The National Trust Reveals Butterflies are Back This Summer

SWINDON, England, June 14, 2011 -

The National Trust has announced that this summer looks set to
be the best for butterflies in more than 30 years as population’s
boom, sales of butterfly products increase and butterfly imagery is
adopted by big high street brands.

At the half way point in the butterfly season there has been a
number of record breaking early appearances from spring species
thanks to the warm and dry weather, especially in April.

The favourable conditions are also leading experts to predict
that a number of species will produce extra generations this
year.

Matthew Oates, wildlife adviser and butterfly expert at the
National Trust said: “It has been a fantastic start to 2011 for
Britain’s butterflies with a White Admiral appearing at Bookham
Common in Surrey at its earliest since 1893, the White-letter
Hairstreak appearing more than two weeks early at Rodborough Common
in Gloucestershire and Marbled Whites and Meadow Browns a week to
ten days early at href="www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-denbieshillside">Denbies
in Surrey and Exmoor.

“The populations of spring butterflies are as good as they can
be. There may even be significant second broods for the Duke of
Burgundy and Dingy Skipper butterflies - it’s all gearing up to
what could be the best butterfly summer for a generation.”

Butterflies are also enjoying a revival in popular culture with
sales of butterfly-themed products high and many large businesses
such as John Lewis, Easy Jet, Samsung, Accessorize, Paper Chase,
Laura Ashley and White Stuff using butterflies in their
branding,

Rich Sutcliffe, Editor at Brand Republic said: “Butterflies are
about reinvention and change, from caterpillar to a thing of
beauty. Companies thinking about rebranding or repositioning a
product have a clear message as they signify a natural
new beginning.”

Butterflies are very popular in tattooing and are
often created to mark a change in someone’s life. Famous names
such as Cheryl Cole, Paris Hilton, Britney Spears and Drew
Barrymore all adorn butterfly tattoos.

Lou Molloy, celebrity tattooist to the likes of David Beckham
and star of ‘London Ink’, said: “Butterflies are one of the great
recurring images in tattooing. I’ve tattooed them on many,
many girls but they’re increasingly popular with men - I’ve
recently finished a half sleeve that features four different types
of butterfly and one of the most referenced photos from my
website is another sleeve tattoo with a big Monarch in the centre.
They’re one of the universally popular tattoo images.”

The first ever National Trust ‘Love Butterflies’ weekend will
take place on the 6 and 7 August when the greatest number of
species will be in flight.

Over the summer months the Trust will be encouraging people to
upload their sightings and pictures of butterflies to its butterfly
watch map. This can be done via twitter by entering the name of the
species, postcode and #lovebutterflies. There will also be top tips
on how to go butterflying and href="www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-chl/w-countryside_environment/w-nature/w-nature-wildlife/w-nature-wildlife-butterflies_moths/w-nature-wildlife-butterflies-top_sites.htm">
places to see butterflies on the National Trust website.

The National Trust has also published a new book by Matthew
Oates, ‘Butterflies: Spotting and Identifying British Butterflies’.
It will help both beginners by explaining the key points and
fundamental principles of butterfly spotting, and more experienced
butterfly watchers in need of expert tips and sharpening the
focus. 

About the National Trust:

The National Trust is a charity with a statutory duty to
preserve places across England, Wales and Northern Ireland ‘of
historic interest and natural beauty for the benefit of the
nation’.

As Europe’s largest conservation charity it protects over
350 historic houses, 160 gardens, 1,100 kilometres of
coastline, 254,000 hectares of land of outstanding natural beauty,
six World Heritage Sites, 28 castles and 60 pubs, offering a number
of options for href="www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits.htm">days
out and places to
visit in the UK.

PR Contact:
Steve Field
Assistant Press Officer
The National Trust
Heelis
Kemble Drive
Swindon
Wilts SN2 2NA
+44-(0)1793-817740

www.nationaltrust.org.uk

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