Rare seahorse numbers reach post-pandemic high

Studland Bay is a no-anchor zone but boat users can pay to use eco-moorings
Conservationists working to protect a population of seahorses off the Dorset coast have counted the highest number of the creatures since the Covid pandemic.
The absence of boats and people in Studland Bay during lockdown meant seahorse numbers peaked in 2020 but quickly diminished when restrictions were eased.
Volunteers regularly monitor the habitat to assess the impact of eco-moorings, which have been installed to stop boat anchors damaging the seagrass habitat.
The Seahorse Trust said the latest survey had recorded 17 of the creatures on the seabed.
The fragile seagrass is a vital habitat for seahorses
Neil Garrick-Maidment of the Seahorse Trust said: “It is fantastic news that we found so many.
“Half were males and most of them were pregnant, so it shows the eco-moorings are working.
“There is still a long way to go in protecting this amazing site, and the seahorses on it, but we are going in the right direction.”
Seahorses are legally protected by law, and anyone looking for them – either snorkelling or diving – requires a licence.
Immediately after the Covid lockdown, one official dive counted 21 seahorses.

A licence is required to dive or snorkel to find seahorses, which are protected by law
Mr Garrick-Maidment said: “We worked out that the site was holding 46 seahorses then but sadly, within weeks of lockdown unlocking, the seahorses were gone.”
The eco-moorings installed by the Seahorse Trust, Boatfolk and the Studland Bay Marine Partnership cost about £100,000 a year to maintain.
Boat users pay £7.50 to moor there for four hours, or £15 for 24 hours, or £150 for a seasonal pass. There is also an option to pay more to help support the conservation work.
The trust is also appealing for donations to install more moorings.
Find out more about Seahorses and the work the Seahorse Trust does on this link>>http://www.theseahorsetrust.org
The Big Butterfly Count returns from 18 July – 10 August 2025
Leading wildlife charity, Butterfly Conservation, has revealed the dates of this year’s highly anticipated Big Butterfly Count, which will take place from 18 July – 10 August.
The annual citizen science programme, which is now in its 16th year, attracts tens of thousands of people out into their gardens, local green spaces or the countryside to spend 15 minutes counting butterflies and helping to track trends and inform conservation action.
After declining numbers of butterflies resulted in the charity declaring a nationwide Butterfly Emergency last year, it’s more important than ever that people take part in 2025.
Last summer’s Big Butterfly Count results were alarming. Overall, participants spotted just seven butterflies on average per 15-minute Count in 2024, a reduction of almost 50% on 2023’s average of 12, and the lowest in the history of the Big Butterfly Count. It was also the worst summer in the Count’s history for a number of popular species including Small Tortoiseshell and Common Blue.
Dr Richard Fox, Head of Science at Butterfly Conservation said: “We need everyone, everywhere to get out for the Count this year and help us find out if last year’s shocking results were a blip, or if they indicate a much greater issue.”
Butterflies are indicators of a healthy natural environment, and with half of Britain’s butterfly species already threatened or near threatened with extinction, it’s never been more important to understand how our insects are responding to the changing landscape, climate and pollution, and to take action to protect them.
Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count is the largest citizen science project of its kind and is a positive way that everyone can help. As well as contributing to important scientific data collection, taking part in the Count is a great way to enjoy time outdoors, connect with nature and have fun.
Whether done with friends and family, or in a moment of quiet calm and solitude, the Big Butterfly Count is free, fun and takes just 15 minutes. It is open to anyone, of any age, in any part of the UK – towns, cities or the countryside. No green space is too small – a back garden, a small terrace or balcony with some pot plants, a public park, allotment or country lane are all important spaces to explore, track and report.
Last year, more than 85,000 citizen scientists took part in Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count, submitting 143,241 Counts. This is equivalent to 35,810 hours, or four years’ worth of time spent counting butterflies, in gardens, parks, school grounds and the countryside – areas the charity is not easily able to get vital data from otherwise.
