Kent Nature Lovers Help Crown Peacock King of the Skies in Historic Vote!

The nation has spoken and officially crowned the Peacock as Britain’s Favourite Butterfly in a landmark public poll, with nature lovers across Kent and the wider UK turning out in droves to support their local wildlife.

Wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation revealed today that the colourful garden icon beat off fierce competition from a vibrant cast of species to secure the top spot. Topping this first-ever vote to find the nation’s champion, the Peacock triumphed over 59 other British butterflies to claim the highly coveted title. The fierce competition saw over 20,000 votes cast across the UK between 15 May and 7 June, with a massive response from the sun-drenched gardens and countryside of Kent, long considered a stronghold for British butterflies.

The final top five formed a brilliant rainbow of colour. The Orange-tip finished a close second, followed by the striking Red Admiral in third, the delicate Holly Blue in fourth, and the sunshine-yellow Brimstone rounding out the group in fifth. Ultimately, it was the stunning Peacock, with its eye-catching and instantly recognisable beauty, that stole the nation’s hearts.

Kate Merry, Head of Engagement at Butterfly Conservation, expressed her delight at the public’s overwhelming enthusiasm. She noted that the team was not surprised by the wonderful response, as it is clear that people up and down the country hold a deep affection for butterflies of all shapes, sizes, and colours. Describing the Peacock as a true showstopper and a worthy winner, she added that it is likely the very species many people picture when they think of a butterfly. Merry highlighted how special it was to see the public get so passionate about their favourites and stated that the charity cannot wait to see how many Peacocks are spotted during this summer’s Big Butterfly Count.

This historic result arrives at a critical moment for the UK’s insect populations. In 2024, Butterfly Conservation declared a butterfly emergency after numbers recorded during its annual count plummeted to their lowest ever. In response, the charity is urgently calling on everyone, everywhere—from urban balconies to the sprawling downlands of the Garden of England—to take part in this year’s Big Butterfly Count between Friday 17 July and Sunday 9 August to help conservationists gather an updated picture of how Britain’s most common species are faring.

As Britain’s official favourite, the Peacock is a truly magnificent garden resident. It is instantly recognisable by its striking colours and stand-out eye-spots, which are a remarkable evolutionary defence mechanism designed to ward off predators many times its own size. It remains a regular visitor to green spaces across Kent and the rest of the UK, particularly thriving wherever patches of nettles are left to grow, as these are the favourite foodplant of its caterpillars.

The other species making up the top five showcase exactly why the British public loves these insects so much. The runner-up Orange-tip is a traditional harbinger of spring, boasting glowing white wings tipped with a vivid tangerine hue on the males. In third place, the Red Admiral features dramatic jet-black wings decorated with bold red bands and white spots. Though traditionally a long-distance migrant travelling all the way from North Africa, it is now commonly overwintering along the milder southern coastlines of Kent and the south-east due to our warming climate.

The fourth-place Holly Blue is a fairy-like insect that counts British icons Dame Joanna Lumley and Geri Halliwell-Horner amongst its fans. Its shimmering, powder-blue wings have been steadily spreading northwards in recent decades, bringing joy to northern gardens and hedgerows. Finally, the fifth-place Brimstone is famous for its bright yellow wings, which many believe gave all butterflies their name as the original “butter-coloured fly.”

The Peacock, Red Admiral, Holly Blue, and Brimstone, alongside 16 other butterflies and day-flying moths, can all be recorded as part of this summer’s Big Butterfly Count. As the world’s largest butterfly survey, the initiative carries greater urgency than ever. Conservationists hope that a massive surge in public participation across Kent’s nature reserves and nationwide gardens will significantly improve their data and help galvanise vital support for creating butterfly-friendly habitats.

Participating in the count is incredibly straightforward. Members of the public simply need to spend 15 minutes in any sunny outdoor spot, count the butterflies and day-flying moths they see, and submit their sightings via a free app to help build an interactive map. Kate Merry emphasised that the survey is easy, fun for the whole family, and a perfect excuse to get outside and experience nature.

To find out more and take part in the count between Friday 17 July and Sunday 9 August, visit www.bigbutterflycount.org.

Full List of British Butterflies