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A common blue rests on leaves on Hutchinson's Bank on June 02, 2025 in New Addington, United Kingdom. Hutchinson's Bank, which is managed by the London Wildlife Trust (LWT), is a large area of secluded chalk grassland and woodland, and one of the best spots in the whole of the United Kingdom to see butterflies. Around 42 of the UK's 59 species have been recorded here. Data recorded by the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS) in 2024 paints a bleak picture for UK butterflies, with 51 of 58 species monitored showing a decline in numbers compared to 2023, making it the the 5th worst year on record, and over a third of the species showing a significant long-term decline. Conservationists have warned that butterflies are particularly vulnerable to environmental factors such as climate change and the use of pesticides, making them an important indicator for the state of biodiversity in the UK. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
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