The information gathered helps scientists to understand how butterflies and moths are faring, informs conservation projects and government policies and supports other experts with their research and vital work to protect our planet.
Dr Fox said: “In total, just over 935,000 butterflies and day-flying moths were recorded across the UK from 12 July – 4 August in 2024, down almost 600,000, equivalent to more than a third of 2023’s total, and 9,000 Counts were logged as seeing zero butterflies, the highest in the citizen science programme’s history. This is very disturbing.
“Butterflies are a key indicator species; when they are in trouble, we know that the wider environment is in trouble too. Last year, nature sounded the alarm call, and we were able to respond, securing a complete ban from the Government on particularly toxic neonicotinoid pesticides on crops in 2025. Now we are calling on people across the UK to get involved once again, to enjoy 15 minutes out spotting and counting butterflies, and helping us to see how butterflies are faring this year.”
This year’s Big Butterfly Count runs from Friday 18 July – Sunday 10 August. For more information and to take part simply visit https://bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org/ or download the free Big Butterfly Count app.
British bumblebee numbers plummet in 2024
The latest findings from BeeWalk, the national bumblebee monitoring scheme run by the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, have revealed that 2024 was the worst year for bumblebees since records began. Across Great Britain, bumblebee numbers declined by almost a quarter (22.5%) compared to the 2010-2023 average.
The 24 species of bumblebee are iconic British insects which also play a vital role in pollinating crops and wildflowers, making their decline a major ecological concern. Expanding conservation efforts, a greater emphasis on habitat restoration, and continued monitoring are all key to safeguarding their future.
The immediate cause of the 2024 declines is likely to have been the cold and wet conditions from late April through June. The poor spring and early summer weather severely impacted many species in their most vulnerable period, the colony establishment stage, where queen bumblebees function as single mothers and must feed themselves and their growing larvae while also incubating the nest.
Species that typically reach their maximum abundance – the total number of individuals of a species present in a given area – in June or July suffered dramatically. Observations of common species White-tailed (Bombus lucorum s.l.) and Red-tailed (Bombus lapidarius) bumblebees fell by 60% and 74%, respectively, declining in England, Scotland, and Wales. Other species affected include:
- Tree bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum) – down 39%
- Southern Cuckoo bumblebee (Bombus vestalis) – down 38%
- Garden bumblebee (Bombus hortorum) – down 12.5%
- Buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) – down 9.5%
As weather conditions improved in July and August, bumblebees were able to stage a partial recovery but 2024 still had the second-worst July and August counts on record.
Species which usually reach their maximum abundance in August, including many rarer British species, displayed mixed trends in 2024:
- Heath bumblebee (Bombus jonellus) – up 63%, due to a strong second generation
- Brown-banded Carder bumblebee (Bombus humilis) – up 13%
- Common Carder bumblebee (Bombus pascuorum) – down 16%
- Moss Carder bumblebee (Bombus muscorum) – down 34%
England and Wales’ rarest bumblebee, the Shrill carder bumblebee (Bombus sylvarum) was up 74%. However, this was driven mainly by good numbers being recorded in the Thames Estuary population. The Shrill was not recorded at all in two of its five remaining populations.
Dr Richard Comont, Science Manager at the Bumblebee Conservation Trust said; “The 2024 results from BeeWalk highlight just how vulnerable our bumblebee populations are to shifting climate and environmental conditions. With another challenging year behind us, monitoring in 2025 will be crucial to understanding how – and whether – these species can recover.”
Dr Amy Plowman, Head of Conservation and Science at the Bumblebee Conservation Trust said; “Sadly, this year’s results show the worst counts on record, with particularly worrying drops in numbers for the White-tailed and Red-tailed bumblebee. These findings highlight the urgent need for action to protect our vital pollinators. We are incredibly grateful to our dedicated BeeWalkers whose commitment to citizen science allows us to track their populations, and we need everyone to help us to secure their future”.
Read the full report on this link>>https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/publications/beewalk-annual-report-2025/