Record low number of British butterflies baffles scientists

Annual Big Butterfly Count shows big falls in peacocks and small tortoiseshells

Despite a warm and sunny British summer, fewer butterflies than ever were recorded in each count by the biggest butterfly survey in the world.

Record numbers of people took part in the Big Butterfly Count in July and August, with nearly 150,000 15-minute counts of butterflies taking place in parks, gardens, woods and nature reserves across the country.