Sir David Attenborough calls for butterfly spotters

The Arundel Wetland Centre has teamed up with Sir David Attenborough and is urging people to get outside and count butterflies.
By The Newsroom
Published 25th Jul 2016, 14:18 BST
Updated 25th Jul 2016, 15:23 BST

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W30C butterflies Sir David attenborough is sopporting the Big Butterfly Count at the Arundel Wetland CentreW30C butterflies Sir David attenborough is sopporting the Big Butterfly Count at the Arundel Wetland Centre
W30C butterflies Sir David attenborough is sopporting the Big Butterfly Count at the Arundel Wetland Centre

The Big Butterfly Count runs until Sunday, August 7.

People can pick up a spotter sheet at the WWT Arundel Wetland Centre in Mill Road, Arundel, to tick off which butterflies they see.

Sir David said: “It is vitally important we gain a clearer picture of how our butterflies are faring. That is why taking part in the Big Butterfly Count is so important – it helps us build a picture of how butterflies are doing in our own neighbourhoods and what help they need from us.”

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So far this summer at Arundel the red admiral butterfly is leading the count with lots of large whites, meadow browns, peacocks and small tortoiseshells around too.

Dave Fairlamb, Arundel’s centre manager, said: “Getting outside and spotting butterflies is fun, whether you’re finding out about their different colours for the first time or whether you’re trying to spot a species you haven’t seen before. Butterflies are really important little animals, both for the colour they add to the natural world and their vital role as pollinators of wetland plants.”

More than 50,000 people took part in the count last year, counting around 600,000 butterflies.

Children can also pick up a nature explorers’ passport at the centre over the summer holidays and earn a sticker doing the count, or other activities like being a junior warden and pond dipping.

Find out more about the Big Butterfly Count at

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Related topics:David AttenboroughArundel