A FOUR-YEAR project has recorded more than 20,000 butterflies of 28 species in the heart of London.
The scheme also recorded more than 1,200 moths of 150 species in parks, allotments, graveyards and community gardens.
National charity Butterfly Conservation, which launched the Big City Butterflies initiative in 2021, says the results show that wildlife can thrive in towns and cities with the right management and the support of local communities.
Butterfly Conservation Project Officer Steve Bolton said: "We worked with fantastic community groups, councils and council officers across Inner London who are creating and maintaining amazing spaces for nature, and it’s in those spaces where we’ve found the most wildlife.”
One such site where the project recorded big success was Avery Hill Park in Greenwich.
Steve said: "We partnered with a very active and enthusiastic group, the Friends of Avery Hill Park, and two years ago we paid to create a big new wildflower meadow with them. They also pushed the council to change the grass mowing regime. In 2023, we had 16 transect walks at the park that counted 1,144 butterflies of 19 species; the following year there were 19 walks that counted 2,117 butterflies of 20 species: the number of walks went up 20 per cent but the number of butterflies we counted went up 85 per cent - and that was in a bad year for butterflies. It's not a scientific test, but we don't have any doubt that the work the Friends did with the council's help has boosted numbers there in ways that other areas could replicate."
Over four years, Butterfly Conservation’s project helped to create or improve 72 sites for butterflies and moths across London, including 27,000m2 of wildflower meadow.
The project also planted 88 trees, 511 shrubs, and 2,757 flower pots and flower plugs, and the team helped councils and community groups write 30 management plans.
Posted On: 06/02/2025
More on: