Butterflies have been booming – but what will happen next?

The 2026 Big Butterfly Count recorded almost 1.4 million butterflies and moths, making it one of the best years since the count began. The Small White was the most commonly spotted butterfly, while Painted Lady numbers soared compared with last year. But scientists are worried that the hot, dry weather may have damaged the plants that caterpillars need to survive.

This makes a great real-life science investigation for primary pupils, linking to living things and their habitats, life cycles, classification and how environmental change can affect wildlife. Pupils could take action too by researching and growing butterfly-friendly plants in the school grounds, creating new habitats and then observing which species visit next spring and summer.