Thank you We are extremely grateful to those individuals and organisations who have so generously supported the charity in 2016/17 including all of our donors who wish to remain anonymous. On behalf of everyone at Butterfly Conservation we would like to thank the following for their support: Abinger Parish Council Fairfield Association National Trust The Plum Trust Edward John Cooper Abington Avenue United Reformed Church FCC Recycling (UK) Limited Natural The Richmond Charitable Trust Geoffrey Croft Alpha Financial Consultants Ferring Conservation Group Natural Resources Wales The SGU3A Natural History Group Peter Farbridge Altofts Methodist Church Focus Optics Natureguides The Summerfield Charitable Trust Margaret Heather Fox ASDA Foundation Forestry Commission England Naturetrek Limited The University of the Third Age Martin Lane Fox Aston Garden Club Forestry Commission Scotland NFU Mutual The Walters Kundert Charitable Trust Raymond Garrett Attwell Partners Formby Methodist Church NHBS Limited The Ware Society Valerie Anne Gregson Aviva Community Fund Formby Trefoil Guild Nicol & Co Estate Agents Limited Tori Ratcliffe Art Robin James Hills B&Q plc Fortis Remote Technology North Dorset Ramblers Torquay Museum David Hinde Barclays Bank plc Frampton Music Festival North London Organic Gardeners Tulip Limited Maurice Hughes Annual Review Bardsey-cum-Rigton Womens Institute Franciscan Community North Nibley Music Festival Limited TWI Limited Simon Johnson Barton Womens Institute Friends of Mewsbrook Park Northern Ireland Environment Agency University of Edinburgh Arthur William Jollands Basingstoke Natural History Society Friends of Ness Gardens Northumbrian Water University of York Peter David Konitzer Beauchamp Middle School Friends of the Lake District Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Veolia Environmental Trust Peter Lai 2016/17 Bedfordshire County Cricket Club From the Notebook Limited Opticron Viridor Limited Shirley Lewer Benson Nature Group Furness U3A P F Charitable Trust Waitrose Limited Peter Leslie Long Biffa Award Gearrchoille Community Wood Ardgay Paul Bassham Charitable Trust Waste Recycling Environmental Limited Philip Lumley Bloomsbury Publishing plc Ginger Dragon Limited Pembrokeshire County Council Waterford Church Alison Maddock Bomere Heath Ladies Club Gisela Graham Limited Peter’s Trust Watkins & Doncaster Dr Albertine Malham BoxWild Goddard & Grant Jewellers Limited Petersfield Wildlife Group Wayside Organics Dr Jennifer Middleton Brampton View Care Home Google Inc Postcode Local Trust Wedmore Badminton Club Mrs Morris Bristol Natural History Consortium Grange and District Natural History Society Rapanui Welwyn Garden City Winemakers Guild Derek Newnham British Broadcasting Corporation Grayson GB Limited RBS Community Cashback Wessex Water Limited Ronald Overton British Wildlife Publishing Green Circle Aggregates Limited Robert O Curle Charitable Trust West Horsley Parish Council Shirley Packham Buntingford United Reformed Church Green People Roger’s Wildlife Rescue West Lulworth Womens Institute Dr Anna Louise Powell Calleva Foundation Greenwings Wildlife Holidays Rotary Club of Gainsborough Wildflower Favours Anthony Pratley Canal & River Trust Habitat Aid Rowan Bentall Charitable Trust Winkleigh Biodiversity Group John Walker Smith Cardiff Organic Gardeners Haines Hill Charitable Trust Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Woodpeckers Trust Martin Smith Carmarthenshire County Council Hampshire County Council Ryedale Natural History Society Woodstock Natural History Society Kathryn Stones CarTakeBack Hampshire Wildlife Trust Scotland’s Gardens Worcestershire County Council Geoffrey Summers Cecil Pilkington Charitable Trust Harrogate & District Naturalists’ Society Scottish Natural Heritage Worcestershire Naturalists’ Club John Tremlett Cemex UK Materials Limited HDH Wills 1965 Charitable Trust Scottish Wildlife Trust Worcestershire Wildlife Trust Joanna Walstow Ceredigion County Council Heart of England Forest Severn Waste Environmental Fund Yorventure Cheshire Wildlife Trust Heritage Lottery Fund Shaw & Whitley Gardening Club Legacy gifts Chiltern Forest Golf Club Hewlett Packard Enterprise Sherbourne Rural Schools Cluster Corporate Members Much of our successful conservation Chloride Group Limited Higham and Rushden U3A Shere Parish Council Belightful Design Oy work is underpinned by the generosity of Clacton Camera Club Hyde Housing Association Wildlife Trust Bewley & Merrett Funeral Directors supporters who have left a gift in their will. Clapham & Patching Horticultural Society Ipplepen Garden Club Sidcup Natural History Society Castlerigg Hall Caravan & Camping Park All gifts, whatever their size, are hugely valuable, making a lasting difference to Colchester Natural History Society The J. & J.R.Wilson Trust SSP Foundation Coda Systems Limited butterfly and moth conservation. We would Cole & Son (Wallpapers) Limited John Lewis Partnership St Andrew’s Handbridge United Reformed Cole & Son (Wallpapers) Limited like to thank our generous benefactors for Community Foundation for Surrey Kate Ashbrook Trust Church Continental Landscapes these important gifts: Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Kendal Quaker Group St Mary’s Catholic First School Elm Horticulture Limited Beauty Kenwyn Community Fund (Kenwyn Parish Stickland’s CE VA Primary School Ginger Dragon Limited Legacies Cory Environmental Trust Council) Sussex Community Foundation Greenwings Wildlife Holidays Nora and Peter Brack Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Kilmington Garden Club Sussex Wildlife Trust Holme for Gardens Jeff Brown Beauty Laceby Womens Institute The Banister Charitable Trust Isle of Eriska Hotel Dr John Davis Cranham Common Trust Lake District National Park Authority The Barker-Mill Foundation Naturetrek Limited Anne Patricia Dean Creaton Womens Institute Laspen Trust The Blair Foundation Northumbrian Water Michael Leslie Doorne Creature Candy Learning Through Landscapes The Cambridge Chrysalis Trust Opticron Martin Lane Fox Dartmoor National Park Authority London and Lincolnshire Investments The Clare Lees Trust Orange Aero Limited James Kay Gelsthorpe Day For Night Films Limited Limited The Conservation Foundation Perrywood Garden Centre Beatrice Gillam Defence Infrastructure Organisation Lymington Womens Institute The D G Albright Charitable Trust Silver Trees Holiday Park Thomas Reginald Harman Doctor & Mrs Alfred Darlington Charitable Magnox Limited The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust Sussex Country Gardener Douglas A Heald Trust Margaret Davis Charitable Trust The Dartmoor Soap Company The Weld Estate Margaret Ina James Dulcie Denison Charitable Will Trust Margaret Murdoch Charitable Trust The Devonshire Association Tobiz Products Arthur William Jollands Dundee Naturalists Society Marks & Spencer plc The Downton Banister Trust Woodlands.co.uk Margaret Ann Landsberg Dunsdon Farm Marsh Christian Trust The Ernest Cook Trust Woodward Lakes and Lodges Roger Lane East Keswick Wildlife Trust Marsh Gibbon Horticultural Society The Fundraising Company Limited Dr Albertine Malham East Renfrewshire County Council Meres & Moses Landscape Partnership The Gesingthorpe Trust In Memory Gifts Terrence Mason Easyfundraising.org.uk Scheme The John Jarrold Trust Leslie Walker Allen Susan Eleanor Standen McDougal EcoCo Life Merton & Huish Wildlife Group The John Swire 1989 Charitable Trust Colin Ivor Benford Jane Vivienne Powell Ecotricity Group Limited Michael Marks Charitable Trust The Leggett Charitable Trust Stephen Eric Blott Inez Marina Monica Pugh Environment Agency Milltimber Gardening Club The Lever Trust Patrick Boston Barbara Joan Pyrah Environmental Recorders’ Group Fund Miss K M Harbinson’s Charitable Trust The Mackintosh Foundation Jeffrey Marson Brown John M F Rogers Equinix Inc Mrs M A Lascelles Charitable Trust The Marlow Trust William Cattle Heather Standish Sowrey Esmée Fairbairn Foundation Nairn & District Gardening Club The Martin Laing Foundation Rita Chipper-Snelling Irene Marion Stewart Everyclick Limited National Biodiversity Data Centre The Orcome Trust Dorothy Coleman Roland Todd

