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Annual Impact Report 2024/25

Butterfly Conservation's Annual Impact Report 2024/25 covers a year in which the charity's UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme recorded the worst butterfly results on record, prompting a UK-wide 'Butterfly Emergency' declaration, alongside continued landscape-scale habitat restoration for threatened species and the growth of the charity's Youth Panel programme.

Report snapshot
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About

Habitat creation and restoration for threatened butterflies and moths, the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (run with UKCEH, BTO and JNCC), the Big Butterfly Count citizen science survey, Youth Panel engagement programme, landscape-scale conservation projects

Key Metrics

Key Metric 1 UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (led by Butterfly Conservation) recorded data across over 3,500 sites in 2024
Key Metric 2 31 of the UK's 59 regularly-recorded butterfly species now in long-term decline - the first time over half have been in decline since monitoring began
Key Metric 3 A UK-wide 'Butterfly Emergency' declared after the 2024 Big Butterfly Count recorded the worst results in the count's history

Key Outcomes

  • Continued delivery of landscape-scale habitat recovery work for threatened species such as the Duke of Burgundy and Large Heath, in partnership with organisations including the National Trust
  • Ten-member Youth Panel (aged 18-25) engaged in shaping the charity's strategy and public campaigning through the year
  • Priority landscape mapping work advanced to target future Landscape Recovery habitat restoration funding

Geography

UK-Wide

Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
First known breeding success of spoonbills in the Norfolk Broads in around 400 years, recorded at Hickling Broads and Marshes
Key Metric 2
Over 60 nature reserves managed across Norfolk, with land owned or managed for wildlife exceeding 5,000 hectares
Key Metric 3
1,500 volunteers helped protect wildlife across the county during the year
New urban nature reserve co-designed with the local community, expanding accessible green space in Norfolk
Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
61,819 native oysters deployed across UK restoration projects in 2024/25
Key Metric 2
15,064 people participated in the Beachwatch beach clean programme, submitting 1,256 litter surveys — the highest in the programme's 31-year history
Key Metric 3
17,613 young people engaged through in-person or online youth programme sessions
£11.5 billion Ofwat investment package secured for storm overflow cuts in England and Wales following sustained MCS advocacy
Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
191,000 cats and kittens helped — 525 a day (2023: 184,000); 29,000 cats rehomed; 168,000 cats neutered including 13,000 feral cats; 93,000 cats microchipped
Key Metric 2
£96.9 million total income (2023: £89.3 million); £108.5 million net assets; £50.1 million legacy income; 9,800 volunteers (2023: 9,200)
Key Metric 3
430 cat owners helped to flee domestic abuse with 750 cats given temporary foster homes (Lifeline) — up from 229 in 2023; 5.9 million...
Mandatory microchipping for cats in England came into force June 2024 — direct result of years of Cats Protection campaigning; Pet Abduction Act came into force August 2024 making cat theft a specific criminal offence; Cat Manifesto sent to every election candidate with 111 newly elected MPs having responded
Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
32,000 people participated in learning activities; 65,000 volunteer hours contributed; 250,000 biodiversity-boosting plants and bulbs planted; 24,000 snowdrops planted by Royal Parks Half Marathon...
Key Metric 2
94% of public rated their visit as good or excellent; 5 consecutive years all 8 parks awarded Green Flag; 160,000+ members making 300,000+ visits;...
Key Metric 3
1,000 free plants donated to local charities, community groups and schools; 200 old noticeboards and maps replaced; 12,500 enquiries handled by visitor support team;...
Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Garden at Regent's Park received planning permission and is progressing — opening Spring 2026; Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground renewal received planning permission — opening Spring 2026; Greenwich Park flagship restoration project completed — new meadows, shrubs, community facilities