Europe’s grassland butterfly population down more than a third in 10 years

Decline worse in Britain than other countries, as conservationists blame agriculture and global heating

Butterfly populations that live on grasslands across Europe have declined by more than a third in the past decade, according to a study.

Seventeen species that were once commonly found in pastures and meadows across 22 countries, including the small copper, common blue and meadow brown, declined by 36% on average between 2011 and 2020.