Butterfly and moth populations fluctuate naturally in response to environmental conditions and provided that there is sufficient good quality habitat, numbers can recover remarkably quickly from the effect of bad weather.

The Government are supporting the work of Butterfly Conservation, which is working to restore habitat for our most threatened species and has launched its annual survey of butterflies. Last year's report of the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme concluded that while the numbers of most widespread butterfly species are comparatively stable, almost half of the more specialised butterflies (those species associated with more specialised habitats such as chalk grassland and flower-rich meadows) are declining. We also know that moth numbers have fallen by a third over the past 40 years. Despite this, agri-environment schemes and other habitat restoration works are having a positive effect and there are some notable signs of recovery for some of these more specialist butterfly species, such as the heath fritillary and the reintroduced large blue. The causes of moth decline are less well understood, but we have been supporting research to better understand how to manage woodland habitats for moths.

We will continue to build on these successful examples, working in partnership with Butterfly Conservation and others in the voluntary sector, to design or deliver targeted conservation action, informed by monitoring and research.