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| Sir David Attenborough backs world's biggest butterfly count | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Spending time with nature offers a respite from the modern life, Sir David Attenborough has said, as he called on the the public to take part in the world's biggest butterfly count. | Spending time with nature offers a respite from the modern life, Sir David Attenborough has said, as he called on the the public to take part in the world's biggest butterfly count. |
| The naturalist says watching butterflies in his garden "never fails to bring me great pleasure". | The naturalist says watching butterflies in his garden "never fails to bring me great pleasure". |
| The exercise involves spending 15 minutes counting butterflies and submitting the sightings online. | The exercise involves spending 15 minutes counting butterflies and submitting the sightings online. |
| The majority of butterfly species have been in decline for the past 40 years. | The majority of butterfly species have been in decline for the past 40 years. |
| However, this year, weather conditions in the UK - a cold winter followed by settled weather during a late spring and summer - have created the right conditions for butterflies to flourish. | However, this year, weather conditions in the UK - a cold winter followed by settled weather during a late spring and summer - have created the right conditions for butterflies to flourish. |
| Species expected to do particularly well include the holly blue, common white, common blue and red admirals. | Species expected to do particularly well include the holly blue, common white, common blue and red admirals. |
| However if the hot conditions create a drought, the results could be "catastrophic" as plants wither and insects die through lack of food, said the charity Butterfly Conservation, which organises the count. | However if the hot conditions create a drought, the results could be "catastrophic" as plants wither and insects die through lack of food, said the charity Butterfly Conservation, which organises the count. |
| This happened in 1976 when the butterfly population collapsed after the hot summer. | This happened in 1976 when the butterfly population collapsed after the hot summer. |
| As part of the Big Butterfly Count, Butterfly Conservation is asking the public to spot and record 17 species of butterfly for the next three weeks. | As part of the Big Butterfly Count, Butterfly Conservation is asking the public to spot and record 17 species of butterfly for the next three weeks. |
| In addition to contributing to conservation knowledge, mental health charity Mind says spending time in nature can help alleviate problems such as depression and anxiety. | In addition to contributing to conservation knowledge, mental health charity Mind says spending time in nature can help alleviate problems such as depression and anxiety. |
| Sir David said: "Spending time with nature offers us all precious breathing space away from the stresses and strains of modern life, it enables us to experience joy and wonder, to slow down and to appreciate the wildlife that lives side by side with us. | Sir David said: "Spending time with nature offers us all precious breathing space away from the stresses and strains of modern life, it enables us to experience joy and wonder, to slow down and to appreciate the wildlife that lives side by side with us. |
| "I have been privileged to have witnessed some truly breath-taking wildlife spectacles in far-flung locations but some of my most memorable experiences have happened when I've been simply sitting and watching the wildlife that lives where I do." | "I have been privileged to have witnessed some truly breath-taking wildlife spectacles in far-flung locations but some of my most memorable experiences have happened when I've been simply sitting and watching the wildlife that lives where I do." |
| Last year's big butterfly count was the largest ever with a record number of people submitting sightings. | |
| But despite this, the average number of butterflies seen per 15 minute count was the lowest recorded since the survey started in 2010. | |
| The reduced numbers of butterflies was partly due to "topsy-turvy" weather last summer, which was one of the wettest summers for 100 years. | |
| Are butterflies in the UK under threat? | |
| According to Butterfly Conservation, three-quarters of British butterflies are in decline. | |
| Five species of butterfly have become extinct in the past 150 years. | |
| The charity says that habitats being destroyed or deteriorating are the prime causes of long-term decline. |