Big Butterfly Count
Diocesan Environment Adviser, Jill Elston invites churches to assess the health of our environment simply by counting butterflies.
I went to visit June Edgar the Church Warden at St Matthew’s Church in Edgeley in her back garden. June is passionate about growing plants and cultivating an environment that supports butterflies, moths and other wildlife in her garden. Churches can encourage their congregation and communities to take part in this important piece of citizen science. It’s easy to take part with a free app for smart phones and plenty of online spotting sheets. All you need is a sunny day and 15 minutes to spare. It’s a perfect activity to share with children during the summer holidays.
June takes part in the Big Butterfly Count each year and all Eco Churches are encouraged to do the same as part of their care for creation. The Big Butterfly count says “We count butterflies because not only are they beautiful creatures to be around but they are also extremely important. They are vital parts of the ecosystem as both pollinators and components of the food chain. However, they are under threat. Numbers of butterflies and moths in the UK have decreased significantly since the 1970s. If their numbers are falling, then nature is in trouble. So tracking numbers of butterflies is crucial in the fight to conserve our natural world.
Useful links:
Land-and-nature-survey-questions.pdf
Jill Elston is the Diocesan Environment Adviser. She is a member of the Outreach Team based at Church House.
Email: jill.elston@chester.anglican.org
Diocesan Environment Adviser
jill.elston@chester.anglican.org
01928 718834 / 07860 302951
11 July 2025