Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey

Butterfly Conservation rolled out the Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey in 2009 in partnership with the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and the British Trust for ornithology (BTO). The aim of the survey was to randomly sample the general countryside to assess abundance of common species in widespread habitats- away from protected sites and semi-natural habitat. Some wider countryside species may be suffering greater declines away from protected sites due to intensification of farming whilst others may be increasing due to climate change.

The WCBS method is based on the BTO Breeding Bird Survey which involves surveying two parallel 1km survey lines running roughly north-south through a randomly selected 1km square. A minimum of two visits are required in July-August. The scheme is designed such that BTO BBS recorders resurvey their bird squares later in the year whereas BC recorders establish new survey squares selected at random by the project organisers.

Last year Butterfly Conservation and BTO bird recorders surveyed butterflies on 763 squares across the UK and on average they saw 8 species and 80 individuals per visit. More details on the results can be found at the WCBS webpage www.ukbms.org/wcbs.htm. With a number of years of data we will be able to answer questions about the factors influencing butterfly abundance across the UK in a representative way and we will also be able to assess whether transects provide a true picture of trends in common species.

The Lancashire Branch has been allocated 20 squares to survey; in 2009 we only managed to survey four of these - this year we would like to cover all 20. The map below gives a rough idea of where these squares are.

If you would like to take part in the WCBS this summer then please contact Martin Wain who will be able to allocate you a square.