Head office and registered address: President: Sir David Attenborough CH CVO CBE FRS Council members: Dr Andy Barker, Andrew Brown, Butterfly Conservation, Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Kathryn Dawson, Mike Dean (Vice Chair), Roger Dobbs, Dorset BH20 5QP Vice-presidents: Maurice Avent Esq, Nick Baker Esq, Dr Susan Foden, Karen Goldie-Morrison, David Hanson (Hon t: 01929 400209 Thelma Barlow, John F Burton FZS FRES, Dudley Cheesman Esq, Treasurer), Michael Johnston, Sue Smith, Nigel Symington, Ilija e: [email protected] Sue Collins, The Earl of Cranbrook PhD DL Cbiol, David Dennis Vukomanovic, Chris Winnick esq, Mike Dilger Esq, Clive P Farrell Esq, Julian Gibbs Esq, www.butterfly-conservation.org Ian Hardy MVO, Anthony Hoare Esq, Chris Packham Esq, Chief Executive: Julie Williams @savebutterflies Professor Jeremy Thomas OBE, Alan Titchmarsh MBE Director of Conservation, Science & Policy: Dr Nigel Bourn facebook.com/savebutterflies Director of Conservation & Regions: Dr Sam Ellis instagram.com/savebutterflies Chair: Dr Jim Asher Director Scotland: Paul Kirkland

Butterfly Conservation is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England (02206468) Charity registered in England and Wales (254937) and in Scotland (SCO39268) www.butterfly-conservation.org Cover image: Argent & Sable Rheumaptera hastata Below: Garden butterfly planting C SUTTON

