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Britain’s favourite butterfly revealed
The colourful Peacock butterfly has won first place in a landmark poll.

Thousands of people vote in landmark poll

A ‘showstopping garden icon’ has been dubbed Britain’s Favourite Butterfly in a landmark poll.

The Peacock butterfly scooped the top spot in Butterfly Conservation’s first-ever poll to find the nation’s champion, beating off competition from 59 other butterflies.

Over 20,000 members of the public cast their vote in the poll, which also saw the Orange-tip come a close second, the Red Admiral third, Holly Blue in fourth, and the bright yellow Brimstone coming in fifth.

Kate Merry, Butterfly Conservation’s head of engagement, said: “The response to Britain's Favourite Butterfly has been absolutely wonderful, and we're not surprised. It's clear that people up and down the country love butterflies of all shapes, sizes and colours, and voted in their thousands for their favourites. 

“The Peacock is a worthy winner, it’s a true showstopper and a species that I bet a lot of us picture when we think of butterflies. It’s been really special seeing people get so passionate about their favourites and throw their support behind them! Now we can’t wait to see how many Peacocks are spotted up and down the country in this summer’s Big Butterfly Count.”

News of the win comes at an important time for British butterflies. In 2024, Butterfly Conservation delared an emergency after numbers recoded during its Big Butterfly Count fell to their lowest ever. The charty is calling on everyone to get involved with the 2026 count (17 July-19 August) to get a clearer idea of how Britian's most common species are faring.

Kate added: “Taking part in the Big Butterfly Count couldn’t be easier, simply spend 15 minutes in any outdoor space and count the butterflies and day-flying moths you see and submit your sightings to help build our interactive map. 

“This information will help conservationists to see how some of our more-common species are faring, which in turn helps to build a wider picture of how all butterflies and moths are doing. It’s easy, fun for all the family, and a great excuse to get outside and experience the simple joy of spotting butterflies.”  

Image (C) John Murray.

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Defra shares new Sanitary and Phytosanitary guidance

News Story 1
 Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.

The agreement, which will change the movement and trade of animals and related products, could see reductions in checks, paperwork and certification. As well as describing regulatory developments, the advice highlights the importance of animal ID, registration and traceability in disease control and other compliance arrangements.

The guidance can be found here. More detail is expected as negotiations progress. 

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News Shorts
Lords Committee opens Pet Parasite Medication inquiry

The House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee will launch its inquiry into Pet Parasite Medication (PPM) on Wednesday (3 June).

Focusing on treatments containing fipronil and imidacloprid, the inquiry will seek to understand distribution pathways and the impacts of PPM use and non-use on biodiversity and human health. It will also cover current regulation, monitoring, and the potential implications for pets and their owners.

The committee will hear evidence from environmental non-governmental organisations and research institutes. The public can follow the proceedings live on Parliament TV or in person in the Palace of Westminster.