Sir David Attenborough backs butterfly charity as it celebrates 50th anniversary weekend

Sir David Attenborough is urging people to spend Saturday 10 March taking action for butterflies and moths to mark the fiftieth anniversary of wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation (BC).

The charity is celebrating its landmark birthday by holding a UK-wide conservation day of action, where it’s hoped a record number of people will carry out practical work in their gardens or local green spaces to help their local butterfly and moth species. More than three-quarters of the UK’s butterflies and two-thirds of our larger moths have declined in the last 40 years. BC President Sir David Attenborough said: “Half a century ago a small group of naturalists became so concerned about the plight of the UK’s butterflies that they decided to join forces to protect them.

“That organisation became Butterfly Conservation and 50 years later the need for people who care about our butterflies and moths is greater than ever before. “You can do your bit for butterflies by taking part in Butterfly Conservation’s Day of Action on Saturday 10th March. By working together we can all take some simple steps to provide butterflies with a future.” BC’s Director of Conservation Science, Dr Nigel Bourn, said: “Whether you help manage a meadow, or can do some work in your own garden, please join in the effort this year to celebrate 50 years of saving butterflies and moths. “BC has 31 Branches across the UK with many holding anniversary events on Saturday 10 March, so this could end up being one of the biggest conservation days in BC’s history.” BC was founded in March 1968 and is now one of the largest insect conservation organisations in the world. The charity runs projects to protect more than 100 threatened species, as well as conserving hundreds of sites and reserves across the country. People can find out more information on events taking place near them by visiting: www.butterfly-conservation.org/events