You can help safeguard the future of butterflies in Milton Keynes – and all it takes is 15 sunny minutes of your time.

The Parks Trust, the charity that cares for our city’s green spaces, is calling on you (yes, you!) to join this year’s Big Butterfly Count, running right up until 10th August.

All you need to do is find a sunny spot, spend a quarter of an hour watching for butterflies, and record what you see. Your sightings feed into a national database that helps experts track population trends and shape future conservation work.

Butterflies aren’t just pretty faces flitting past on summer days – they’re vital indicators of a healthy environment. And Milton Keynes is a bit of a butterfly hotspot, with 32 species recorded locally, including the nationally scarce Black Hairstreak that’s been spotted recently in our woodlands. You might also catch sight of a Red Admiral, Peacock, Gatekeeper or Speckled Wood on your count.

But here’s the flip side: over half of the UK’s butterfly species are in long-term decline, and 2024 is already shaping up to be one of the worst years on record. Wet spring weather, pesticide use and habitat loss are all playing their part in this worrying trend.

That’s why The Parks Trust and Butterfly Conservation are reaching out to everyone – from curious first-timers to seasoned lepidopterists (that’s butterfly buffs to you and me).

“This is a fantastic opportunity for families, friends and individuals to connect with nature and support our precious wildlife. Every butterfly counted helps to build a clearer picture of how our local and national species are faring,” says Carla Boswell, Biodiversity Officer at The Parks Trust.

Here’s how you can help:

Plant native wildflowers in your garden, balcony or window box.

Provide shallow water dishes, butterfly houses and feeding stations.

Avoid using pesticides and support wildlife‑friendly policies.

Record your sightings during the Big Butterfly Count and become a citizen scientist.

So, grab a notebook (or your phone), head outside, and see what fluttery friends you can find. You’ll be doing your bit for nature – and having a lovely few minutes in the sunshine while you’re at it.

Ready to join in?

Find out more and log your sightings at theparkstrust.com/butterflies.