Overview by the Chair and Chief Executive

2016/17 has been a period of major change for Butterfly Conservation. In December 2016, our Chief Executive, Dr Martin Warren OBE, retired. During his 23 years of service, Martin had a massive influence on shaping Butterfly Conservation into the professional and impressive organisation we know today. We owe Martin a huge debt of gratitude for all his unstinting work and wish him well in future endeavours with Butterfly Conservation Europe. Martin was succeeded as Chief Executive by Julie Williams. Julie has worked for Butterfly Conservation for over 16 years and became Deputy Chief Executive in 2013. She has a deep understanding of Butterfly Conservation’s work and has the skills required to drive the charity forward. Externally we face the uncertain future of Brexit and the impact this may have on the UK economy, environmental legislation and agricultural policy, at a time of massive far-reaching political and social change. Despite these changes and challenges, we are delighted to report that 2016/17 was another very successful year for Butterfly Conservation. We have continued to make excellent progress with restoring essential habitat for butterflies, moths and other wildlife to help maintain the health of the environment as a whole for people and for nature. We secured our largest ever annual fundraising income and saw membership numbers increase to more than 30,000. Income from membership subscriptions reached its highest ever level in 2016/17, increasing by 16% from the previous year. We are very grateful to our members, supporters and funders for their ongoing help to progress our work to conserve butterflies and moths – thank you to all who have contributed in whatever way you can. During the year Council developed Butterfly Conservation’s long-term strategy to 2025 to clarify and simplify our core strategic objectives. This is being rolled out in all areas of Butterfly Conservation’s work and is already shaping plans for the future. The strong partnership between staff and Branch volunteers continues to be fundamental to Butterfly Conservation’s success and we aim to continue developing and strengthening this partnership as we move forward. Our vision Our citizen science projects continue to encourage more people to take an interest in, and engage with, the natural world. We continue to extend our A world where butterflies and moths thrive activities and projects further into urban areas, recognising and can be enjoyed by everyone, forever. the urgent need to respond to threats to those species we consider widespread. Good governance in the way that we run Butterfly Conservation and active risk management further underpin our strategy, at a time of increasing scrutiny of the charity sector. Council remains committed to continuing to improve Our mission our systems to retain and grow a spirit of excellence in the way we operate. Butterflies and moths are a vital part of our wildlife heritage and are valuable as sensitive indicators of the health of our environment. The stark fact is that butterflies and moths continue Dr Jim Asher, Chair and Julie Williams, Chief Executive to decline at an alarming rate, despite Butterfly Conservation’s best efforts for more than 40 years. Our data shows they are declining faster than most other well-documented groups of plants and animals, so our task is both daunting and complex. For many species, we know what needs to be done to halt decline and support recoveries. In order to tackle these losses and achieve the aims of the charity, we have to dramatically increase our capacity and influence over the next few years. Our work will benefit other wildlife and the ecosystems upon which all life depends.

Our mission is to halt, and reverse, the decline in butterflies and moths, thereby helping to create a healthier environment in which we can all live, and build a strong and effective organisation capable of delivering our vision.

2 BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION ANNUAL REVIEW 2016/17 www.butterfly-conservation.org www.butterfly-conservation.org BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION ANNUAL REVIEW 2016/17 3 MIKE MCKENZIE

18000

10000

Adult Large Blue numbers 5000

0 1980 2016 Recover threatened Change in Large Blue abundance in the UK 1980 – 2016 Thanks to years of effort by Butterfly 2016 was the fifth year of a monitoring Conservation and its partners, the globally project funded by Forestry Commission endangered Large Blue reached its highest Scotland to enable population trends for the numbers for 80 years in 2016. Since its Chequered Skipper and Pearl-bordered butterflies and moths extinction in 1976, the Large Blue has Fritillary to be calculated. This involved 165 been restored to over 50 sites in South West visits by 27 different recorders. England. These sites are carefully managed Butterfly Conservation continues to Our most threatened species are identified from distribution and abundance trends, by a range of organisations, including both contribute to mapping Marsh Fritillary Gloucestershire and Somerset Wildlife Trusts habitat in Wales to focus our landscape using data collected largely by volunteers through our survey and monitoring and the National Trust. Thanks to Natural conservation efforts. Thanks to local

