NATURE lovers are being urged to take part in this year’s Big Butterfly Count.

Organised by wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation, the UK-wide survey is now underway and runs until Sunday, August 7.

The charity is urging local residents to spend 15 minutes watching and recording the amount and type of butterflies and day-flying moths in their garden or local green space and then share the results.

Last year’s count saw the lowest ever number of butterflies recorded and, in May, it was revealed that half of Britain’s remaining butterfly species are now on a ‘red list’ as they are threatened or near threatened with extinction.

Dr Zoe Randle, senior surveys officer at Butterfly Conservation, said: “We really need people’s help this year to help us figure out where our butterflies are and what we need to do to save them.

“It’s not just the rare species of butterfly that we are concerned about. Some of our previously commonly seen butterflies, like the Small Tortoiseshell, are also declining rapidly.”

For more information or to take part, visit bigbutterflycount.org or download the free Big Butterfly Count app.