Oxford News
Fears mount as butterflies beginning to disappear from UK
This is according to 50 years of data from the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS).
Since 1976, this world‑leading citizen science project has amassed more than 44 million records.
From this, they have created a detailed picture of how the UK’s butterflies are doing.
And it doesn’t spell good news, after volunteers completed 782,000 walks to count species at thousands of sites across the country over the past five decades.
As the scheme celebrates its 50th anniversary, conservationists warn they are locked in an “increasingly urgent battle” to protect the richness and diversity of Britain’s butterflies.
Of the 59 native species monitored, UKBMS figures show that 33 have declined in numbers and 25 have improved, though one mountain-dwelling species has insufficient data.
Species that can survive across different habitats have been better able to cope with changes to the landscape and climate, and some have even spread to new areas, the figures indicate.
For example, the Red Admiral used to be a summer visitor to the UK, but the species is now seen here year-round as the climate warms, with the dataset showing numbers have surged by 330% since 1976.
There have been some exceptions to this trend, such as the small tortoiseshell, which has declined by almost 90% in the last 50 years.
On the other hand, butterflies that live in a particular habitat, such as woodland glades or chalk downland, have struggled widely and many are fast declining.
The number of pearl-bordered fritillaries – a vibrant orange-and-black butterfly whose caterpillars only eat violets growing in sunny spots in woodland clearings or bracken-covered hillsides – has decreased by 70% since 1976.
just found out that butterflies can’t even see their own wings, and that got me thinking… most people don’t even recognize their true beauty & how much they’ve grown and evolved
— Wholesome Side of 𝕏 (@itsme_urstruly) April 3, 2026
And white-letter hairstreaks, which only lay their eggs on elm trees, have suffered huge declines over the decades after millions died from disease.
But intensive conservation efforts have helped some of these species buck the downward trend, including the silver-studded blue and the black hairstreak.
Richard Fox, head of science at Butterfly Conservation, which is one of the organisations that runs the scheme, called the set of figures “damning”.
“Just as we have lost family-run shops and traditional skills from the nation’s high streets, so we’ve lost variety and diversity in the butterfly communities that can exist in our damaged and simplified landscapes,” he said.
“We have some remarkable species in this country, and we know what we need to do to help them – create more habitat.
“That is what Butterfly Conservation has been doing for more than 50 years, but we are fighting an increasingly urgent battle and we need more help.”
It comes after the organisation’s Big Butterfly Count, which asks members of the public to count species in their local green spaces during a period in the summer, yielded disappointing results last year.
This was despite hopes that the hot record summer conditions in which butterflies should thrive might have helped to offset decades of declining numbers.
In 2024, the wet spring and cool summer contributed to the lowest numbers spotted in the count’s 14-year history.
“Last year should have been amazing for butterflies, however, we were not treated to a bumper butterfly year – indeed over one-third of species had below average numbers,” Mr Fox said.
Would you be sad to see butterflies disappear from the UK? Let us know in the comments
Thames Valley Police has said they are concerned for the welfare of Ruby-Rose from Headington was last seen just before 5pm.
The force said that she is known to frequent Summertown and parks around Oxford including Boults Lane recreation ground.
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They added that she was last seen wearing a black puffer jacket, white Crocs and blue-stone washed jeans.
A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police said: “Have you seen Ruby‑Rose? The 13‑year‑old, missing from Headington, was last seen at around 4.55pm today.
“Ruby‑Rose is approximately 5ft 4ins tall, of medium build, with shoulder‑length brown hair with red underneath.
“She was last seen wearing blue stone‑washed jeans, a black puffer jacket, and white Crocs.
“Ruby‑Rose is known to frequent Summertown and several parks around Oxford, including Boults Lane recreation ground, and we believe she is travelling by electric bike.
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“We are concerned for Ruby‑Rose’s welfare. If you see her, please call 999 and quote reference number 43260187286.
“Anyone with information about Ruby‑Rose’s whereabouts can make a report via our website.”
Police guidance states a person will not be in trouble with officers when found, and it is not wasting officers’ time to report someone as missing.
You do not have to wait 24 hours to contact police.
Ivy, who is 40-years-old, was last seen on Monday, April 13, at around 11.10am, close to Cowley Road.
Thames Valley Police has said they are “worried about her welfare” and have asked anyone who has seen her to get in touch with them as soon as possible.
READ MORE: Extreme concern for missing Buckinghamshire man last seen in Oxfordshire town
A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police said; “Have you seen Ivy? She is 40-years-old and was last seen on Monday morning, around 11.10am, near to Cowley Road.
“She is described as a white woman with a slim build. She has ginger hair with parts dyed black, normally in a ponytail.
“She was last seen wearing a long black coat, pink hooded top with a Lacoste logo on the front of it, jeans with a rip in the left knee and light coloured trainers.
“She frequents the areas of Abingdon and Oxford.
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“We’re worried about her welfare, if you see her or know where she is, please call us on 999 quoting reference 43260182070.”
Police guidance states a person will not be in trouble with officers when found, and it is not wasting officers’ time to report someone as missing.
You do not have to wait 24 hours to contact police.
Thames Valley Police has released new images of Isaac, whose surname has not been released, after he went missing at about 10.30am on Monday April 13.
The latest photos were captured five days ago in Bicester, with the 30-year-old was last seen in the town at 2.25pm.
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He is described as a slim-built white man, about 5ft 10ins with a shaved head and tattoos of a poem and a ribcage on his arm.
He was last seen wearing a black hoodie, black skinny jeans and a rucksack.
A spokesperson for the police said: “We are releasing new images of missing Isaac from Aylesbury, captured in Bicester on Monday (April 13).
“The 30-year-old, from Broughton, was last seen in Bicester at 2.25pm on Monday.
“Isaac is white, 5ft 10ins tall, slim, with a shaved head and tattoos of a poem and a ribcage on his arm.
“He was last seen wearing a black hoodie, black skinny jeans and a backpack.
“Isaac is known to frequent Aylesbury town centre, Waddesdon and we believe he is now in the Bicester area.
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“We are extremely concerned for Isaac’s welfare.
“If you see Isaac, please call 999. If you have any other information regarding his whereabouts then please call 101, quoting investigation reference number 43260178688.”
Police guidance states a person will not be in trouble with officers when found, and it is not wasting officers’ time to report someone as missing. You do not have to wait 24 hours to contact police.
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