By Oliver Streather-Paul

A beautiful blue butterfly’s 40-year decline could be reversed, says Dorset-based charity Butterfly Conservation.

The population of the Common Blue, the UK’s most widespread butterfly, soared a staggering 104 per cent last year thanks to record-breaking temperatures – and is set to do the same this year with the Met Office forecasting above-average temperatures throughout August.

This heatwave leads experts to predict that the Common Blue will see its best year ever.

As part of this year’s Big Butterfly Count, which runs until Sunday, August 11, the charity has teamed up with Campaign for National Parks to ask the public to look out for, and record, the Common Blue at the parks they protect.

The butterfly is rarely found in gardens, instead preferring unimproved grasslands such as downland, woodland clearings, heathland and even sand dunes.

Dr Zoe Randle, senior surveys officer of Butterfly Conservation, said: “In England last year, the butterfly’s numbers were up 110 per cent from 2017 and 94 per cent in Wales.

“However, numbers of the first brood which emerged in June were slightly down on last year, so it will be interesting to see how the second brood emerging in August will respond to the heatwave.

“It would help us if people could get outside and look for this butterfly, so we can see if its fortunes have turned around or if the Common Blue still needs our help.”

She added: “We’re also keen for people to keep recording any Painted Lady sightings as this could be a record year for them – in just two days last week, people across the UK counted more than 30,000 Painted Lady butterflies and thousands more have been seen since.

“Keep counting and we’ll reveal the total after Sunday, August 11.”

Common Blue males have unmarked, bright blue upper wings while females have orange crescents and dark spots near the outer edges with ground colours ranging from purple-blue to dark brown.

The underwings of both sexes have numerous black spots, with white halos and orange marks around the edges.

Corinne Pluchino, chief executive of campaign for National Parks said: “This is a great opportunity to help chart the progress of this beautiful blue butterfly and we’d love to know where the top colonies are."

Submit sightings for the Big Butterfly Count at bigbutterflycount.org