I heard Matthew on Radio 4 - saying what a fantastic year it was for butterflies in the UK. I love the enthusiasm and information he imparts - sometimes I do wonder whether the impression he gives is to make the general plight of butterflies (75% decline in last 50 years) seem much better than it is. He does make the point some are the, "most threatened species "...before saying what a marvellous time they have had this year. Journalists always look for that feel-good factor and so home in on the positives - more butterflies - whilst not giving the true plight of our butterflies as much attention - because that is not so feel-good!. I know that is not what Matthew would want to convey - but journalist are very good at cherry-picking to make the "story".
And Matthew, I do have to take issue with the "fabulous" year we are having in East Anglia - where the drought has delivered 30% of normal rainfall over the Spring period. Many butterflies remain baked-into the dry earth, with not much prospect of making it out. Counts of emerging butterflies have tumbled as the drought has taken hold in the last 2 months - I would say at best 1/3rd of the normal numbers. In some places I have seen none of the Small Copper, Brown Argus or Common Blue I would expect; I can't remember when I saw a Large White last. The prospects for 2nd generations and later butterflies are also pretty poor, since most of their host plants for eggs and larvae are already stunted, shrivelled and nearly or already dead! It is very worrying indeed.
So, please, Matthew - get your facts right. The further south and west you go, where you live Matthew, the more "normal" the weather patterns have been and the early Spring
has produced an amazing early-show of species and in good numbers. That has not been the case over in the east; when you go on national radio, Matthew, please make sure you give a true
national picture. The UK is not just
your patch
N
