Wildlife conservation charity Butterfly Conservation is urging Oxfordshire residents to count butterflies this summer to beat last year's total.

A tally of 36,965 butterflies and day-flying moths were spotted across the region during last year's Big Butterfly Count.

In 2023, the Big Butterfly Count saw 2,836 counts across Oxfordshire, with the red admiral claiming the top spot for species sightings.

The count this year, already underway, commenced on Friday, July 12 and concludes on Sunday, August 4.

The charity encourages everyone, regardless of their location or age, to spend 15 minutes outdoors, spotting and reporting any butterfly sightings.

Each count makes a significant contribution to the understanding of how the changing climate affects butterfly species.

Dr Zoë Randle, senior surveys officer at Butterfly Conservation, said: "We really need people across Oxfordshire to get out for the count to help us understand the impact of climate change on our most-loved butterflies.

"We're relying on everyone, everywhere to spend just 15 minutes outdoors and let us know what they see."

Analysts from the Butterfly Conservation charity have asserted that butterflies are clear indicators of environmental health.

With half of Britain’s butterfly species at risk of extinction, understanding their response to changing climate conditions is of critical importance.

For more information on the Big Butterfly Count and to participate, visit www.bigbutterflycount.org or download the free Big Butterfly Count app.