hand how the UK’s once plentiful butterflies have dwindled and diminished, with some species even becoming extinct. This is a gloomy outlook but not one that is set in stone. We must make sure these losses are halted and reversed, but in order to achieve this we first need to find out as much information about our butterflies as possible."
Guided butterfly walks will be happening across Cornwall, with two in the Helston area. A walk will take place at Godolphin Woods on Sunday, July 31 July and at Kynance Cove on Sunday, August 7, which is the last day of the count.
More information is available online at www.butterfly-conservation.org/CornwallEvents.
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