programmes. Our recording schemes, which collate records from tens of thousands England, Biffa Award grants and others who authority funding in 2016/17 we completed TRISTRAM BESTERMAN of volunteers, continue to be the bedrock of our conservation and science work. have funded management work, habitat a landscape study of eastern and northern assessments and monitoring across 25 sites. Carmarthenshire and parts of Neath Port During the last decade the Dark Bordered Talbot. This work demonstrates the links Beauty moth has declined by 90% at between populations in Carmarthenshire Strensall Common, in the West and Mid utterfly Conservation’s UK-wide both the habitat and the target species. The Wood White is one of the fastest North Yorkshire, its only Glamorgan showing those Conservation Strategy currently Many more site visits were carried out by declining butterflies and is now found on English site. Thanks to areas on which we need The UK Butterfly Monitoring Bidentifies 26 butterfly and 103 moth volunteers within our Branch network. just 50 sites, with 21 of these in the West funding from Yorventure, to focus in future. Scheme (UKBMS) celebrated its species which are the highest priority for We worked closely with our Branch Midlands. In 2016/17 we received funding the Ministry of Defence, During the year we 40th anniversary in 2016. Since the conservation action across the UK, and volunteers in England to review species and from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust worked successfully scheme began, a remarkable 27 million complements our Regional and Country landscape priorities through our Regional Cambridge Chrysalis Trust and Severn Waste and the Environment with Natural Resources butterflies have been counted during Action Plans. Action Plan process. They have been Services to help boost numbers of butterflies Agency, volunteers have Wales to support the 380,000 visits to 4,425 sites. The During 2016/17 our staff undertook invaluable in helping to interpret species across Herefordshire, Worcestershire established 56 grazing implementation of various scheme is now run in partnership with 1,750 site visits to over 750 sites across data, as well as highlighting local issues and Shropshire. Working with partner exclosures using ‘gen landscape-scale projects, the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology the UK, providing management advice, and opportunities and aligning the work of organisations including Forestry Commission guards’ to protect the including the Rhondda (CEH) and the British Trust for overseeing habitat management and Branches with our UK Conservation Strategy. England our Wood White project has remaining Creeping Pilot Project which will Ornithology and a consortium of other monitoring the impact of our work on The Small Blue was the most threatened begun restoring its woodland habitat by Willow and areas deliver improvements government agencies. butterfly in the region, establishing wider rides and more clearings where the plant used to the Marsh Fritillary UKBMS trends for 2016 being reduced to just three small colonies across the landscape. In addition, a carefully to grow. Following this population and the Alun demonstrated how we are successfully in 2009. Under a series of landfill (SITA planned programme of reintroductions is management, numbers of Dark Bordered Valley old Castle Down landscape for High turning around the fortunes of some of Trust, CEMEX Community Fund, Veolia underway at up to four woodlands where Beauty in 2016 were the highest since 2011 Brown Fritillary. Volunteers and contractors our rarest species. Environmental Trust) funded projects natural recolonisation is unlikely, with the with eight times more moths being found. carried out habitat management for Alongside the UKBMS we continued to its fortunes have since been completely aim of establishing a network of strong Although the Dark Bordered Beauty remains threatened butterflies and moths on over 30 strengthen and increase our Butterflies

KEITH WARMINGTON reversed. Volunteers and contractors have colonies across the region. critically endangered at its last England site, sites in the Alun Valley. for the New Millennium and cleared over 42 hectares of scrub, sown The UK’s most threatened butterfly, the summer of 2016 felt like a corner had We continued to co-ordinate long-term National Moth Recording 20kg of Kidney Vetch seeds and planted High Brown Fritillary, is bucking the been turned. Hopefully 2017’s counts will surveys and monitoring for Northern Ireland’s Schemes, which are still 13,000 plug plants across 49 sites. The national trend in Exmoor’s Heddon Valley, show beyond doubt that this species is at butterflies and moths including the Marsh growing at over one results have been incredible, with the Small with numbers increasing following concerted last in recovery. Fritillary. Work has begun on the site dossier million records Blue spreading to 19 sites by 2016; a habitat management through our Two Moors Our Bog Squad volunteers successfully for this threatened species, the first time per year. six-fold increase in numbers in just seven Threatened Butterfly Project, working closely carried out restoration work on a dozen we have developed such a resource in years. Many other species have benefitted with the National Trust. The butterfly has peatland sites across Scotland through the Northern Ireland and information which is Top left: Wood White Bottom left: Small Blue pair Top right: including the Dingy and Grizzled Skipper increased by 646% between 2002 and Scottish Government’s ambitious Peatland key to underpinning the new Environmental Cornwall volunteers in action Inset: The Dark butterflies and the Chalk Carpet moth, all 2016, and it was recorded on a new site in Action programme, managed by Scottish Farming Scheme and our conservation Bordered Beauty moth. MARK PARSONS colonising restored sites. 2016 following targeted scrub control. Natural Heritage. projects in Northern Ireland.

www.butterfly-conservation.org www.butterfly-conservation.org BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION ANNUAL REVIEW 2016/17 5 PATRICK CLEMENT MARK SEARLE

