FROM 16 JULY AND FOR 3 WEEKS
Garden wildlife specialist Vivara has teamed up with wildlife charity, Butterfly Conservation, to help encourage people to become citizen scientists this summer.
The new website brand, owned by CJ WildBird Foods, has become a sponsor of the annual Big Butterfly Count, a UK-wide butterfly spotting survey.
Launching on Friday, 16 July and running for three weeks, the Big Butterfly Count encourages the UK public to benefit from being out in nature by spending 15 minutes in an outdoor space counting the amount and type of butterflies (and some day-flying moths) they see.
By taking part, people will be helping to assess the health of the environment and provide feedback on how species are coping. The campaign also aims to inspire people to help protect butterflies and other pollinators, which are declining in the UK.
Bastiaan de Jong, Chief Commercial Officer at Vivara, said: “Every garden has the ability to support wildlife, no matter what size, and simple wildlife friendly planting is the key to attracting beneficial butterflies, bees and other pollinating insects.
“Our core goal at Vivara UK is accessibility – to encourage anyone and everyone to care for wildlife in their outside space, starting from the ground upwards – by sharing our expert advice, product range and garden inspiration.
“Through our work with Butterfly Conservation, we are extremely proud to be the sponsors of the Big Butterfly Count, which everyone can be a part of, helping to promote the benefit of identifying and protecting these delicate species.”
Julie Williams, CEO of Butterfly Conservation, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Vivara to encourage more people to become citizen scientists and contribute towards our crucial conservation work.
“Together we hope to inspire more people to take part and enjoy the nature on our doorsteps, which could be something as simple as a single plant pot on a patio or windowsill, and to play their part in protecting our pollinators in the long term.”
Last year over 111,000 people submitted over 145,000 counts with an incredible 1.5M butterflies recorded in total. And as this summer more people than ever will be enjoying the wonderful outdoors that the UK has to offer, the charity hope to collect even more data this year. To take part in the Big Butterfly Count 2021, simply download the free app or visit the website www.bigbutterflycount.org.