Sir David Attenborough: 'Summer would not be summer without butterflies'

As president of the Dorset-based Butterfly Conservation charity, Sir David is a keen lepidopterist. “Butterflies are one of the stars of the British countryside,” he says. “But they continue to be in long-term decline.”

He says it’s more vital than ever to know where they can be found and in what numbers and that’s where the Big Butterfly Count comes in. He wants us to find a sunny spot and note down the species we see using a chart identifying 20 widespread species, including two day-time moths, which is downloadable from Butterfly Conservation’s website. Sir David says the 15-minute count helps make ‘a real contribution to our understanding of these beautiful creatures’

Source: Bournemouth Echo, 14 July 2011
http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/9140392.Sir_David_Attenborough_ur…