management for widespread species of the countryside on a private lowland estate which will help us research, promote and advocate the right management based on scientific evidence. On 14 September 2016, the State of Nature partnership officially launched its second report (State of Nature 2016) at the Royal Society in London, produced by a consortium of 53 diverse conservation organisations. Butterfly Conservation is a key partner, contributing population trends for butterflies and moths. State of Nature reports were also published for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. As part of a drive to raise cross-party awareness of wildlife amongst politicians, we are now part of a joint initiative with other NGOs to appoint Species Champions for threatened species. So far, five Westminster MPs have adopted Lepidoptera species: Marsh Fritillary, Duke of Burgundy, Wood White, Small Copper and Striped Lychnis. In Scotland, 10 MSPs have signed up or renewed their pledge to help rare species, including the Small Blue and the Forester moth. In Wales, three Assembly Members are supporting the High Brown Fritillary, Pearl- Pollinators and the Garden Butterfly Survey although they enjoyed respectable levels of bordered Fritillary and the Welsh Clearwing. are primarily aimed at increasing awareness engagement in their first years, we would A strong conservation partnership, of and improving the environment expect public take-up to increase as both consisting of Amphibian and Reptile for widespread butterfly species. The schemes mature. Conservation Trust, Bat Conservation Trust, widespread media coverage generated for The Big Butterfly Count continued to Buglife, Bumblebee Conservation Trust, the new campaigns over the course of 2016 raise awareness of widespread species Butterfly Conservation, Plantlife, RSPB and served to dramatically increase general and through social media support and The Wildlife Trusts, has developed a website, public awareness that many widespread large-scale national press coverage. The FarmWildlife, which is offering best practice butterflies are now also suffering alarming ongoing success of the Big Butterfly Count Increase numbers of guidance that benefits all wildlife, and declines. All our communications for both continues to enable us to reach and inspire stems from extensive experience across the campaigns championed the public’s role new audiences whilst gathering important partnership in managing land for wildlife. in turning round these declines through data on widespread butterflies. Over 36,000 Both of Butterfly Conservation’s two new direct action in their own outdoor spaces. people took part in 2016, counting over engagement campaigns Plant Pots for Both schemes are in their infancy and, 396,000 butterflies. However, results widespread species showed worrying declines in our widespread butterflies, with numbers falling over the The decline of widespread butterflies and moths is a major issue driving Butterfly Conservation’s summer despite the UK experiencing weather 2025 Strategy. Results presented in the State of UK Butterflies 2015 report show that overall conditions in which they usually thrive. We also successfully championed numbers of widespread species have declined by 25% since 1976. Widespread moths have also Butterfly Conservation’s ongoing scientific declined seriously, with a decrease in numbers of 28% from 1968 to 2007. Numbers have declined work including a press release about the more seriously in the south than the north. Two-thirds of 337 species assessed had declined and 61 results of a research paper comparing the fortunes of common species in urban and species had declined by over 75%. countryside areas gaining widespread media coverage and generating significant social he halting of the decline of species decline is land use policy in the UK and we monitoring programmes data from urban media activity. in the general countryside is one of continue to provide evidence and to work areas demonstrated that, thanks to the huge The Urban Butterfly Project in Scotland Tthe conservation community’s biggest with our NGO partners lobbying the various effort of our volunteers we can produce an was launched in April 2016 with the challenges. Butterfly Conservation plays an UK Governments on a range of relevant indicator for how butterfly species are faring twin aims of enhancing urban habitats for important part in this, and our survey and policy issues. in our towns and cities. Unfortunately the butterflies and moths, and encouraging monitoring work helps provide the evidence Our scientists continued to gather evidence results suggest they are declining at an even urban dwellers to record them. One stark base showing that more needs to be done and published over 15 high quality scientific faster rate than in the countryside. finding was the almost complete absence of in the countryside, in our urban parks, open papers including a study on the impacts In 2016/17, work started in earnest to Common Blue and Small Copper from urban spaces and in gardens. of climate change on national biodiversity develop an Atlas of Britain and Ireland’s green spaces, so these two species will be There is a large research need associated population trends and one on how different Larger Moths to be published in 2018. targeted for special action in future. with these declines. The role of neonicotinoids, types of organisms respond differently in time A new PhD student with Exeter University climate change, nitrogen deposition and the to climate change. A paper highlighting the started in late 2016 undertaking research intensification of farmland management are correlation between the use of neonicotinoid on the Lulworth Skipper and the decline in just a few to which we continue to contribute. insecticides and the declines of widespread widespread grass-feeding species. Without doubt one of the main reasons butterflies was also published. We have negotiated a new pilot project Above left: Comma Above right: Peach Blossom why widespread species continue to A paper using the results of our to undertake some experimental trials of CONSERVATION : BUTTERFLY Left: Children taking part in the Big Butterfly Count

6 BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION ANNUAL REVIEW 2016/17 www.butterfly-conservation.org www.butterfly-conservation.org BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION ANNUAL REVIEW 2016/17 7 Inspire people to understand Media and raising awareness and deliver species conservation

To enable our core conservation and scientific work to continue we must fulfil five major objectives: raise awareness about why butterflies and moths are important; increase our member and volunteer base; increase education work; raise income to fund conservation and research work; and lastly, promote the importance of connecting with nature for wellbeing.

Above: Sir David Attenborough launching the Big MATTHEW BRIERLEY Butterfly Count campaign

