The Declining Butterfly Effect

Last month, after recording the lowest ever numbers in the 14-year history of their Big Butterfly Count, the Butterfly Conservation Charity declared a ‘butterfly emergency’. This is the latest grim figure to mark what adds up to an 80 per cent drop in butterfly numbers since 1976.

But it’s not just butterflies. We’ve all shared stories of how our drives through the countryside – which would once have left our windscreens covered with insects ­– now leave barely a mark. These anecdotes have now been backed up by numbers, with the Bugs Matter survey revealing that bug splats on windscreens after car journeys have plummeted by 89% over 20 years. Even DEFRA’s own reports now classify the long-term status of pollinators in the UK as ‘deteriorating’.

This loss of insects signals more than just a quieter countryside with cleaner windscreens. It’s hard to overstate the importance of our bugs – they form the trophic foundation that supports countless other species. The value of pollinators to UK agriculture alone is estimated at £690 million annually. Their decline doesn’t just affect nature, it threatens our food security, our health, our environments and our future.

What’s driving the decline? 

At the heart of the decline in butterflies and other pollinators is how we farm our land.  With 70 per cent of the UK classified as farmland, the way we manage this land is directly tied to the survival – or extinction – of these species. 

The expansion of industrial farming has devastated our natural habitats. Once teeming with butterflies and bees, since 1930 the UK has lost 97 per cent of its wildflower meadows. Countryside roads named ‘Cowslip Lane’ and ‘Meadow View’ now overlook barren fields; the names seem to taunt us; reminiscent of a countryside that was once abuzz with varied insect life. The 2000 roads in the UK containing the word ‘meadow’ (or ‘dôl’ in Welsh) are a painful reminder of what farming once looked like. The damage goes beyond meadows – 118,000 kilometres of hedgerows have been ripped out since World War II, further fragmenting the habitats that insects need to survive.

Pesticide use, particularly neonicotinoids (or ‘neonics’) is another huge factor in pollinator decline. Neonics are horrifyingly toxic to insects – just one teaspoon is enough to kill 1.25 billion honeybees. These chemicals accumulate in ecosystems, affecting not only bees but other wildlife such as birds and fish.

Despite being banned in the EU for their clear link to pollinator decline, British sugar beet farmers have been granted exemptions to use neonics for four consecutive years, following successful lobbying by British Sugar and other big industry bodies.

Then there’s climate change. The signs of a warming planet are already starting to affect pollinators. Springs are wetter, winters milder, and our summers have seen increasingly long periods of drought.  For butterflies, cold, wet weather can limit their activity and hinder caterpillar growth and survival.  In drought conditions, plants can die off earlier than usual, reducing the food available for caterpillars and butterflies alike.  Pollinators’ life cycles are often intricately tied to the seasons, and shifting weather patterns disrupt these timings – often creating ‘phenological mismatches’ where plant and pollinator are no longer active at the same time.

“Given the huge climate pressure on our vital pollinating insects like solitary bees, moths and butterflies, we need to do everything we can to reduce other harms,” urges Vicki Hird, Strategic Lead on Agriculture for The Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts. “It is unacceptable we have waited seven years for a National Action Plan on pesticides – this must be delivered soon and must ensure new measures – from better regulation and keeping banned insecticides banned to supporting farmers in using non-chemical pest and weed management, to reduce the harm rapidly whilst also ensuring we have healthy, diverse food supplies.” 

What can be done? 

The decline of pollinators is rooted in systemic issues within agriculture, shaped by decades of government policies that have prioritised cheap food production over all else. Since World War II, farmers have been paid government subsidies to maximise output. Hedgerows were torn out, habitats destroyed, and chemical inputs increased, all in the name of efficiency.  Farmers were left with little choice but to follow suit or face financial ruin, pressured by unfair supply chains and tiny profit margins.

However, hope for our diminishing pollinators seemed to arrive with ELMs – England’s post-Brexit farming Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELMs), which are among the most progressive in Europe. These schemes reward farmers for public goods such as restoring habitats, planting wildflower margins, managing hedgerows, and eliminating pesticide use. Unfortunately, the rollout has been slow, with delays, dilutions, and bureaucracy causing frustration. Too many farmers are still waiting for the comprehensive support they’ve been promised to effectively transition to more nature-friendly forms of farming.

In the short term, the government’s most obvious step is to uphold the ban on pesticides proven to harm pollinators.  Keir Starmer promised to do so, but recent reports suggest that ministers may backtrack under industry pressure. Backtracking on this commitment would be disastrous, not only for pollinators but for the government’s own target to halt nature’s decline by 2030.

“Pesticides are repeatedly identified as one of the key drivers of insect declines,” said Josie Cohen, Head of Policy and Campaigns, Pesticide Action Network UK (PAN UK). “If the new government wats to achieve its promise to restore nature, then it urgently needs to take action to reduce pesticide use and the associated harms. This should include the introduction of an ambitious pesticide reduction target, accompanied by increased support for farmers to help them transition over to non-chemical alternatives. The government must also stop granting repeat emergency permissions for all pesticides that have been banned due to the damage they cause, including bee-toxic neonicotinoids.”

Whether Labour deliver for farmers and pollinators alike is yet to be seen, but time is running out for the UK’s insects. What the government does next will determine whether we stop this devastating decline, or see it escalate, beyond the point of restoration. 

What can we do?

We can all play a part in helping pollinators thrive again, whether it’s planting wildflowers in our gardens, supporting local farmers who use sustainable practices, or urging the government to hold firm on pesticide bans.

• Support conservation organisations: The Butterfly Conservation Charity, which runs the Big Butterfly Count, offers several ways to get involved. You can find out more at Butterfly Conservation.
• Protect meadows: Plantlife runs campaigns to protect and restore wildflower meadows, essential habitats for pollinators. Learn how you can support them at Plantlife.
• Say No to Neonics: The Wildlife Trusts have organised a petition urging the government to ban neonics for good. Currently, farmers who choose not to use neonics aren’t rewarded for their efforts, and British Sugar isn’t promoting neonic-free sugar. You can add your voice to the campaign here.

Will is the Sustainable Farming Campaign Coordinator at Sustain and has a background in implementing Agroecological farming methods and managing vineyards in Somerset. He’s previously worked on issues surrounding food poverty and is a dedicated advocate for nature-friendly farming and fairness across the entirety of the food supply chain.