The Swanage Railway is inviting Dorset residents and visitors to take part in this year’s Big Butterfly Count, which runs from 17 July to 9 August 2026. The annual citizen science survey, organised nationally by Butterfly Conservation, asks people to spend a short period recording butterfly and large day-flying moth sightings to help monitor the health of the environment.
How Dorset can help
Operators of the heritage railway say its line through the Purbeck countryside provides an ideal opportunity for people to see a range of habitats and the species that rely on them. Those taking part can use a free app or an identification chart to log what they see; the data are submitted to Butterfly Conservation for analysis and future conservation planning.
- Survey dates: 17 July–9 August 2026
- Time required: 15 minutes per count
- Tools: Big Butterfly Count app or printable identification chart
"pick a location and spend 15 minutes watching for butterflies and moths"
Participants are asked to choose a location — a garden, park, nature reserve or along the railway corridor — and to record the highest number of each species seen at any one time during a 15-minute period. The Swanage Railway notes that travelling by train allows observers to pass through a variety of habitats without the need for extensive walking, making the survey accessible to a wide range of people.
Local value and wider use of the data
Counts submitted from Dorset will feed into a national dataset used by conservationists to assess long-term trends in butterfly populations, identify areas of concern and target conservation effort. For local land managers and volunteers working on Purbeck conservation projects, the information helps build a clearer picture of species distribution and seasonal activity.
The survey is straightforward and designed for anyone with an interest in wildlife: families, rail visitors, walkers and more experienced naturalists can all contribute useful records. Further information, including the app download and identification guides, is available on the Big Butterfly Count pages and through Swanage Railway publicity.
| What | When | How long |
|---|---|---|
| Big Butterfly Count | 17 July–9 August 2026 | 15 minutes per count |
With the survey now under way, local groups and individuals in Dorset have the chance to contribute directly to conservation research while enjoying the Purbeck landscape from the convenience of the heritage railway or from their own local green spaces.