Butterfly Conservation’s ability to raise Volunteers Membership public awareness about the plight of In November 2016 membership reached a new high of 30,000, an increase butterflies and moths continued to Volunteers play a pivotal role in all areas of of 70% in member numbers during the last five years. Membership retention develop during 2016/17. Butterfly Conservation’s work. Across the UK remained on target at 90% for the year. Generous income from our members Education We consistently delivered volunteers contributed 175,678 days of effort allows us to protect and restore the most threatened species, continue our vital widespread, high quality press to Butterfly Conservation during the year, this is monitoring and recording work and helps us discover more about the decline in Following the completion of our flagship education project, Munching Caterpillars, coverage for Butterfly Conservation’s equivalent to just over £11 million (equivalent to widespread butterflies and moths and how we can reverse these trends. the role of Senior Education Officer was created to take our education work forward. diverse range of campaigns and 799 full time staff) – a huge thank you to each An Education Strategy was developed at the start of 2016, with the resources, focus research projects. Last year we and every volunteer who gave up their time to help and activities so successfully trialled in the Munching Caterpillars project at its core. focussed on using targeted digital Butterfly Conservation. Baseline work to identify and support Branches with the capacity to deliver education media to improve the efficacy of Inspiring a love of nature is vital and during work is ongoing and new projects are being started. At the end of 2016, funding Butterfly Conservation’s conservation 2016/17 our Branch volunteers across the UK ran was secured from the Postcode Lottery Trust and Ernest Cook Trust to deliver a new messaging. The Plant Pots for more than 1,650 events attended by over 25,000 project with an urban focus; Munching Caterpillars Goes to Town, was initiated by the Pollinators campaign focussed on people. Events included walks, talks, field trips Somerset and Bristol Branch. Engaging and hands-on workshops are set for delivery using social media, through Twitter, and work parties and provided attendees with Thank you to all our in inner-city Bristol schools, and a pop-up ‘Caterpillar Café’ will tour public and Facebook, Instagram and YouTube to knowledge and first-hand experience of species community events reaching thousands of children with the opportunity to enjoy and empower the public to take simple conservation. volunteers, members, connect with nature. steps to improve the environment for Branch volunteers are also at the heart of our Our Branch volunteers continue to make a significant contribution to our education butterflies and moths in their own back landscape-scale conservation work, allowing us supporters and funders work, delivering a range of activities from school visits to fun ‘drop in’ sessions at gardens. Targeted Facebook advertising to make far more impact and sustain projects in public and community events. helped encourage mass participation in a way that would not be possible with staff alone. our key campaign – the Big The structure of our volunteer Branches ensures a for your generous Above: Bristol schoolchildren planting food and nectar plants in their school grounds Butterfly Count. support network for new volunteers and landowner Another successful Moth Night saw partners recruited through projects, providing a ongoing support events taking place across the UK to legacy of ongoing conservation work beyond the Fundraising raise awareness about moths. duration of funded projects. Thanks to funding from the HLF, we started Cuts to statutory funding and greater competition for grant funding now mean that income a new two-year project in Northern Ireland in from members, supporters, Trusts and other funders is becoming increasingly critical to 2016: The Butterfly Files. This project is aimed help finance the continued struggle to reverse the decline in butterflies and moths. Despite More than 80 press at developing our volunteer base in Northern the continuing turbulent financial environment and thanks to our members, supporters and releases were produced Ireland, building capacity within funders, we managed to achieve during the year. our established recorders and our highest ever secured funding discovering new recruits. during 2016/17. These funds Back from the Brink enabled us to press ahead with Right: Volunteers in Butterfly Conservation’s Northern Ireland essential conservation projects and We were delighted in March 2017 to formulate plans to help develop and hear that our application to HLF for the Back Facebook page now strengthen our staff and volunteer from the Brink project had been successful. In has 137,000 ‘likes’ compared to 100,000 at resources over the coming years. partnership with the Species 2020 Group of the same time last year – 2016 saw the launch of our NGOs, we have developed a ground-breaking a rise of 37%. Bake for Butterflies campaign. project aimed at stopping 20 species from Lots of people took part in events becoming extinct and helping a further 204 around the country, baking, threatened species including birds, bats, insects Our Twitter presence decorating and tasting cakes to and plants as well as butterflies and moths. It has grown with 45,000 raise money and awareness for also aims to inspire the next generation to care followers compared to Butterfly Conservation. We plan for England’s most vulnerable wildlife. The project 38,000 at the same time to make this an annual campaign highlights that the conservation sector can achieve last year – a rise of 18%. and hope to see participation far more together than we can on our own. increase year on year.

www.butterfly-conservation.org BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION ANNUAL REVIEW 2016/17 9 BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION BUTTERFLY JIM ASHER

Promote international conservation actions

Butterfly Conservation has developed a wide international network through a series of seven International Conferences that started in 1992. Over this time we have helped foster Lepidoptera conservation activities throughout the world and have provided advice and encouragement to several new country based organisations. We aim to continue this work in coming years and share the expertise that we have developed in the UK and Europe.

n 2004, we co-founded Butterfly Europe. The campaign was successful as habitats across Europe. The full report can Conservation Europe to act as an umbrella the Directive was found to be still fit for be found on the Gateway to Data section of Iorganisation to support this work. Butterfly purpose by the EU and the focus must now the Butterfly Conservation Europe website. Conservation Europe now has 45 partners in be on proper implementation. Butterfly Conservation Europe also published Nature reserves 36 countries and has achieved a wide range In 2016, Butterfly Conservation Europe a Red List of Mediterranean butterflies with of outputs from policy documents to Red Lists established a European Butterfly Monitoring International Union for Conservation of and Recovery Plans. We continue to support Scheme (eBMS) with the CEH, including an Nature that showed that 19 species (5%) are Butterfly Conservation Europe financially and online portal for data entry for new schemes threatened whilst over 20 species could not by allocating staff time each year. Full details across Europe. We are now populating be assessed due to lack of data. utterfly Conservation has a network of Common and Southern Hawker, Common produced phenomenal vegetation growth. can be found at www.bc-europe.eu the database from the 22 countries with www.iucnredlist.org/initiatives/mediterranean 36 reserves across the UK covering and Black Darter, and Emerald and Blue- Cows were brought in for 14 weeks and We continued to play a leading role in existing schemes. We are also applying for We have also been working very closely B793 hectares of key butterfly and tailed Damselflies. did a fantastic job demolishing the rank the European Habitats Forum. Key inputs funds to expand the scheme so that it is with colleagues in the Republic of Ireland moth habitat, successfully managed with The third year of Marsh Fritillary habitat grasses. The fields will take a few years to have been made into the reform of the representative of Europe as a whole. to collate butterfly and moth data across the help of our local Branches, volunteers restoration at our Median Farm nature recover from such drastic action by which Common Agricultural Policy in 2020 and Butterfly Conservation Europe published an the island of Ireland including the first Red and our partner organisations. The reserves reserve in Carmarthenshire took a big stage colonisation of Marsh Fritillary from implementing the EU Biodiversity Action update of the European Grassland Indicator, List for Ireland’s Macro-moths (2016) and safeguard threatened species and are used step forward. Fifteen work parties and 12 our adjacent Caeau Ffos Fach reserve will Plan. We also supported the campaign on using data from the eBMS. The report showed a new Butterfly Atlas project to support the to demonstrate good habitat management bonfires by the dedicated volunteers cleared be possible. the “Fitness Check” of the EU Habitats that 17 grassland indicator species had future review of the Irish Butterfly Red List. for Lepidoptera and other wildlife. We huge quantities of brash where we are Directive that is crucial to conserve declined by 30% in the last 25 years, showing continue to use our reserves to engage the rescuing marshy grassland from scrub. In Above: Westbury Beacon Reserve butterflies and biodiversity across the steady deterioration and loss of grassland Below: BCE Board Members and Advisors 2016 local community and our partners with our the open grassland, the warm, wet winter Below: Silver-studded Blue at Prees Heath conservation work and provide places where people can enjoy butterflies and moths and connect with nature. In 2016 Butterfly Conservation opened a new reserve, Westbury Beacon in Somerset, a refuge for the nationally declining Dingy and Grizzled Skippers and Chalkhill Blues. We also celebrated our 10th anniversary of purchasing the Prees Heath Common reserve in Shropshire, where we have been undertaking a major restoration project to reinstate heathland and grassland vegetation across much of the site. The reserve is the last sanctuary for the Silver- studded Blue butterfly in the Midlands. A programme of work has been underway for several years at our Wester Moss reserve near Stirling to stop it from drying up and becoming covered in scrub. The work has successfully benefitted the Large Heath and other specialist peatland flora and fauna. Two years ago there were no pools on site and no records of breeding dragonflies. In 2016/17 the new pools created by the bund have allowed the colonisation of at least six species of dragonfly, including

www.butterfly-conservation.org MARK SEARLE Financial Statements

The members of Council confirm that these summarised financial statements are a summary of information from the full financial statements which were approved by Council on 15 July 2017. Financial Independent auditor’s statement to the Council of Butterfly Conservation We have examined the summarised financial statements of Butterfly Conservation for the year ended 31 March 2017. Review Respective responsibilities of the Council and the independent auditor The Council members are responsible for preparing the summarised financial statements in accordance with applicable UK law and the rrecommendations of The overall picture is one of a stable year Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities. Our with both income and expenditure very responsibility is to report to you our opinion on the consistency of the summarised close to the levels of the previous year. If financial statements with full financial statements. We also read the other information such a steady pair of totals should indicate summarised annual report and consider the implications for our report if we become that the charity coasted through the year it aware of any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the summarised would be seriously misleading. financial statements. Looking at expenditure, the cost- containment initiatives taken in the previous Basis of Opinion year delivered the intended result in We conducted our work in accordance with International Standards of Auditing (UK and financial terms, even though one or two of Ireland) issued by the Auditing Practices Boards for use in the . the actions needed to be reversed in order to support the delivery of all objectives. Once Opinion again we report the spending of just under In our opinion the summarised financial statements are consistent with the full financial £3.0 million on conservation out of a total statements of Butterfly Conservation for the year ended 31 March 2017 and comply with spend of £3.6 million. the applicable requirements of Section 427 of the Companies Act 2006, and regulations On the income side, the contribution of made thereunder. our members and supporters was again tremendous. Membership income (including Buzzacott LLP Gift Aid) increased by 17%, a superb Registered to: Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditor – 130 Wood Street, result in the prevailing economic climate, London, EC2V 6DL. 28 July 2017 especially as it followed a 15% increase last year. Donations were down slightly from By order of the Council the previous year when the purchase of the David Hanson reserve at Westbury Beacon attracted such Honorary Treasurer good support. 15 July 2017 The number of legacies notified at 25 Count, £15,000 from B&Q plc for the support conservation work at both Head was the highest ever and the legacy income Garden Butterfly Survey and the final Office and by our Branches. A copy of the full financial statements of the charitable company, upon which the auditors recorded in these accounts shows a 39% instalment of £40,000 from Marks and The value of the work undertaken have reported without qualification, will be delivered to the Charity Commission and the increase to £438,000. As reported last year Spencer plc for the Butterfly Farm Indicator through our Branches by our thousands of Registrar of Companies House. These summarised financial statements may not contain we have increased our fundraising activity in project. Timing issues are responsible for volunteers, which is conservatively valued sufficient information to allow for a full understanding of the financial affairs of Butterfly this area. the sharp increase in income from Contracts at in excess of £11 million, continues to be Conservation. Further information and the full accounts are available at Above: Grizzled Skipper The external fundraising environment and Royalties, with delays in payments a feature of Butterfly Conservation of which butterfly-conservation.org or may be obtained free of charge from the charity. Below: Magdalen Hill Down Reserve remains very challenging and it is therefore from the Single Payment and Environment we are rightly proud. pleasing that we achieved our targets in Management Schemes last year resulting Overall then a steady and pleasing year nearly every one of the market sectors in in two years’ of payments being included in benefitting from flexible and intelligent which we need to be working. these accounts. fundraising and the magnificent support The investment income earned on our On our balance sheet at the year-end our of our members and supporters, on whom

NICK OWEN Endowment Fund was up slightly, but the General Funds showed an increase of 8%, we rely more each year as external sources feature here was the total return in the year in line with our strategic plan to increase of funds become progressively scarcer and of over 17% as the capital value benefitted them to meet our target level. The balance harder to secure. from strong stock markets and the beneficial in Restricted Funds is down by 5% but effect of the devaluation of sterling after the the holding of over £1.5 million indicates David Hanson Brexit referendum. that a continuation of much project work 15 July 2017 Income from primary purpose trading is assured. This is reinforced by the £2.8 included £30,000 from Waitrose Limited million held in Designated Funds, up by and John Lewis Limited for the Big Butterfly £50,000 over the year, which are held to Above: Children watching an Orange-tip

12 BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION ANNUAL REVIEW 2015/16 www.butterfly-conservation.org www.butterfly-conservation.org BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION ANNUAL REVIEW 2016/17 13 Group and charity balance sheets Group Charity 31 March 2017 2017 2016 2017 2016 Financial information £ £ £ £ Fixed assets Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities Year to 31 March 2017 Tangible assets 1,344,806 1,347,775 1,344,806 1,347,775 Investments 5,461,136 4,781,397 5,461,137 4,781,398 6,805,942 6,129,172 6,805,943 6,129,173 Unrestricted Restricted Endowment 2017 2016 Current assets funds funds funds Total Total Stocks 6,735 8,020 5,875 7,496 £ £ £ £ £ Debtors 627,088 466,818 690,375 485,662 Income from: Investments 158,550 145,101 158,550 145,101 Cash at bank and in hand Donations and legacies 881,350 228,412 – 1,109,762 1,043,176 • Short term deposits and interest bearing accounts 4,075,680 4,014,782 4,075,680 4,014,782 Other trading activities 92,278 - – 92,278 100,685 • Current accounts 803,680 964,631 712,248 838,485 5,671,733 5,599,352 5,642,728 5,491,526 Investments and interest receivable 191,808 10,509 – 202,317 201,169 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (265,629) (351,348) (256,625) (263,523) Net current assets 5,406,104 5,248,004 5,386,103 5,228,003 Charitable activities Total net assets 12,212,046 11,377,176 12,192,046 11,357,176 • Conservation activities – grants receivable 10,837 935,735 – 946,572 1,283,961 The funds of the charity: Capital funds • Contracts and royalties 284,751 79,790 – 364,541 289,395 Endowment funds 5,461,136 4,781,397 5,461,136 4,781,397

• Primary purpose trading 128,298 5,600 – 133,898 80,253 Income funds Restricted funds 1,589,542 1,589,542 • Membership subscriptions 842,591 - – 842,591 721,893 1,516,654 1,516,654 Unrestricted funds • Other Sources - - – - 3,426 • General fund 1,600,099 1,484,378 1,600,099 1,484,378 • Non-charitable trading funds 20,000 20,000 – – Total income 2,431,913 1,260,046 – 3,723,958 3,691,959 • Tangible fixed assets (including freehold nature reserves) fund 814,069 752,146 814,069 752,146 Expenditure on: • Designated funds 2,800,088 2,749,713 2,800,088 2,749,713 Total funds 12,212,046 11,377,176 12,192,046 11,357,176 Raising funds 187,831 2,632 – 190,463 234,291 Approved by the Council of Butterfly Conservation and signed on its behalf by: Dr Jim Asher, Chair 15 July 2017 Charitable activities

• Conservation 1,036,586 1,951,052 – 2,987,638 2,997,562

• Membership services 372,176 – – 372,176 354,264

Total expenditure 1,596,593 1,953,684 – 3,550,277 3,586,117 HOW WE HOW WE Net income (expenditure) RAISED OUR SPENT OUR 835,320 (693,638) – 141,682 137,841 before investment gains (losses) FUNDS FUNDS Total Income £3,691,959 Total Expenditure £3,550,277 Net investment gains (losses) 13,449 – 679,739 693,188 (92,712) (2015/16 £3,723,958) (2015/16 £3,586,117)

Net income (expenditure) 848,769 (693,638) 679,739 834,870 45,129

Transfers between funds (620,750) 620,750 – – –

Net movement in funds 228,019 (72,888) 679,739 834,870 45,129 Donations and legacies £1,109,762 Raising funds £190,463 Reconciliation of funds Other trading activities £92,278 Conservation £2,987,638 Investments £202,317 Membership services £372,176 Total funds brought forward 5,006,237 1,589,542 4,781,397 11,377,176 11,332,047 Conservation activities – grants receivable £946,572 at 1 April 2016 Contracts and Royalties £364,541 Primary purpose trading £133,898 Total funds carried forward 5,234,256 1,516,654 5,461,136 12,212,046 11,377,176 Membership subscriptions £842,591 at 31 March 2017

14 BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION ANNUAL REVIEW 2016/17 www.butterfly-conservation.org www.butterfly-conservation.org BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION ANNUAL REVIEW 2016/17 15